Implementation

I initially used two class periods to present and discuss the frameworks for ethical decision-making (see Deontological Approaches, Ethics Relativism, and Utilitarianism). The following several weeks of class were devoted to seminar presentations unrelated to ethics (i.e. students presenting their research). Later in the semester, I devoted two additional classes to ethics.  During these, I emphasized ethics in a more applied context by using case studies as examples; I also presented smaller amounts of new theory that related to the earlier class periods.

I gave one written assignment which involved making a decision based on a case study. The case study, recommended to me by a colleague, was reported in the journal Science. The story describes graduate students’ responses to their academic advisor allegedly falsifying data.  I selected this assignment because of its relevance to my students’ lives (or at least current life stage). I wanted students to explain the steps they followed in making the decision and how they used ethical theory in justifying their decision. When I gave the assignment, I also gave students a rubric describing aspects of excellent performance. Overall, the assignment was worth 10% of their grade in the course.