Case Analysis Module: Hughes Aircraft

Abstract:: This module, designed for the EAC Toolkit, will test the Toolkit and Connexion's ability to network different online and offline sources for ethics across the curriculum. It consists of four components designed to provide students with tools for carrying out an in-depth analysis of the cases found at www.computingcases.org; it also makes substantial references to the draft manuscript of a textbook in computer ethics entitled Good Computing: A Virtue Approach to Computer Ethics under contract with Jones and Bartlett Publishing Company. The module presents the case abstract and timeline. It then refers students to computingcases.org where they will find the case narrative, history, and supporting documents that provide background information necessary for analysis. The case abstract and timeline introduce students to the basic outlines of the case. The accompanying decision point taken from the case provides students with the necessary focus to carry out an in-depth analysis. Students respond to the decision-point by working through the four stages: problem specification, solution generation, solution testing, and solution implementation.

No Strings Attached

Case Analysis Module: Therac-25

Abstract:: This module, designed for the EAC Toolkit (NSF SES 0551779) will test the Toolkit and Connexion's ability to network different online and offline sources for ethics across the curriculum. It consists of four components designed to provide students with tools for carrying out an in-depth analysis of the cases found at www.computingcases.org; it also makes substantial references to the draft manuscript of a textbook in computer ethics entitled Good Computing: A Virtue Approach to Computer Ethics. (The book will consist of the cases displayed at Computing Cases--Therac-25, Hughes Aircraft, and Machado--plus seven additional cases all developed through NSF projects DUE-9972280 and DUE 9980768.)The module presents the case abstract and timeline. It then refers students to Computing Cases where they will find the case narrative, history, and supporting documents that provide background necessary for analysis. The case abstract and timeline introduce students to the basic outlines of the case. The accompanying decision point taken from the case provides students with the necessary focus to carry out an in-depth analysis. Students respond to the decision point by working through four stages: problem specification, solution generation, solution testing, and solution implementation.

No Strings Attached

Abstract:: This module describes how to incorporate ethical considerations into business cases through an Ethics Bowl competition and a written follow-up analysis. It assumes knowledge of ethics tests and a values framework. By working through the competition and follow-up activities, students gain an invaluable opportunity to practice skills in ethical problem solving, communication, and team work. This module makes use of materials provided through the Ethics Bowl competition held annually at meetings of the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics. Information on the national competition, devised by Dr. Robert Ladenson, can be found at the website of the Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions, www.iit.edu/departments/csep. This module is being developed as a part of an NSF-funded project, "Collaborative Development of Ethics Across the Curriculum Resources and Sharing of Best Practices," NSF SES 0551779.