For our launch episode, our guest is Dr Roland Tormey, current co-chair of the SEFI Ethics Special Interest Group, and a senior scientist in the College of Humanities at Ecole Polytechnique Federale Lousanne (EPFL) in Switzerland. Roland’s training as a sociologist has provided the basis for his work into both emotion and inter-cultural education, and his pioneering research in teacher training and engineering ethics is changing how we think about engineering education.
*Must read* Show notes including background and further reflections to take back to your own contexts: https://www.sefi.be/2022/09/19/european-engineering-educators-podcast-is-online/
Drawing on his work into the formal and hidden curricula of ethics in engineering education, he stresses the importance of ensuring that we teach ethics in a way that makes it relevant to engineers, and defines four elements which combine to give rise to ethical behaviour. He takes the view that our standard approach to teach moral reasoning using classic case studies don’t go far enough. Indeed, he argues that examples must be carefully selected, and that we need a greater emphasis on emotional intelligence and awareness.
Join Dr Neil Cooke (University of Birmingham) and Dr Natalie Wint (University College London) for this inspiring discussion.
Thanks to Roland for helping us to get this podcast off the ground by volunteering to be one of our first guests!
Timestamps:
0.00: Abstract
0.50: Podcast intro
1.35: Experiences of teaching engineering ethics from Neil and Natalie
2.35: Roland's background
6.00: The relevance of ethics to engineering.
7.20: Four elements of ethical behaviour
8.20: Considering students' life experience
9.50: The Minnesota approach: different stages of moral reasoning
16.45: Methods that help develop post-conventional moral reasoning
18.30: Thinking processes vs. emotional processes
23.00: The role of emotions in making ethical design decisions
26.20: Pitfalls to avoid when teaching using case studies
29.30: Having the right level of emotion.
31.00: How we should assess ethical thinking skills
34.30: Final advice from Roland
35.50: Key takeaways from Natalie and Neil.
*Must read* Show notes including background and further reflections: https://www.sefi.be/2022/09/19/european-engineering-educators-podcast-is-online/
Resources:
Key publication: https://www.sefi.be/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/56039-R.-TORMEY.pdf
Roland Tormey’s other publications: https://people.epfl.ch/roland.tormey
Leave us feedback/comments/suggestions: https://forms.gle/tMDHxf1JA8P9RYMY8
Become a member of SEFI, Europe's largest network of engineering educators: www.sefi.be
Music: ComaStudio https://pixabay.com/users/comastudio-26079283/
Written and produced by Neil Cooke and Natalie Wint.
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