Builder's Bastion
For the people who guide

Discussion guide for mentors, teachers and parents

Module 1 works on its own, and it works better as a conversation. Use these questions before, during and after each lesson.

How to use this guide

Let the learner do the activity first, then talk. Ask open questions, say "what makes you think that?" more than you explain, and share a mistake of your own. A shared story teaches more than a lecture.

Lesson 1: Reputation is an asset

  • Think of someone whose word you trust. How did they earn it, and how long did it take?
  • Which of the four ingredients (competence, honesty, reliability, care) do you find easiest to show? Which is hardest?
  • What would you not want a search for your name to reveal in ten years?

Lesson 2: Scenario Lab I

  • Which scenario was hardest? What made the shortcut tempting?
  • Which of the Four Questions do you most often skip when rushed?
  • Replay and choose the opposite of every solid call. What changes?

Lesson 3: Who owns what

  • Explain in your own words why buying a copy is not buying the copyright.
  • Why is a written agreement important when a freelancer builds something for a client?
  • How would you add real human work to something made with AI tools?

Lesson 4: Licenses and permission

  • Pick an image or font you use. Trace its origin and license. Can you prove it?
  • What would you say to someone who believes "credit is enough"?
  • What would you do on receiving a takedown notice you cannot answer?

Lesson 5: Names, brands and trademarks

  • What makes a name strong versus weak, and why does it matter?
  • Run the name checks on a real brand idea. What did you find?
  • How can you mention another brand honestly in your own marketing?

Lesson 6: Honest claims

  • Find an ad. Which claims could you prove? Which are puffery?
  • Rewrite one of your own claims with the "could I prove it before publishing?" test.
  • When is urgency honest, and when is it manufactured?

Lesson 7: Privacy and people's data

  • What personal data does a typical small shop actually need? What is only nice to have?
  • Would you be comfortable if the people in your list read your privacy policy?
  • Which security habit will you start this week?

Lesson 8: Agreements and fixing mistakes

  • Which clause would have prevented the last misunderstanding you had about a project?
  • Describe a mistake you made. How would the four repair steps have changed the outcome?
  • What is the difference between a firm boundary and a hostile one?

Lesson 9: Capstone Lab and final check

  • Which capstone decision involved more than one lesson at once?
  • Which questions on the final check did you miss, and what does that tell you to review?

Lesson 10: Your Builder's Code

  • Read each other's Codes aloud. What did you choose, and why?
  • When might following your Code cost you something? Is it still worth it?
  • Where will you keep the card so you will see it?

Hands-on follow-ups

  1. License hunt. Find three images online and trace each to its owner and license, then add them to a license log.
  2. Source sheet. Start a simple list of everything you use in a project and where it came from.
  3. Honest page. Write a one-paragraph description of something real or imaginary, then check every claim.

Platform age rules

Check before signing up. Many platforms, marketplaces and payment services set a minimum age, often 13 or 18, and some require a parent or guardian to hold the account. These rules differ by service and country and can change. Read each platform's terms together before anyone creates an account or sells anything.

A note on this guide

Builder's Bastion offers general education, not legal advice. For questions about a specific situation, rules in your country or a platform's terms, consult the original terms or a qualified professional.

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