Shades of GreyShades of Grey

Suzy JaggerSuzy Jagger

ChallengingChallenging studentsstudents

in the area of in the area of Cyber-ethicsCyber-ethics

A computer can seriously damage A computer can seriously damage your health….your health….

New & highly sophisticated opportunities for crimeNew & highly sophisticated opportunities for crime Traditional crime can be committed in non-traditional Traditional crime can be committed in non-traditional

waysways Difficulty of detectionDifficulty of detection The Criminal Justice system cannot keep pace with The Criminal Justice system cannot keep pace with

technology and is limited by geographical boundariestechnology and is limited by geographical boundaries The Data Protection Act, virtually impossible to The Data Protection Act, virtually impossible to

practically enforce (33 prosecutions in the UK in 2003)practically enforce (33 prosecutions in the UK in 2003) Threat to national security, child pornography, Threat to national security, child pornography,

computer intrusion and fraud, are issues that we all computer intrusion and fraud, are issues that we all take seriouslytake seriously

The theft of intellectual property, increased plagiarism The theft of intellectual property, increased plagiarism in universities.in universities.

Wall Street Journal 11Wall Street Journal 11thth Jan 2005 Jan 2005“Spirituality Matters on the Job”“Spirituality Matters on the Job”

More Business Schools in the US are More Business Schools in the US are looking at the concept of spirituality:looking at the concept of spirituality:It was taboo for so many years to It was taboo for so many years to talk about worker’s “spirituality”. But talk about worker’s “spirituality”. But people are suffering by not being people are suffering by not being able to address that part of able to address that part of themselves and lead a more themselves and lead a more integrated life.”integrated life.” Dr. Thierry Pauchant, HEC Dr. Thierry Pauchant, HEC Montreal Business School.Montreal Business School.

Wall Street Journal 11Wall Street Journal 11thth Jan 2005 Jan 2005“Spirituality Matters on the Job”“Spirituality Matters on the Job”

““Work hours are so gruelling these Work hours are so gruelling these days that if you don’t love what you days that if you don’t love what you do, you are in hell. You need the do, you are in hell. You need the work you do to express your values work you do to express your values and be of benefit to the larger and be of benefit to the larger society”. society”. Srikumar Rao, Columbia University Business Srikumar Rao, Columbia University Business SchoolSchool

How can we educate students to How can we educate students to look at these issues?look at these issues?

Codes of ConductCodes of Conduct What can we do as What can we do as

educators?educators?

Enter the UndergraduateEnter the Undergraduate

Worn out from A Levels and learning Worn out from A Levels and learning by roteby rote

On the cusp of their careerOn the cusp of their career Ready to…..??!!Ready to…..??!! The Challenge The Challenge The SolutionThe Solution How can this be done effectively?How can this be done effectively?

3D Method to Learning3D Method to Learning

““It matters not what we have learned. It matters not what we have learned. What we can do with what we have What we can do with what we have learned; this is the issue… let us not learned; this is the issue… let us not judge our students on what they judge our students on what they know… Rather let them be judged on know… Rather let them be judged on what they can generate from what they what they can generate from what they know – how well they can leap the know – how well they can leap the barrier from learning to thinking”barrier from learning to thinking” Bruner Bruner (1961)(1961)

… … and from thinking to behaviour and from thinking to behaviour where attitudes are the filter to ensure where attitudes are the filter to ensure correct decisions and choices are made.correct decisions and choices are made.

Debate Essentials in PracticeDebate Essentials in Practice

Linked to assessment Linked to assessment Supported by strong knowledge baseSupported by strong knowledge base Strong structural approach Strong structural approach Individually marked but working in Individually marked but working in

groupsgroups Topics chosen/supported by students Topics chosen/supported by students

but students to do not choose their but students to do not choose their “side”.“side”.

Incentive to win the debateIncentive to win the debate

Some Topics ChosenSome Topics Chosen ““This house believes that the simulation of This house believes that the simulation of

violent acts in computer games is violent acts in computer games is psychologically harmful to children, promoting psychologically harmful to children, promoting anti-social behavior.”anti-social behavior.”

““This house believes Napster was a great This house believes Napster was a great Internet innovation, not a cyberspace pirateInternet innovation, not a cyberspace pirate””

““This house believes hacking should be This house believes hacking should be considered a crime only if it causes harm”considered a crime only if it causes harm”

“ “This house believes that the creation of This house believes that the creation of robots capable of human emotions, sensations robots capable of human emotions, sensations and feelings is morally unethical.”and feelings is morally unethical.”

““This house believes that the introduction of This house believes that the introduction of identity cards, as planned by the UK identity cards, as planned by the UK government, violates the rights of an government, violates the rights of an individual to personal freedom and privacy”individual to personal freedom and privacy”

Questionnaires and DiscussionsQuestionnaires and Discussions

Anonymous questionnaires before Anonymous questionnaires before and afterand after

Further discussions with studentsFurther discussions with students Discussions with students over the Discussions with students over the

years following the courseyears following the course

Comments from StudentsComments from Students

““Before the debate I was Before the debate I was completely indifferent to the completely indifferent to the issue. Now I am definitely issue. Now I am definitely opposed to Internet censorship. I opposed to Internet censorship. I think that we often take our think that we often take our freedom of speech in this country freedom of speech in this country for granted, and it is only when for granted, and it is only when you stop to think about it that you stop to think about it that you realise how valuable it is.” you realise how valuable it is.”

Comments from StudentsComments from Students

““Before starting my studies in PI, Before starting my studies in PI, I had not looked at this issue I had not looked at this issue with any concern. I would have with any concern. I would have preferred to be on the other side preferred to be on the other side debating. Having a look at this debating. Having a look at this particular issue in this way has particular issue in this way has totally opened my eyes to a new totally opened my eyes to a new way of unblinkered thinking.”way of unblinkered thinking.”

Comments from StudentsComments from Students

““Before I started the work on this Before I started the work on this debate I was definitely for the motion debate I was definitely for the motion that it was a great innovation but as I that it was a great innovation but as I delved deeper into the inner workings delved deeper into the inner workings of Napster and the peer to peer of Napster and the peer to peer technology used in its worldwide technology used in its worldwide usage, I found out how illegal it was. usage, I found out how illegal it was. My view of Napster has changed in the My view of Napster has changed in the few weeks of working on this project” few weeks of working on this project”

A Path to DiscoveryA Path to Discovery

The application of appropriate The application of appropriate collaborative teaching techniques collaborative teaching techniques appears to be useful in helping appears to be useful in helping students develop their own critical students develop their own critical thinking skills thinking skills

The application of these methods in The application of these methods in the area of Computer Ethics, will the area of Computer Ethics, will hopefully lead to stronger ethical hopefully lead to stronger ethical frameworks being established. frameworks being established.