Measuring and Using the Educational Effect of Engineer Ethics, and the Effect of Virtual Cases

Abstract

JABEE is a certification standard that has substantial agreement with Washington Accord for engineering education. Engineer ethics is an important subject in order to achieve education such as recognition of the influences and effects of the technology on society and nature. Therefore, before and after the class of engineer ethics, the educational effect was measured by a self-inspection questionnaire to improve the class. Even if the lesson content was the same, there were differences in the questionnaire results, that was, the lesson effect, depending on the individuality of the teacher in charge and the curriculum background. In particular, the class start time was a major factor affected to the effect of the lesson. Furthermore, it was clarified that the higher the understanding of research ethics in the curriculum background, the higher the understanding of engineer ethics in general. Curriculum reforms and major efforts to change lesson content are required to improve lessons. However, a great lesson effect was obtained by incorporating a small virtual case study and asking a simple question with almost no change in the lesson content. In other words, it was clarified that the opportunity to think for a short time produced a great effect.