skip to main content
article
Free Access

A seminar course in computer ethics

Authors Info & Claims
Published:12 March 1994Publication History
Skip Abstract Section

Abstract

This paper describes the transformation of a required Senior Seminar course. The transformed course emphasizes ethical, social, political, legal, and economic aspects of computing. In addition, the new rendition of the course increases the requirement for oral and written communication. We describe the previous definition of the course, goals of the redesign, and students' reactions to both the new and old versions. To this author's surprise, student satisfaction is higher with the new course, although it requires more of them.

We discuss course organization, and suggest assignments and teaching strategy. The course was a joy to teach and, fortunately, a very pleasant and meaningful experience for the students.

References

  1. 1 ACM proposed Code of Ethical and Professional Conduct. 1992. Commun. ACM 35, 5 (May), 94--99. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  2. 2 Anderson, C. 1993. Engineering your conscience. Graduating Engineer 14, 3 (Jan.) 41--43.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  3. 3 Cepak, M. 1993. A positive story on the RISKS theme. Software Eng. Notes 18, 1 (Jan.), 6.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  4. 4 Forester, T. and Morrison, P. 1990. Computer Ethics. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  5. 5 Friedman, B. and Winograd, T. 1990. Computing and Social Responsibility: A Collection of Course Syllabi. CPSR, Palo Alto, CA. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  6. 6 LaQuey, T. and Ryer, J.C. I993. The Internet Companion. Addison-Wesley, Boston.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  7. 7 Melford, R.J. 1992. Development to begin on standards of ethical practices for computing professionals. IEEE Computer 25,4 (Apr.), 76--77. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  8. 8 Rosenberg, R.S. 1992. The Social Impac, t of Computers. Academic Press, Boston. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  9. 9 Scott, T.J., Voss, R.B., and Pancake, C.M. 1993. Teaching an ethics component to computer science majors. Proc. SIGCSE Tech. Syrup. Computer Science Education. Indianapolis, Feb. 18--19, 304. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  10. 10 Taylor, H.G. and Paine, K.M. 1993. An inter-disciplinary approach to the development of writing skills in computer science students. Proc. SIGCSE Tech. Syrup. Computer Science Education, Indianapolis, Feb. 18--19, 274--278. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  11. 11 Walton, R. and DiBattista, R. 1979. Communication skills: the Achilles heel of your computer education program? Part I. Interface 1,4, 36--40.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar

Index Terms

  1. A seminar course in computer ethics

        Recommendations

        Comments

        Login options

        Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution to get full access on this article.

        Sign in

        Full Access

        • Published in

          cover image ACM SIGCSE Bulletin
          ACM SIGCSE Bulletin  Volume 26, Issue 1
          March 1994
          410 pages
          ISSN:0097-8418
          DOI:10.1145/191033
          Issue’s Table of Contents
          • cover image ACM Conferences
            SIGCSE '94: Proceedings of the twenty-fifth SIGCSE symposium on Computer science education
            March 1994
            414 pages
            ISBN:0897916468
            DOI:10.1145/191029

          Copyright © 1994 ACM

          Publisher

          Association for Computing Machinery

          New York, NY, United States

          Publication History

          • Published: 12 March 1994

          Check for updates

          Qualifiers

          • article

        PDF Format

        View or Download as a PDF file.

        PDF

        eReader

        View online with eReader.

        eReader
        About Cookies On This Site

        We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.

        Learn more

        Got it!