Workshop - Assessing science and engineering ethics outcomes: An interactive review of tools

Abstract

There remain many opportunities to enhance how the ethical dimensions of science and engineering are taught and assessed. In fact, current trends suggest growing demand for STEM professionals who can deftly navigate the wide range of moral and ethical issues that might be faced during their careers, whether in the private, academic, government, and/or non-profit sectors. Yet even when high quality instructional interventions are developed and delivered, there often remain unanswered questions about their relative effectiveness. Valid and reliable assessment tools are sorely needed to better evaluate whether our students and practitioners not only have sufficient background understanding related to science and engineering ethics, but can apply this knowledge in real-world situations. This highly interactive panel session is organized around presentations from three complementary efforts to develop high quality assessment instruments focused on science and engineering ethics. Background details for each instrument will be provided, including sample questions that the audience will be invited to complete. The primary audience for this panel includes educators and researchers looking for new ways to teach, assess, and investigate ethics outcomes in a wide variety of science and engineering fields.