Community resourceWorksheet

J277 1.6.1 Technology and wider society

Part 1 of 5 · J277 1.6 · Digital impacts: Essentials

An introduction to the ethical, legal, cultural, environmental and privacy issues in J277 1.6.

Students will:

  • recognise the five issue areas and where they overlap
  • identify the people affected by a technology
  • develop a feature into a consequence
  • explain a benefit and a concern in context
  • distinguish legal permission from fairness

Inside: 4 text sections, 3 multiple-choice activities, 1 completion activity, 6 written answers. 17 marks. Suggested teaching time: 40–60 minutes. 1 diagram.

Includes a teacher guide with suggested sections, timings and common misconceptions.

Series: J277 1.6 · Digital impacts: Essentials, part 1 of 5.

Shared by Coding PathwayVerified teacher

  • 14 cells
  • About 45 minutes
  • CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Shared 17 Aug 2026
  • Updated 27 Oct 2026

Preview

The whole resource, exactly as a class sees it. Answers and marking are held back.

Technology and wider society

The same technology can help some people and create difficulties for others. Explain what changes, who is affected and why it matters.

IssueWhat it concerns
EthicalWhether an action is fair, right or responsible.
LegalWhat the law allows or prohibits.
CulturalChanges to ways of life, communication and participation.
EnvironmentalMaterials, energy, pollution and waste.
PrivacyInformation about people: what is observed, collected or shared.

Issues can overlap. A legal action can still be considered unfair.

Fill in the blanks3 marks
Whether an action is fair is an Answer 1 issue. What the law permits is a Answer 2 issue. Control over information about yourself is a Answer 3 issue.
  • privacy
  • ethical
  • legal
  • bandwidth
  • compression
Multiple choice1 mark

Which change most directly creates an environmental concern?

  • AA device needs more raw materials and creates more electronic waste
  • BA message takes less time to arrive
  • CA user chooses a larger font
  • DA file name becomes easier to remember
Multiple choice1 mark

An online language service helps families keep using a language that few people speak locally. Which issue does this most directly illustrate?

  • AMemory capacity
  • BCultural participation
  • CProcessor performance
  • DPassword strength

1. Build a consequence

A stakeholder is a person or group affected by a decision. For example, sending appointment reminders may reduce missed appointments, so staff spend less time rearranging them.

The diagram is a thinking aid. You do not need to follow a named paragraph formula.

From a technology feature to an impact Four linked steps: identify what the technology does, who is affected, what changes for them, and why the change matters. This is a thinking aid, not a required paragraph formula. Develop the consequence Technology featureWhat does it do? Person or groupWho is affected? Direct effectWhat changes for them? ConsequenceWhy does that matter?
Written answer1 mark

A gallery sells tickets through an app used by visitors. Name one stakeholder affected by this decision.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer2 marks

A gallery starts selling tickets through an app. Explain one possible benefit for visitors.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer2 marks

A gallery accepts only app bookings. A visitor has no compatible phone. Explain one disadvantage for this visitor.

Students type their answer here.

2. Apply the ideas elsewhere

Use a detail from each new situation. An issue label alone does not explain an impact.

Written answer2 marks

A library starts an online reading group that includes people living abroad. Explain one cultural benefit.

Students type their answer here.

Written answer2 marks

A school repairs its existing computers instead of replacing the whole machines. Explain one environmental benefit.

Students type their answer here.

Multiple choice1 mark

Which statement about law and ethics is accurate?

  • AA legal action must be fair to everyone
  • BEthics applies only when equipment fails
  • CAn action can follow the law and still be considered unfair
  • DLegal and ethical always mean the same thing
Written answer2 marks

An app-only gallery booking system excludes visitors without a suitable phone. Suggest one change and explain how it could reduce this problem.

Students type their answer here.

Review

Improve one answer by making the affected person or consequence clearer. Later worksheets apply these ideas to law and software licences.