Lesson Plan #2 - Using the Internet for Research

by JoAnne Benedict

Objective: To learn about copyright laws, shareware, freeware, software piracy as they relate writing computer software.

Grade Level: 10 - 12

Subject: Advanced Placement Programming (C++)

Time to complete lesson: 4 class days

Materials: A computer, an internet connection, word processor, internet site about citing a web site, internet site relating to copyright and an internet site about the Software Publishers Association.

Procedures: Each student will use the internet to look up copyright laws as they relate to computer software, the definitions of shareware, freeware, public domain, software piracy, "fair use", server license, indirect infringement, and concurrent license and the principles of the Software Developers Association.

Day 1: Use the internet to locate internet sources.. You may use any of the links on your handout sheet, or you may do a search on "copyright" , "Sotware Publishers Association" or other terms related to the topic. Save bookmarks of the best sources you find. Make notes on the answers to the questions on the student worksheet.

Day 2. Begin to write your report and continue your research on the questions on the student worksheet.

Day 3. Use a word processor to write up what you have learned about your topic.

Day 4. Class discussion of the results of the reports ending with reasons why programming students should be concerned about copyright laws..

Assessment Rubric:

Definitions of terms (7 terms):	10 pts
General copyright laws	25 pts
How copyright laws relate to software	25 pts
Conclusion	25 pts
Grammar	10 pts
Spelling	5 pts

Reasons for using the Internet: The speed in accessing current information relating to copyright and software programming cannot be found easily in any other source. The issues of software (commercial, shareware, freeware, and public domain) were not well established when the 1976 Copyright Law was written. It is also possible on the internet to get the flavor of the opinions of current software developers and obtain a different viewpoint.


Student Worksheet

Use the internet to locate internet sources about the 1976 Copyright Law and how it relates to computer programs. You may use any of the following links on your handout sheet, or you may do a search on "copyright", "Sotware Publishers Association" or other terms related to the topic. Save bookmarks of the best sources you find.

Some Sites on Copyright and Software

Copyright Resources
http://bvsd.k12.co.us/curriculum/research/copyright.html
Software Publishers Association
http://www.spa.org

As you examine these and other sites on the internet, be sure you answer the following questions relating to your topic:

1. Copyright laws
   
   1. What is protected by the copyright laws?
      
   2. Who is protected by the copyright laws?
      
   3. When does the copyright law take effect and how long are items protected?
      
   4. How do other people gain the rights to a protected work?
      
2. Define the following terms in you report
   
   1. What is shareware, freeware, and public domain software?
      
   2. What is software piracy?
      
   3. What is a server license or a concurrent license?
      
3. Application of copyright laws to different kinds of software.
   
   1. What can't a user do with commercial software?
      
   2. How is shareware different from commercial software?
      
   3. What can't you do with freeware?
      
   4. How does software become public domain?
      
   5. What is the penalty for copyright infringement?
      
   6. Does "fair use" laws apply to software?
      
   7. What is indirect infringement and what actions constitute indirect infringement?
      
4. Conclusions
   
   1. Why is the Software Publishers Association concerned with software piracy?
      
   2. What is the benefit to the user to compile with copyright laws?
      
   3. What will be the benefit to you when you begin to write qualtity software programs?
      

Write up your report answering the questions using good grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Be sure properly cite your sources of information. You may use the following internet location to see how to cite the internet.

Bibliography Citation Maker
http://bvsd.k12.co.us/research/bibliography.html

Be prepared to discuss the implications of your research with the class.