Boost Student Engagement: 3 Strategies to Teach Ethics, Environment and Law in Computing

Let’s be honest – teaching ethics in computing can feel like a tough sell. Whilst ethical and legal issues in computing and the environmental impact of technology are essential topics, they are often met with groans or blank stares from students who struggle to see its relevance.

But what if these lessons could be the highlight of your term?

What if they could spark lively debates, ignite curiosity and inspire creative thinking?

Imagine your classroom buzzing with energy as students passionately discuss the ethics of social media surveillance, explore the environmental impact of outdated tech and tackle real-world challenges in a mini-hackathon.

In this post, I’ll share three creative computing classroom activities to transform ethics, environment and law into the most exciting computing topics of the term. These ideas are designed to engage your students while equipping them with the critical thinking skills they need to navigate the complex world of technology.

Ready to make ethics, environment and law the most talked-about part of your term? Let’s dive in!

1. The Black Mirror Debate Club

Use short clips from TV series like Black Mirror (or similar tech-focused media) to introduce ethical dilemmas in technology. The futuristic and sometimes dystopian scenarios in the show are perfect for sparking thought-provoking discussions.

Students naturally connect with media, and Black Mirror presents exaggerated yet relatable situations reflecting real-world issues. By debating these scenarios, students explore the ethical, legal and environmental impacts of technology in a way that feels relevant and exciting. It’s also a great way to develop their critical thinking and argumentation skills.

What to do:

Step 1 - Pick a scene: Choose a short, age-appropriate clip from Black Mirror or similar shows (e.g. The Social Dilemma or Ex Machina).

For example:

• Nosedive (Season 3, Episode 1) – social media and privacy issues

• Arkangel (Season 4, Episode 2) – surveillance and parental control

• Hated in the Nation (Season 3, Episode 6) – ethical AI and environmental consequences

Step 2 - Provide context: Before playing the clip, give some background to help students understand the premise. For instance: “This clip explores how a social media rating system can affect people’s lives. Think about how this might relate to how we use social media today.”

Step 3 - Facilitate a debate: After they have watched the scene divide the class into small groups and assign each group a stance (for or against) on the ethical and legal issues raised in the clip and have them debate with another group.

Example questions include:

• Is it ethical to track someone’s every move for their safety?

• Should companies be held accountable for the environmental impact of their products?

• How much privacy should people give up for convenience?

Step 4 - Connect to real life: After the debate, link the fictional scenario to real-world examples, such as how social media platforms collect data or how facial recognition is used in surveillance.

Extend the learning:

Assign a follow-up task where students research a real-world tech controversy (e.g. Cambridge Analytica or e-waste in developing countries) and present their findings to the class.

Computing teacher tip:

If Black Mirror feels too dark or mature for your students, try lighter alternatives like The Social Dilemma (Netflix documentary) or news articles about tech controversies. The key is to keep it relevant to their lives.

2. Tech Time Capsules

Take students on a journey through the history of technology to explore its environmental impact, then challenge them to predict the future consequences of today’s tech trends. This activity combines research, creativity and critical thinking to connect past, present and future issues in computing.

By examining the lifecycle of technology, students gain a deeper understanding of how computing impacts the environment over time. It also sparks curiosity about how we can make technology more sustainable in the future.

What to do:

Step 1 - Investigate the past: Divide students into groups and assign each group a piece of outdated technology (e.g. floppy disks, CRT monitors, early mobile phones or gaming consoles like the Atari). Ask them to research the environmental impact of these technologies during their production, use and disposal phases.

Step 2 - Analyse the present: Bring the discussion to modern-day technologies, such as smartphones, cloud storage or electric vehicles. Discuss their benefits and hidden environmental costs, like energy consumption in data centres or the mining of rare earth materials.

Step 3 - Predict the future: Challenge students to think creatively about the future. What might be the environmental consequences of emerging technologies like quantum computing or blockchain? Ask them to create a “future tech time capsule” with predictions about the sustainability of these technologies.

Step 4 - Present and reflect: Have each group present their findings and predictions to the class. Discuss how we can learn from the past to make technology more sustainable in the future.

Extend the learning:

For a creative twist, ask students to design a “green tech” solution for today’s environmental challenges, such as reducing e-waste or making data centres more energy-efficient.

Computing teacher tip:

If time is short, focus on just one phase (past, present or future) and make it a shorter activity. Tailor the technologies to your students’ interests – gamers might love researching the environmental impact of old gaming consoles!

3. The Hackathon Gone Wrong

Turn your classroom into a mini-hackathon where students role-play as tech developers creating an innovative product. Partway through, throw in unexpected ethical, legal or environmental challenges they must address to continue.

This hands-on, collaborative activity mirrors real-world scenarios where developers must adapt to unforeseen issues. Students learn to think critically about the consequences of their creations while honing problem-solving and teamwork skills.

What to do:

Step 1 - Set the scene: Divide the class into teams and assign them the role of tech developers. Provide a brief for a fictional product they must create. For example: “You’re developing a fitness app that tracks users’ steps and health data. Your goal is to create a product that’s innovative, user-friendly and market-ready.”

Step 2 - Start the hackathon: Give students time to brainstorm and outline their product idea, including features, target audiences and how it will work.

Step 3 - Introduce a challenge: Halfway through, introduce a twist that forces teams to rethink their product. For example:

• Ethical challenge: “Your app collects sensitive health data. How will you ensure user privacy and comply with GDPR?” 

• Legal challenge: “A competitor claims your app infringes on their intellectual property. How will you respond?”

• Environmental challenge: “Your app relies on servers that consume a lot of energy. How can you reduce the environmental impact?”

Step 4 - Adapt and present: Teams discuss and adapt their product to address the challenge, then present their final idea to the class.

Computing teacher tip:

To make it more engaging, act as a fictional “client” or “investor” evaluating the final products. You could even award points or prizes for the most innovative or ethically sound solutions.

Teaching ethics in computing

Teaching ethical, environmental and legal issues in computing doesn’t have to feel like a chore – for you or your students. With creative computing classroom activities like debating dystopian tech futures, exploring the lifecycle of technology and tackling real-world challenges in a mini-hackathon, you can transform these vital topics into lessons your students will remember long after they leave the classroom.

When teaching ethics in computing these creative approaches not only keep students engaged but also equip them with the critical thinking skills they need to navigate the ever-evolving world of technology responsibly. By connecting these issues to real-life scenarios and encouraging hands-on exploration, you’re not just teaching a curriculum – you’re preparing your students to become thoughtful, informed digital citizens.

Why not try one of these activities in your next lesson? You might just find that ethics, environment and law become the most exciting topics of the term!

Looking for something ready-made? Check out my Ethical, Environmental and Legal Issues lesson pack on TES. It includes six fully prepared lessons, saving you hours of planning time.