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2019　Ethics in Engineering A

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Academic unit or major
Humanities and social science courses
Instructor(s)
Okita Yuji 
Class Format
Lecture     
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Mon5-6(S421)  
Group
-
Course number
LAH.T105
Credits
1
Academic year
2019
Offered quarter
3Q
Syllabus updated
2019/9/17
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

Think about what a student is. One of the goals of this course is to cultivate the attitude to share the values which should be hold paramount by the scientists and engineers, through the understanding of the effects and impacts of science and technology on human society and on the natural environment. The second goal is to learn a practical method (the Seven-Step Guide) for ethical decision making by examining various cases which the future scientists and engineers might face with in their practice. In this course, the concept of "Aspirational Ethics" is emphasized in addition to that of "Preventive Ethics," which is the traditional approach of science and engineering ethics education. It is also presented that "ethical" scientists and engineers can contribute to the well-being of the public as well as maintain and raise their own well-being.

Student learning outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to
1) explain the difference of a student and a professional scientist and engineer
understand the positive and negative impacts of science and engineering on human society and on the natural environment
2) understand the importance of aspirational ethics in addition to that of preventive ethics
3) use a tool for ethical decision making
4) understand one's own character strengths
5) understand the elements of well-being and recognize that contributing to something larger than yourself can raise your own well-being
6) understand the values which scientists and engineers should hold paramount and develop an attitude to share those values

Keywords

Science, Technology and Society, Scientists, Engineers, Ethics, Seven-Step-Guide for Ethical Decision Making, Preventive Ethics, Aspirational Ethics、Well-being、Positive Psychology

Competencies that will be developed

Specialist skills ✔ Intercultural skills ✔ Communication skills Critical thinking skills ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

The course is designed with the active-learning approach. Therefore, in addition to the acquisition and understanding information on science and engineering through lectures, students are expected to participate actively in writing reports, presenting them, and working as a group. It is essentially important for students to attend all the classes.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Guidance, Introduction　to science and engineering ethics, information on assignments Differece between a student and a professonal
Class 2 Ethics and applied ethics（such as engineerin ehics, research ethics, environment ethics and so on） Case discussion (Johnson & Johnson) Preventive ethics and aspirational ethics After the class, students are expected to Preparation: text reading on the part indicated at the class After the class: summarize the results of group discussion and submit a report before the third class.
Class 3 Science, technology and society (Hokkaido blackout, Earthquake at East Japan) Good Work Challenger case reading for the 4th class
Class 4 Group discussion on the Challenger case Lecture on the seven step guide After the class: Preparation of the report on the Challenger case by use of the seven step guide (submit at the 5th class)
Class 5 Challenger case and Citicorp case Safty, risk and risk management Prepare good work report (submit at the 6th class) Textbook reading on the asigned part
Class 6 Group discussion and lecture on research integrity Examination of the Code of Conduct for Scientists Prepeare research integrity report(submit at the 7th class)
Class 7 Law and ethics, explanation of final exam
Class 8 Summary, final exam (final report creation)

Textbook(s)

Jun Fudano, Atarasiijidai no gijyutusyarinnri (Engineering Ethics in a New Era) (in Japanese), Open University of Japan Press, 2015

Reference books, course materials, etc.

To be introduced and explained in the first class of the course

Assessment criteria and methods

1) Class participation (attendance, group discussion, presentation) 30%
2) Small assignments 40%
3) Final Reports 20%
4) 0thers 10%

Related courses

  • LAH.T206 ： Ethics in Engineering B
  • LAH.T305 ： Ethics in Engineering C

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

No prerequisite

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