Incorporating Ethics into STEM Lessons

KEY POINTS

• Engage students with user-centered and ethics-centered discussion.
• Discuss real-world ethical and unethical design.
• Learn from past errors.

The students of today will be the STEM innovators and professionals of tomorrow. With this in mind, it’s vital that students gain the STEM skills necessary to take on the challenges of the future, and that students understand the ethics behind STEM technologies and the STEM subjects. Because of this, it’s essential in the modern STEM classroom to give students ample opportunities to explore and discuss the moral factors behind the content they are studying. These kinds of learning experiences are sure to instill the decision-making and critical-thinking skills that the next generation will need to make confident – and sometimes difficult – ethical decisions surrounding the STEM subjects.

FOCUS ON THE USER

When introducing students to subjects like robotics and artificial intelligence, it is important to drive home the impact that these kinds of technologies can have on both individuals and the general population. While many STEM technologies like these certainly deliver on the “cool factor,” it’s important to remind students that things like robots and computer programs are only as ethical as the people who create them. As technologies advance, it is vital to always consider the safety, rights, and privacy of the individuals who use and work with these technologies. When approaching these areas of STEM, engage your students and guide them to carefully consider how these technologies should be ethically implemented and to reflect on the possible repercussions that could result from the misuse of these technologies. Activities like this are a great way to build an ethical, user-centered mindset in your students early in their STEM journey.

LOOK AT REAL-WORLD TECHNOLOGIES

Using contemporary, real-world examples of ethical and unethical design can be a great way to engage your students in this topic. Consider conducting a group discussion where you present your students with examples of modern technologies. Then, ask your students to reflect on what exactly makes each piece of technology either an ethical or unethical design. Alternatively, have your students choose their own piece of technology to analyze and have them present their findings to the class. Additionally, encourage your students to stay up-to-date on STEM current events and to reflect on the ethics surrounding these happenings. Whatever you choose, learning experiences like these will help your students to develop the skills necessary to critically analyze and evaluate the designs of technologies around them, thus making them better makers and innovators.

— Dr. Jake Roark