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2019　Ethics in Engineering C

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Academic unit or major
Humanities and social science courses
Instructor(s)
Fudano Jun 
Class Format
Lecture     
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Tue7-8(W931)  Fri7-8(W931)  
Group
-
Course number
LAH.T305
Credits
2
Academic year
2019
Offered quarter
1Q
Syllabus updated
2019/3/19
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

One of the goals of this course is to cultivate the attitude to share the values which should be held 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. Furthermore, it is expected to understand how to behave in an organization as ethical scientists/engineers through the analysis of concrete cases. The responsible conduct of research and development is also an important component of this course.
In addition to the above objectives, in this junior-senior level course, it is expected that the students demonstrate their ability to examine and analyze concrete cases of science and engineering ethics and to present the results of their analysis.

Student learning outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to
1) 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
7) understand the social responsibility of organization and design one's conduct in organization
8) understand the characteristics of responsible conduct of research and share the values for researchers
9) understand the basic elements of the organizational ethics program as well as of the research ethics program and design a concrete program
10) carry out a research on a case having to do with science and engineering ethics and present the results of the research

Keywords

Science, Technology and Society, Scientists, Engineers, Ethics, Seven-Step-Guide for Ethical Decision Making, Preventive Ethics, Aspirational Ethics、Well-being、Positive Psychology, Social Responsibility of the Organization, Responsible Conduct of Research, ethics program, research ethics program

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 １）　Course guidance and education objectives 2) What is "science and engineering ethics in a new era" After the class, 1) to answer the course questionnaire, and 2) to take the VIA survey on the VIA Institute site and understand the character strengths. https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/account/register
Class 2 1) Lecture: Engineering ethics cases and how to analyze them 2) Group discussion: engineering ethics case analysis Before the class, 1) read Chapters 1-7 of the textbook A After the class, 2) prepare for the presentation of the group discussion resultｓ ３） start working on the research on an engineering ethics case
Class 3 1) Group presentation: an engineering ethics case analysis 2) Lecture: Corporate Ethics Program Before the class, 1) read Chapters 8-15 of the textbook A After the class, 2) work on the assignment on the corporate ethics program
Class 4 1) Lecture: Research ethics cases and how to analyze them 2) Group discussion: research ethics case analysis Before the class, 1) read Chapters 1-7 of the textbook A After the class, 2) prepare for the presentation of the group discussion resultｓ ３） start working on the research on a research ethics case
Class 5 1) Group presentation: an engineering ethics case analysis 2) Lecture: Good Work Before the class, 1) read Chapters 6-9 of the textbook A After the class, 2) work on the assignment on the corporate ethics program
Class 6 1) Lecture: Science/engineering ethics and well-being 2) Group discussion: What is the well-being for us? After the class, 1) prepare for the presentation of the group discussion resultｓ ３） start working on the research on an engineering ethics case
Class 7 1) Lecture: Engineering ethics cases and how to analyze them 2) Group discussion4: engineering ethics case analysis After the class, 1) prepare for the presentation of the group discussion resultｓ
Class 8 1) Group presentation: an engineering ethics case analysis After the class, 1) write comments on the presentations
Class 9 1) Lecture: Research ethics cases and how to analyze them 2) Group discussion4: engineering ethics case analysis After the class, 1) prepare for the presentation of the group discussion resultｓ
Class 10 1) Group presentation: a research ethics case analysis After the class, 1) write comments on the presentations
Class 11 1) Presentations on the results of engineering ethics case research 2) Comments by the instructor After the class, 1) write comments on the presentations
Class 12 1) Presentations on the results of research ethics case research 2) Comments by the instructor After the class, 1) write comments on the presentations
Class 13 1) Presentations on the results of the research on ethics program 2) Comments by the instructor After the class, 1) write comments on the presentations
Class 14 1) Presentations on the results of the research on Good Work 2) Comments by the instructor After the class, 1) write comments on the presentations
Class 15 Group discussion: What can we do for the sound development of science and engineering ethics Before the class, 1) write a paper on the theme of the final group discussion

Textbook(s)

A. Jun Fudano et al., Atarasiijidai no gijyutusyarinnri (Engineering Ethics in a New Era) (in Japanese), Open University of Japan Press, 2015
B. Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Editing Committee "for the Sound Development of Science," For the Sound Development of Science: The Attitude of a Conscientious Scientist, Maruzen Publishing, 2015

Reference books, course materials, etc.

To be announced in the first class

Assessment criteria and methods

1) Class participation (attendance, group discussion, presentation) 20%
2) Assignments 20%
3) Reports 50%
4) 0thers 10%

Related courses

  • LAH.T105 ： Ethics in Engineering A
  • LAH.T206 ： Ethics in Engineering B

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

No prerequisite, but it is strongly recommended to have taken Ethics in Engineering and Science A and Ethics in Engineering and Science B.

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