Piloting an Adaptive Ethical Decision-making Tool for Engineering Students

“Mapping” the Landscape of First-Year Engineering Students’ Conceptualizations of Ethical Decision Making

10.18260/1-2--36534 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Joshua Reed ◽

Scott Streiner ◽

Daniel Burkey ◽

Richard Cimino ◽

Jennifer Pascal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Engineering Students ◽

Ethical Decision ◽

Ethical Decision Making ◽

First Year

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DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERACTIVE ONLINE ETHICS SCENARIO ACTIVITY FOR ENGINEERING STUDENTS

Proceedings of the Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA) ◽

10.24908/pceea.vi0.14144 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Peter M. Ostafichuk ◽

Carol P. Jaeger ◽

Jonathan Nakane

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Engineering Students ◽

Ethical Decision ◽

Ethical Decision Making ◽

Student Feedback ◽

First Year ◽

Survey Tool ◽

Unethical Behaviour ◽

University Of British Columbia ◽

The University

This paper describes development and deployment of an online interactive ethical decision-making simulation. This tool was piloted in a first-year introduction to engineering course at the University of British Columbia. It used a “choose your own adventure” style of decision-making and narrative to add realism and engagement to what was otherwise viewed by students as dry, uninteresting content. After storyboarding using sticky notes and Visio, the final tool used by students was implemented and deployed using a survey tool (Qualtrics). It featured a scenario with initially incomplete information and the appearance of unethical behaviour by others. It included decision-based branching, but also randomization such that different groups had the story unfold differently, even if they made the same initial decisions. Student feedback on this tool was very positive, suggesting this style of interactive online ethics simulation could be an effective tool for enhancing engagement and learning.

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Ethical Decision-Making in Biomedical Engineering Research

Encyclopedia of Healthcare Information Systems ◽

10.4018/978-1-59904-889-5.ch068 ◽

2008 ◽

pp. 534-540

Author(s):

Monique Frize ◽

Irena Zamboni

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Biomedical Engineering ◽

Engineering Students ◽

Ethical Decision ◽

Ethical Decision Making ◽

Moral Dilemmas ◽

Clinical Engineering ◽

Ethical Guidelines ◽

Application Process ◽

Engineering Research

To be ethical and professional are terms that are synonymous with being an engineer. The work of engineers frequently affects public safety and health, and can influence business, and even politics. Professional Engineering Associations provide ethical guidelines so that engineers will know how to avoid misconduct, negligence, incompetence, and corruption, which could lead to formal complaints and discipline. Knowledge about ethical decision-making guides engineers facing complex and difficult moral dilemmas (Andrews, 2005, pp. 46). Biomedical engineers doing research and development will undoubtedly be involved in projects that impact humans and/or animals, and thus must be informed on all aspects of ethics that guide such research. They should be particularly aware of the specific guidelines of the institution where the work is to be carried-out and be familiar with the application process to obtain a certificate, allowing the research to proceed. There is clearly a need to guide biomedical engineering students and practitioners in performing a balanced analysis of difficult questions and issues, while respecting societal values that may differ greatly from their own (Frize, 1996; Frize, 2005; Saha & Saha, 1997; Wueste, 1997). There exists a number of articles discussing biomedical engineering and ethics specifically aimed at clinical engineers (Goodman, 1989; Saha & Saha, 1986). These are helpful readings for anyone involved in biomedical research or clinical engineering.

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