Teaching Ideas

Shareware

KEY IDEAS

Does the fact that a program is shareware mean that you can copy and distribute it freely?

MATERIALS

1. Online Computers with CD burners
   
   
2. Blank CDs

BACKGROUND

See the scenario on shareware.

PROCEDURE

1. Have the students each take a CD and make a copy of a software program that they find on the Internet and believe is legally available to them for free.
   
   
2. Have the students exchange CDs.
   
   
3. Challenge them to do research to determine whether their classmate's CD is a legal copy.
   
   
4. They should question each other in order to learn details about the use of the CD.

DISCUSSION

1. Before the lesson, have students provide examples of shareware and freeware programs they use and how they work.
   
   
2. What are the legal and ethical implications of using shareware?
   
   
3. After the lesson, discuss the scenario in greater detail, having students discuss the lessons they've learned.
   
   
4. Contemplate with them whether the same ruling would occur given some variables.

ASSESSMENT

Have students write a brief reflection on what they learned about using shareware.