Implementing the Tenth Strand - Page 10 of 18

Suggested laboratories (5 hours):

1. Use small group brainstorming to produce lists of examples of analogies to a given ethical computer situation. Have small groups present their ideas to the whole class.

2. Use small groups to analyze an ethical case study to identify the stakeholders, and then have the groups present their findings to the whole class.

3. Set up small groups and assign a different professional code of ethics and an ethical case study to each group. Have each group present their analysis to the whole group.

4. Assign scenarios featuring ethical issues in which a position must be taken. Have students determine individually, in small groups, and then as a whole class, the appropriate course of action to be taken.

Connections: Related to: ES1, ES2, ES5 Prerequisites: one semester of computer programming

ES4: Basic Elements of Social Analysis

1) the social context influences the development and use of technology,
2) power relations are central in all social interaction,
3) technology embodies the values of the developers,
4) populations are always diverse, and
5) empirical data are crucial to the design and development processes.

Students need to be presented with examples and case studies that illustrate the impact of social issues in system development.

Recurring concepts: complexity, trade-off and consequences, evolution

Lecture topics(3 hours):

ES4.1 The social context influences the development and use of technology.
Technology does not simply 'impact' society in a one-way causal chain, but society also influences the shape and development of technology. The social or organizational setting in which a technology is used influences the way it is used. Students need to be aware that anticipating the various uses of computer systems in context is an important aspect of system development.

ES4.2 Power relations are central in all social interaction.
All social relationships have implicit and explicit considerations of power. Developers of technology need to be aware of the relative power of different parties in an organization as they develop systems for that organization. They also need to be aware of how those power relationships may shift as a result of the new technology.

ES4.3 Technology embodies the values of the developers.
Technology transmits and embodies assumptions and values when choices are made during the development stage. For example, decisions to adopt particular standards, to use particular methods, to implement particular features, to adhere to particular criteria, and even to design to the specification are all value-laden decisions. In the case where value decisions can have harmful effects, they then become ethical decisions which have to be considered. In the larger sense we can make the case that it is unethical to ignore the values embedded in technical artifacts when there is the possibility for harmful consequences.