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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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Topics

Background and goals Curriculum Role of the library and collaboration with

professors

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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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Topics

Background and goals Curriculum Role of the library and collaboration with

professors

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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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Topics

Background and goals Curriculum Role of the library and collaboration with

professors

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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]

Jay Bhattbhattjj@drexel.edu

Information Services Librarian - EngineeringW.W. Hagerty Library, Drexel University

Dr. Eli Frommfromme@drexel.edu

Director for Center of Educational ResearchElectrical and Computer Engineering DepartmentCollege of Engineering, Drexel University

Dr. Mark Manionmark.manion@drexel.edu

Assistant Professor of PhilosophyCollege of Arts and Sciences, Drexel University

Thank you for your time!