Thinking
Ethically
Learners need to be able to identify the
foundations upon which they and others base judgements about what is right
and wrong, to analyse and evaluate principles that underpin ethical
standpoints and values, and to argue an ethical position with sound logic
and reasoning. They need to be able to evaluate ethical dilemmas in their
lives or in the world. A commitment
to intellectual accuracy and truth-seeking involves learners in thinking
about the complex and problematic nature of issues, recognising
contradictions, understanding situations when people use information and
argument selectively and detecting fallacious reasoning.
Being ethical
To develop moral autonomy, learners debate different points a few and
come to understand the values implicit in situations being studied. They
develop a personal ethical code; they understand the implications of their
choices and become able to explain and defend their personal values and
decisions; and they create ethical alternatives to practices they
considered to be unjust. This capacity arises from an understanding
of a core set of ethical values which transcend cultural, religious and
socio-economic differences.
Learning in this area is based on understanding that caring and empathy
the heart of ethics and ultimately about our responsibilities towards
other people and the world. It also contributes to understanding
that there can be conflicts between individuals' needs and desires on the
one hand, and their responsibilities to others and to the greater good on
the other.
(Essential Learnings Framework 1)
Ethics Across the Curriculum
Ethical understanding can be integrated
across the curriculum by
providing opportunities for all students to:
- be aware of codes of
ethics
or practice for
each area in which they
study and work.
- develop their own
codes to guide study and practice
within
subjects, work or recreation.
- be exposed to
ethical dilemmas
- making ethical decisions as part of their
study or practice.
Supporting Structures
- Websites - provide links for both staff and students to
ethics thinking and learning resources; and to relevant people in the
wider community; ethics on-line forums
- Professional development in ethics for teachers
- Embed ethical thinking and practice into school principles and
practice (eg Computer AUP)
Possible Implementation
1. Finding Existing Codes of
Ethics/Practice/Conduct
Many subjects already deal with codes of practice within a discipline
or for a workplace. At the very least students should be aware of existing
codes of practice for areas in which they hope to work or pursue
further study.
2. Developing Codes of
Ethics/Practice/Conduct
Students could also develop their own codes of
practice to govern their activities in class, enterprise projects,
community based projects or recreation.
3. Exploring Ethical Dilemmas
Students can be exposed to ethical dilemmas raised as part of
their work or study or those based on existing case studies.
Hypotheticals, roleplays and games can also highlight ethical dilemmas.
-
Hypotheticals (IT and Media)
-
Games (Scruples)
4. Making Ethical Decisions
Ethical dilemmas often arise spontaneously in subjects where students
can make real choices with some level of responsibility such
as VET, enterprise and research, or where students study contemporary
issues in the media.
Ethics Resources on
the web
Assignments
E-zines
- Ethics Updates
Magazine
Ethics Updates is designed primarily to be used by ethics instructors
and their students. An
excellent Ethics website with many articles and links and forums for
discussion a fine ethics
glossary, case
studies.
- Issues in
Ethics Journal
Issues in Ethics is published
three times a year, by the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa
Clara University, Santa Clara, California to heighten ethical awareness and improve ethical
decision-making on campus and in the community at large.
Web Tutorials
Organisations
General
resources
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