Introducing Ethics Case Studies into Required Undergraduate Engineering Courses

为了锻炼领导力，工程教育工作者需要为他们的学生提供工具，以识别和适当地应对具有道德维度的工程问题。这项试点研究将测试将伦理决策问题引入必修本科工程课程的方法。这项研究有双重目的：开发和测试一种案例研究方法，使工程专业学生对工程决策中涉及的伦理问题敏感，并为他们提供以清晰和负责任的方式思考这些问题的概念工具。这些目标将通过收集和编目包括技术和伦理问题的相关案例研究来实现。这些案例将为大约10个模块的开发提供基础，这些模块将被纳入选定的必修工程课程的教学大纲。该案例将超越传统的部门学科界限，涵盖环境影响、产品质量、安全和结构设计等主题。他们将在土木、化学和机械工程系的选定课程中进行测试。该研究还将开发一本附有注释和编目的案例研究的参考书，并附有课堂使用指导材料。这些材料在课堂上的使用将由学生和教师以及一个精心挑选的国家咨询委员会进行评价，其中一些将录成录像带。研究结果将在专业学会会议上广泛报道，特别是在美国工程教育学会的年度会议上。这一建议侧重于伦理与价值观研究的一个重要领域。这个调查小组的素质很好；这个计划考虑周到，可行；大学的支持非常好。研究结果可能会改善该校乃至全国本科课程的工程伦理学教学。鉴于该建议的优点和普遍积极的审查，强烈建议予以支持。

To exercise leadership, engineering educators need to provide their students with the tools to identify and respond appropriately to engineering problems with ethical dimensions. This pilot study will test an approach for introducing ethical decision problems into required undergraduate engineering courses. The study has a dual purpose: to develop and test a case study approach to sensitizing engineering students to the ethical issues involved in their engineering decision making, and to provide them with conceptual tools for thinking about these problems in a clear and responsible manner. These goals will be achieved by collecting and cataloging relevant case studies which include both technical and ethical issues. These cases will provide the basis for the development of aproximately 10 modules that will be integrated into the syllabi of selected required engineering courses. The case will transcend traditional departmental disciplinary lines and will cover such topics as environmental impact, product quality, safety and structural design. They will be tested om selected classes in the Civil, Chemical, and Mechanical Engineering departments. The study will also develop a resources book of annotated and catalogued case studies complete with classroom use guidance material. The use of the material in classroom sessions, some of which will be recorded on videotape, will be evaluated by students and faculty, and by a carefully selected national advisory committee. Results will be widely reported at professional society meetings, particularly the annual meeting of the American Society of Engineering Education. This proposal focuses on an important area in Ethic and Values Studies. The team of investigators is very well qualified; the plan is thoughtful and feasible; university support is extremely good. Results are likely to improve the teaching of engineering ethics on this campus and in undergraduate curricula nationwide. Based on the merits of the proposal and the generally positive review, support is highly recommended.