Non-Apologetic Computer Ethics Education:
A Strategy for Integrating Social Impact and Ethics into the Computer Science Curriculum

C. Dianne Martin and Hilary J. Holz

• 1. Introduction
• 1.1 New CS Curriculum Standards
• 1.2 Teaching the Ethics Component
• 2. Creating a Social and Ethical Context
• 2.1 The Freshman Computers and Society Course
• 2.1.1 Format
• 2.1.2 Teaching Analysis Skills
• 2.1.3 Teaching Social Impact Awareness
• 2.2 Social Impact Modules
• 2.3 Senior Software Engineering Project
• 3. Discussion
• 3.1 Beyond the Computer Science Curriculum
• 4. References
• 5. Sample Primary Source List of Readings

2.3 Senior Software Engineering Project

The senior software engineering project has been traditionally required in most computer science curricula for the purpose of integrating and personalizing the technical skills which the student has been developing for three years. In the new ethical framework proposed in this paper, an ethics component would be added to the senior project. Under the proposed framework, the student enters the senior project with both skills and experience in making ethical and societal analyses of computer-related topics.

Two new components are added to the project: an impact statement and an ethics diary. The ethics diary is kept as part of the lab log, listing ethical dilemmas that arose along the way, and the resolution of those dilemmas. (An example of an ethical dilemma might be the lack of time for the student to do adequate testing to insure reliability of the product.) The ethics diary follows the form of the scenario evaluation, in which the student compares personal responses to codes of conduct. The diary forms the basis for the impact statement. The impact statement presents an analysis of the ethical and societal implications of the product. It would discuss such things as the quality, reliability, capabilities and limitations of the product. It would also discuss the impact that the product would have on both primary and secondary users as it relates to their jobs and quality of life.

Go to: 3. Discussion

Home > Teaching Resources > Teaching Computer Ethics > Non-Apologetic Computer Ethics Education

Back to the Main Site

HOME | IN THE NEWS | RESEARCH RESOURCES
TEACHING RESOURCES | STUDENT RESOURCES | LINKS

The Research Center on Computing & Society
at Southern Connecticut State University
501 Crescent Street | New Haven, CT 06515
Director: (203) 392-6790 | e-mail: webmaster@computerethics.org

© 2000 – 2004 – Research Center on Computing & Society