A multidisciplinary approach to teaching ethical considerations in engineering technology

In teaching the Engineering Technology Department's new ethics course, instructors from Western Washington University's Writing Program and Engineering Technology Department focus on ethical problems encountered in engineering practice and emphasize communication skills as well as analytical skills needed to address those problems. We teach engineering ethics by using both general case studies and specific case studies within the department. Students hone their oral skills by formally presenting case studies and leading class discussions about the ethical issues raised. Oral communication also reinforces effective writing. In an assignment where students write instructions for laboratory machines, nondisciplinary readers review the instructions. As a result, students learn not only how difficult it is to write clear instructions, but also how necessary it is, ethically and practically, to make instructions safe and useful for users from different backgrounds. In their final assignments, students consider ethical problems of access and safety within Engineering Technology laboratories and propose solutions to perceived problems. Through intensive collaboration, we have identified effective ways to prepare Engineering Technology students for 21st century ethics and communication.