Conference Session

Contemporary Issues in Engineering Ethics

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Seamus Freyne, Manhattan College; J.Patrick Abulencia, Manhattan College; Powell Draper, Manhattan College

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Ethics

ethical issue? The possible responses were “agree strongly with viewpoint A,” “lean toward viewpoint A,” “neutral,” “lean toward viewpoint B,” and “agree strongly with viewpoint B.”• How would you describe your interest in this ethical issue? The possible responses were “high,” “significant,” “moderate,” “little,” and “none.”• Do you think your viewpoint would change with thorough study of this ethical issue? The possible responses were “yes,” “probably,” “maybe,” “unlikely,” and “no.”• How relevant is this ethical issue to your career plans? The possible responses were “very much,” “considerably,” “somewhat,” “hardly,” and “not.”• How important is this ethical issue to society? The possible responses were “very much,” “considerably

Conference Session

Contemporary Issues in Engineering Ethics

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

George Catalano, State University of New York, Binghamton; Caroline Baillie, Western Australia

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Ethics

implementation strategies: “Promote broad understanding of political, economic, social and technical issues and processes as related to sustainable development. Advance the skills, knowledge and information to facilitate a sustainable future; including habitats, natural systems, system flows, and the effects of all phases of the life cycle of projects on the ecosystem. Advocate economic approaches that recognize natural Page 15.479.4 resources and our environment as capital assets. Promote multidisciplinary, whole system, integrated and multi-objective goals in all phases of project planning, design

Conference Session

Novel Methods in Engineering Ethics

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Marilyn Dyrud, Oregon Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Ethics

from its social, economic, and politicalcontexts and view it as a singularly technical venture also serves to remove the responsibility forthe use of these technological creations.A study of unintended consequences clearly links design, use, and responsibility issues. For the Page 15.526.2purposes of this paper, we will use Daniel Little’s definition of the term as “a result that cameabout because of deliberate actions and policies that were set in [motion] at an earlier time—soan unintended consequence is the result of deliberate action. But the outcome is not one of thegoals to which the plan or action was directed; it is ‘unintended

Conference Session

Engineering Ethics Outside the Classroom

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Dominic Halsmer, Oral Roberts University; Elliott Butay, Oral Roberts University; Ben Hase, Oral Roberts University; Sean McDonough, Oral Roberts University; Taylor Tryon, Oral Roberts University; Joshua Weed, Oral Roberts University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Ethics

professional preparation programs have content that can help students become aware of, and examine, their own mental models, beliefs and values, metaphysical assumptions, and future plans and aspirations. But this content will not generate that awareness and enable that examination unless it is accompanied by appropriate pedagogical strategies. Most important, both the curricula and teaching practices need to be accompanied by teachers who are themselves authentic, who are open and candid, [and] who share their own searching, their own concerns, and their own struggles, past and present.”11However, not much is offered in terms of how an engineering curriculum might bespecifically upgraded in this regard

Conference Session

Novel Methods in Engineering Ethics

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Carlos Bertha, U.S. Air Force Academy

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Ethics

thesecond portion of this presentation: using case studies in class.How to Use Case StudiesRecommendations provided fall into two categories: on the one hand there is preparation andpresentation (here the advice will be quite mechanical), and, on the other hand, we have Page 15.657.4suggestions for effective casuistic analysis.Preparation and PresentationFor short illustrations, movie clips, etc., the faculty member is probably the only one who needsto prepare. Longer and more complicated cases, however, may require student preparation andin these cases prior planning is key. Give students ample notice regarding what they need to do(read a case

Conference Session

Novel Methods in Engineering Ethics

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jill May, Illinois Institute of Technology; Daniel Gandara, Illinois Institute of Technology; Margaret Huyck, Illinois Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Ethics

11.12% of the variance. The data provide initial evidence that ethical climate is relevant to undergraduate researchteams. The ECQ needs a few further revisions in order to successfully evaluate the ethicalclimate of undergraduate teams. The analyses indicate that four items should be removed fromthe questionnaire because they do not clearly load onto single factors. There are five clearfactors, representing the different types of ethical climate. However, it seems that a few of theitems did not adequately sample the last two ethical types. We will include additional items ofcaring/ benefit to the team and independence in the next revision of the measure. Our original intent was to use rwg when deriving the plan on how to analyze

Conference Session

Contemporary Issues in Engineering Ethics

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ahmed Khan, DeVry University; Abdul Qadeer, Urdu Science University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Ethics

Implications of Technology. He teaches Wireless Engineering, Network Engineering, Fiber Optic Communications, Technology and Society, and Project Management. He also advises students on their senior design projects. He is author of “The Telecommunications Fact Book, 2E” and co-author of “Technology and Society: Crossroads to the 21st Century,” “Technology and Society: A Bridge to the 21st Century,” and “Technology and Society: Issues for the 21st Century and Beyond.” He is a member of ASEE, and a senior member of IEEE.Abdul Qadeer, Urdu Science University Dr. Abdul Qadeer is the Director of Academic Planning and Development at Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences and Technology (FUUAST), Karachi

Conference Session

Engineering Ethics Outside the Classroom

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael Bowler, Michigan Technological University; Susie Amato-Henderson, Michigan Technological University; Tom Drummer, Michigan Technological University; Joseph Holles, Michigan Technological University; Ted Lockhart, Michigan Technological University; Joanna Schreiber, Michigan Technological University; Debra Charlesworth, Michigan Technological University; Jingfang Ren, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Ethics

– unfair peer review (RCR) 2.892 (1.41) -0.304 (1.14)Arnaut – not informing of side effects 3.438 (1.62) 0.819 (1.54)(RCR)Arnaut – firing Dr. Watson (non-RCR) 2.619 (1.64)Using these ES difference scores as a measure of relative sensitivity to RCR issues compared tonon-RCR issues, a series of planned independent groups t-tests (alpha = .05) examined ES scoresand ES difference scores between native English speakers (n = 28) and non-native Englishspeakers (n = 12). This analysis was conducted to examine our premise that simply measuringethical sensitivity on RCR issues is not an accurate indication of differences in RCR ethicalsensitivity – a measure of relative sensitivity is needed. For example, just

Conference Session

Integrating Engineering Ethics into the Curriculum

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Edward Glynn, Villanova University; Frank Falcone, Villanova University; Mark Doorley, Villanova University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Ethics

have time available to devote to such a newendeavor. The long range plan is to hold this Workshop every other year during this time periodand to hope to attract different faculty members at each successive offering. It is worth notingthat the week prior to graduation is a very popular time to hold committee meetings, departmentmeetings and other campus-wide workshops on such topics as teaching effectiveness. ManyCoE faculty members could not attend the Workshop because of other commitments.In order to address the full range of issues deemed necessary by the Workshop organizers, twofull days of instruction/interaction were required. In addition, a day of reflection was includedbetween these two days in order for participants to consider the

Conference Session

Engineering Ethics Outside the Classroom

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Traci Nathans-Kelly, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Sandra Courter, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Kevin Anderson, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Christine Nicometo, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Thomas McGlamery, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Ethics

of ethics, perhapsKultgen says it best: “Codes of ethics are official expressions of normative components in theself-images of the professions, as well as the ideas to which the professional is alleged to becommitted” 8 These professional codes are prescriptive and even reactive; they reflect the state ofthe profession. They are vague by necessity, and they avoid addressing elements may notnormally fall into personal codes of ethics, such the statue in the NSPE’s entreaty tonot “complete, sign, or seal plans and/or specifications that are not in conformity with applicableengineering standards” 9.Drawn more closely, organizational codes of ethics are the behaviors set forth by individualorganizations to serve those organizations both

Conference Session

Novel Methods in Engineering Ethics

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Craig Titus, Purdue University; Carla Zoltowski, Purdue University; William Oakes, Purdue University

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Ethics

, your design team listened to another team discuss its plans for building a pedestrian bridge over the Wabash river. As they talked, you notice a component of the design that is specific to your discipline that you think could be designed better, possibly saving money while increasing safety. But this is not your team and you do not know any of the team members personally. How do you handle the situation? 1. You do nothing. This is not your team and it is wrong to interfere. 2. You offer to help, thinking you can get credit for working on this project in addition to your own. 3. You tell a mutual friend to make the suggestion. You know you should say

Conference Session

Integrating Engineering Ethics into the Curriculum

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Steven Culver, Virginia Tech; Vinod Lohani, Virginia Tech; Ishwar Puri, Virginia Tech

Tagged Divisions

Engineering Ethics

emerging technologies: the role ofEngineers; and Ethics and sustainability education. Another workshop is planned forsummer 2010 and details are being discussed at the time of this writing.Spiral Curriculum WorkThe graduate course, discussed above, evolved, not only through the work of the GILEEgroup and its focus on ethics, but also as a natural evolution of previous curriculum workdone in the college. As a part of a major NSF grant led by one of the authors [8], a spiralcurriculum framework has been developed to reformulate engineering curriculum of thebio-process engineering which is a part of the Biological Systems Engineeringdepartment at Virginia Tech. The twentieth century psychologist, Jerome Bruner,proposed the concept of the spiral