Doug Johnson

Reviews of Learning Right from Wrong in the Digital Age: An Ethics Guide for Parents, Teachers, Librarians, and Others Who Care about Computer-Using Young People
Linworth, 2003

In today’s digital world, young people need to understand the issues of right and wrong as related to the computer/Internet world. This book goes a long way in providing information and resources to help parents, librarians, teachers and anyone else who’s interested understand how to make informed and ethical decisions in the computer age. -Jean Reese, MultiMedia Schools, Nov/Dec 2003.

With lawsuits against music downloaders making headlines, a new book addressing ethical computer behavior couldn’t be more timely. - American Libraries, Dec. 2003.

Johnson’s “3 P’s of Technology Ethics,” Privacy, Property, and a(P)propriate use, are effectively and excitingly addressed through both discussion and instructional scenarios. An introductory overview contrasts similar ethical situations encountered in the physical and digital world, highlighting how easily we can fool ourselves into rationalizing online behavior we would never countenance in our daily life. Sidebar exercises focus on necessary considerations, such as online codes kids use, need-to-know terminology, and vital vocabulary differentiations of loaded and legal terms. Johnson’s Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics set the stage for the three main chapters, each of which focuses on one of the 3 P’s and includes a section defining and presenting ethical and legal considerations, followed by 12 scenarios as well as discussion questions. Combined, the 36 one-page scenarios provide a wide range of situations, questions, and comments. The final section zeroes in on what teachers and parents must do to promote ethical behaviors and includes sample guidelines and rules, 16 detailed suggestions for designing LPP projects (Low Probability of Plagiarism), and a research question rubric. The 40 pages of appendixes include discussion-provoking ethics questionnaires, sample policies and use agreements, Web-page creation guidelines, and plagiarism guidelines. - Mary R. Hofmann, School Library Journal Dec 2003 .

Johnson’s guide should be required reading. It makes clear what is often unclear and ambiguous…  - Linda D. Behen, Library Media Connection, February 2004. Starred review - Highly recommended.