Learning Outcomes supporting the integration of Ethical Reasoning into quantitative courses: Three tasks for use in three general contexts

TL;DR

This chapter proposes a framework for integrating ethical reasoning learning outcomes into undergraduate quantitative courses, emphasizing three core contents, five levels of cognitive complexity, and adaptable assignment features to foster ethical awareness and responsibility.

Contribution

It introduces a structured approach with specific learning outcomes, content, and contextual tasks for embedding ethical reasoning into math and quantitative education.

Findings

Five learning outcomes articulated at three cognitive levels

Three contextual tasks for ethical reasoning integration

Supports authentic development of ethical skills in quantitative courses

Abstract

This 2024 chapter gives a brief overview of cognitive and educational sciences' perspectives on learning outcomes (LOs) to facilitate the integration of LOs specific to ethical reasoning into any mathematics or quantitative course. The target is undergraduate (adult) learners but these LOs can be adapted for earlier and later stages of learning. Core contents of Ethical Reasoning are: 1. its six constituent knowledge, skills, and abilities; 2. a stakeholder analysis; and 3. ethical practice standards or guidelines. These are briefly summarized. Five LOs are articulated at each of three levels of cognitive complexity (low/med/high), and a set of assignment features that can be adapted repeatedly over a term are given supporting these LOs. These features can support authentic development of the knowledge, skills, and abilities that are the target of ethical reasoning instruction in math and quantitative courses at the tertiary level. Three contexts by which these can be integrated are Assumption (what if the assumption fails?), Approximation (what if the approximation does not hold?), and Application (is the application appropriate? what if it is not?). One or more of the three core contents of Ethical Reasoning can be added to any problem already utilized in a course (or new ones) by asking learners to apply the core to the context. Engagement with ethical reasoning can prepare students to assume their responsibilities to promote and perpetuate the integrity of their profession across their careers using mathematics, statistics, data science, and other quantitative methods and technologies.