Development of an Interactive Online Ethics Scenario Activity for Engineering Students

Abstract

This paper describes development and deployment of an online interactive ethical decision-making simulation. This tool was piloted in a first-year introduction to engineering course at the University of British Columbia. It used a “choose your own adventure” style of decision-making and narrative to add realism and engagement to what was otherwise viewed by students as dry, uninteresting content. After storyboarding using sticky notes and Visio, the final tool used by students was implemented and deployed using a survey tool (Qualtrics). It featured a scenario with initially incomplete information and the appearance of unethical behaviour by others. It included decision-based branching, but also randomization such that different groups had the story unfold differently, even if they made the same initial decisions. Student feedback on this tool was very positive, suggesting this style of interactive online ethics simulation could be an effective tool for enhancing engagement and learning.

Learning Electronics Through Storytelling

“…To learn a particular concept, case studies and scenarios engage students' imagination as they work through the problem [6,13]. To explore ethical concepts, video games and 'choose your own adventure' activities provide multiple interaction points after the initial scenario is proposed, which emphasize the complexity and consequences of a particular decision [14,15].…”