Teaching Engineering Ethics in the High School Classroom Presented by:

1. Teaching Engineering Ethics in the High School Classroom Presented by: Craig Titus Head Teaching Assistant – EPICS

2. Goals for Today • Understand “Ethics” in practical language • Understand “Professional Ethics” • Have tools to engage students in learning ethics • Have a continuing resource to share experiences

6. What are the ethical issues?

8. What are the ethical issues?

12. ETHICS

13. ETHICS: • The theory of how we ought to act. • The cohesive set of principles which guide & evaluate behavior. • The rules of conduct recognized in certain associations or departments of human life. • Organized in CODES or FRAMEWORKS • MORALITY: • Behaviorconforming to accepted moral standards

14. Utility Sub-cultures Profession # 2 Culture Virtues Contracts Friends Rights Etc. Profession #1 Family Partnerships

15. MORAL LANGUAGE: • Right = Agrees with some standard or principle of moral correctness. • Wrong = Deviates from that moral standard.  • Good actions = Likely to lead to your intended end (right actions). • Badactions= Unlikely to lead toward your intended end. • Fact = Scientifically verifiable information about your situation. • Value = Personal opinion or belief.

16. PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

17. Utility Sub-cultures Profession # 2 Culture Virtues Contracts Friends Rights Etc. Profession #1 Family Partnerships

18. The Attributes of a Profession: • Involves work that requires sophisticated skills, judgment, and discretion. The work is not capable of being mechanized. • Membership requires extensive formal education, not only field work or an apprenticeship. • Self Regulating: Members set standards of admission, conduct, and quality –– and enforce these standards.

19. NSPE CODE OF ETHICS: Engineers, in the fulfilment of their professional duties, shall: Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public. Perform services only in areas of their competence. Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner. Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees. Avoid deceptive acts. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically, and lawfully…

20. Ethical Decision Making

21. Ethical Decision Making Process • State problem • Check facts • Develop list of several possible options • Test options hypothetically • Make a choice • Follow through on your choice!

22. Evaluate the options by asking the following questions: • The Utilitarian Approach • Which option will produce the most good and do the least harm? • The Rights Approach • Which option best respects the rights of all who have a stake? • The Justice Approach • Which option treats people as I want to be treated? • The Ethic of Care Approach • Which option is best for those most in need? • The Virtue Approach • Which option leads me to act as a respectable person?

23. So ethics is different from design, right? WRONG! • Design Process Ethical Decision Making Process • Project Identification • Specification development • Conceptual design • Detailed design • Delivery • Service and Maintenance • State problem • Check facts • Develop list of options • Test options • Make a choice • Follow through!

24. Questions? • Contact: Craig Titus • ctitus@purdue.edu