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Engineering Ethics and the Drexel University Library:A Collaborative Teaching Partnership
Jay BhattMark Manion
Eli Fromm
Drexel UniversityJune 2004
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Drexel Engineering Curriculum - Background
1988 - Began restructuring undergraduate engineering curriculum
Introduced engineering with professional contexts
Increased emphasis on experiential learning integrated with traditional classroom lecture
Emphasized communication skills, teamwork and independent learning skills
Demonstrated relationship of science and engineering with liberal arts, social systems, and political policy
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Background - continued.
Present curriculum evolved from: Enhanced Educational Experience for
Engineering Students (E4) project * Gateway Engineering Education Coalition *
www.gatewaycoalition.org
* National Science Foundation (NSF) funded initiatives.
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Goals - Engineering Ethics Education
Integrate Engineering Ethics into the curriculum through current courses as well as new courses.
Reinforce engineering ethics at every level of their undergraduate experience (from Freshmen to Senior).
Students are expected to do research and find high-quality information to demonstrate their exploration of the social, ethical, and political impact of their work.
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Guiding Factors - Engineering Ethics Education
Creative problem solving Treat students as emerging professionals Challenge students to consider social, ethical
and political impact of their work. Emphasize continuous life-long learning for
personal and professional success Mandate student interaction with librarians while
students seek high-quality information resources.
Reinforce ethical considerations with courses for first, second, third, and fourth year undergraduate students.
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Courses - Engineering Ethics Education
Freshmen - Freshmen Engineering Design sequence with a main focus on the ethical use of information
Sophomores - two courses "Evaluation and Presentation of Data" - EPED 231 and EPED 232
Juniors - PHIL 315 - Engineering Ethics * Seniors - Senior Design Projects - ethical use of
information AND ethical aspects of their project
* We will briefly discuss Themes and Pedagogical Approaches for PHIL 315.
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PHIL 315 Engineering Ethics - Themes
1) Engineering Professionalism and Individual Responsibility
Code- and Case-based reasoning. Determining a course of action in unclear or conflicting ethical scenarios.
2) Engineering and Society
Social responsibilities of engineers. Engineering and the law.
3) Technology and Society
Foster awareness of the impact of technology on individuals, society, and the environment.
4) Technology and Public Policy
Politics of technology assessment. Risk management. Technology management.
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Teaching code-based reasoning (Professional Codes of Conduct)
Teaching case-based reasoning Teaching moral problem solving Teaching the social and political
responsibilities of engineers
PHIL 315 - Pedagogical Approaches
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Code-based reasoning Hyatt Regency Walkway Collapse - July 17, 1981 - Kansas City, Missouri
Case-based reasoning Iran Flight 655 Shot Down by USS Vincennes - July 3, 1988
PHIL 315 - Pedagogical Approaches - Examples
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Moral problem solving Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster - January 27, 1986
Social and political responsibilities Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor Explosion - April 26, 1986 - Chernobyl, Russia
PHIL 315 - Pedagogical Approaches - Examples - continued.
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Library Role - Supporting Engineering Ethics
Why the library? Libraries contain (or provide access to)
resources for student assignments: debates, essays, discussions.
Librarians teach students how to find information
Librarians teach students how to assess the quality of the information. Teaching methods: classroom presentations, consultations (face-to-face and email for small groups or individuals)
Diverse multidisciplinary information needs – engineering, politics, business, ethics
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Teaching fair use of information.
Use of Library web page during consultations.
Email and person-to-person consultations are used.
Library Role - Example
http://www.library.drexel.edu/research/tutorials/citation/default.html
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Library Consultations - Definition & Techniques
Librarians instruct students on how to: Search for information Assess information and information sources Cite and use information correctly
Techniques: Email and Face-to-face Small Group and Individuals
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Library Consultations - Justification
Student reliance on free web sites often results in poor quality information, especially when compared to library resources. Consultations help students realize the importance of library resources.
Students often mis-use the library catalog and cannot find what they are looking for even though the library has the item they need. Consultations help address this problem.
Librarians impart "information enlightenment" to students during consultations.
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Library Consultations - Justification - continued
Consultations in a friendly environment encourage students to explore the variety of resources available through the library.
Ethical use of information. Librarians identify subject areas in the
collection that may need new or additional materials.
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Library Consultations - Observations
Students were simply using the web to support their cases
Most students did not use other books from the library except the ones on RESERVE
Students were not aware of IEEE Xplore, Ei Compendex and Applied Science and Technology Abstracts. They did not know they existed, nor did they know about the scholarly articles and other types of information contained in these sources.
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Expanding the Role of the Library in Support of Engineering Ethics - Library Instruction
Library Instruction to increase awareness about various library resources and other tools.
Currently no specific classes offered, except for a single resource training session during Freshman year. (650 students, each attends 1 session, library conducted 25 sessions).
Co-ordinate with faculty to design the instructional component.
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Library Instruction Session - Goals
Library Instruction to increase awareness about various library resources and other tools.
Emphasis on scholarly articles from major electronic databases (one activity will require students to compare an electronic database such as IEEE Xplore or Ei Compendex with Yahoo! or Google).
Life-long learning – information skills can be transferred in other settings.
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Librarian & Faculty collaborated to create the Engineering Ethics Guide.
PHIL 315 linked to the guide through WebCT.
Currently rely on Library Instruction and Web Guides.
http://www.library.drexel.edu/research/guides/pdfs/engethics.html
Expanding the Role of the Library - Example
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Librarian / Professor Collaboration
Librarians Information Literacy - Critical Thinking,
Accreditation Implications. How to find, evaluate, and use information effectively (Information Literacy as defined by ALA).
Faculty Subject area expertise Relevant / acceptable assignment content Professional expectations
Combined Past research experience & shared desire to
help students.
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Strategies for Librarian / Professor Collaboration - Networking
Networking Professors see library in a new light - as a
partner in education and instruction (different role than previous encounters during PhD studies).
Get to know each other better Share information and discuss goals Formal and informal discussions, meetings,
lunches, emails, etc. Combine expertise in respective areas Information Literacy for professors
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Strategies for Librarian / Professor Collaboration - Improve Collection
Improve Collection & Collection Awareness Consider resource formats - books, journals,
documentaries, DVD, software, etc. Transcripts of interviews with professional
engineers investigating technological failures may be available.
Librarian provides Professor with list of resources
Professor provides feedback, perhaps adds items to list
Librarian notifies Professor when resources are available
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Strategies for Librarian / Professor Collaboration - Teaching Critical Thinking Skills
Librarians - emphasize Critical Thinking during research: Students use critical thinking when obtaining and evaluating information. Critical evaluation of the information and the source of the information.
Professors - emphasize Critical Thinking during assignments: Debates and discussions - students need factual evidence to support / defend decisions.
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Strategies for Librarian / Professor Collaboration - Library Instruction
Emphasizes Basic Research Skills and Life-long Learning
Subject versus keyword searching Developing search strategies Using Boolean searching In-class exercise employs collaborative team-
based searching Team presents their position based on what
they found Presentation skills stressed
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Strategies for Librarian / Professor Collaboration - Library Instruction - continued.
Faculty/librarian partnership – teaching team Both work on equal basis respecting each
other’s needs and goals Effective collaboration is a precondition for
success in a team taught course Collaboration required for successful library
classes and consultations. Collaboration helps avoid sending mixed signals
to students. Interactive nature of instruction as students
seek, obtain and evaluate information together
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Future Directions
Three focus groups for observations - Before the library session, after the session and after reports are done
Each observation session to get feedback from students
Survey questions Improve future teaching and instruction
sessions
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Conclusion
Librarian / Professor collaboration Integrate engineering ethics and professional
expectations into current classes Supplement curriculum with new courses
focused on engineering ethics Information Literacy - teach and reinforce
techniques for finding, evaluating, using, and citing information.
Life-long learning and Accreditation implications
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[end]
Information Services Librarian - EngineeringW.W. Hagerty Library, Drexel University
Dr. Eli [email protected]
Director for Center of Educational ResearchElectrical and Computer Engineering DepartmentCollege of Engineering, Drexel University
Dr. Mark [email protected]
Assistant Professor of PhilosophyCollege of Arts and Sciences, Drexel University
Thank you for your time!