181: Is More Better When Embedding Ethics in CS Courses? | #CSK8 Podcast with Jared O'Leary
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In this episode I unpack Horton, Liu, McIlraith, and Wangโs (2023) publication titled โIs more better when embedding ethics in CS courses?,โ which investigates the impact of one and two embedded ethics modules within undergraduate computer science courses.
Article
Horton, D., Liu, D., McIlraith, S., & Wang, N. (2023) Is More Better When Embedding Ethics in CS Courses? Proceedings of the 2023 ACM SIGCSE Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education - SIGCSE โ23, 652-658.
Abstract
โEmbedding ethics modules in computer science (CS) courses is an approach to post-secondary ethics education that has been gaining traction. In contrast to dedicated courses on ethics in CS, embedding ethics modules into CS courses supports tight connections between ethical considerations and CS concepts, as well as enabling repeated exposure to ethics across multiple courses. Initial studies of the effectiveness of such modules suggest that this approach can increase both student interest in ethics and technology, and student self-efficacy towards incorporating ethical considerations in their computing work. Departments wishing to deploy embedded ethics (EE) modules need to decide how to invest resources, including class time, to maximize effectiveness while maintaining curriculum objectives. Such considerations include the number of EE module experiences a student has throughout their degree program, as well as the spacing of those experiences.
Research to date has focused on the effect of a single embedded ethics module. In this paper, we report on a study examining the impact of experiencing EE modules in multiple courses. Among our findings, our results suggest that more is not necessarily better โ that a modest number of periodic exposures to EE modules over the course of a degree program may be sufficient to achieve sustained positive attitudes and self-efficacy among students. While a picture is beginning to emerge, these results highlight the need for further research on the effectiveness of embedded ethics programs as a whole.โ
Author Keywords
Ethics education, embedded ethics, impact of technology on society
My One Sentence Summary
-This study investigates the impact of one and two embedded ethics modules within undergraduate computer science courses.
Some Of My Lingering Questions/Thoughts
- Is there are point where you donโt think computer scientists need to focus on ethics in computing?
- Is the saturation point for understanding ethics the same as the frequency with which someone should engage in ethical computing?
- Where should ethics be embedded when learning something new?
- How might a personโs understanding of ethics in computing impact their careers in computing?
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Each episode of the #CSK8 Podcast explores research, experiences, or perspectives on computer science education through interviews with computer science educators, scholars, and administrators, as well as episodes that summarize and unpack implications of research for classroom teachers who are interested in learning more about practical applications of research in their classroom.
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00:00 Introduction
00:34 Paper abstract
01:56 One sentence summary
02:42 1 Introduction
03:16 3 Our embedded ethics program
03:34 41. Research questions
04:34 4.2 Methods
05:02 Results
05:08 5.1 Positive impact decreases and is restored by a subsequent module
06:25 5.2 A second module in the same semester provides little added benefit
07:45 5.3 Positive impact of EE modules is robust across many contexts
08:22 5.4 Replication of results showing positive impact from CS2 module
08:57 Discussion
09:43 Lingering questions and thoughts
09:53 Is there are point where you donโt think computer scientists need to focus on ethics in computing?
12:11 When should ethics be embedded within a CS class?
14:08 How might a personโs understanding of ethics in computing impact their careers in computing?
16:15 Outro