CSCI 151

Computer Ethics Component

Part I: ACM Code of Ethics and Case Studies Design

ASSIGNMENT: Each student in the team devises ONE original scenario that illustrates one or more imperatives from the ACM Code of Ethics and provides an ethical course of action based on the ACM Code of Ethics to resolve the issues in the scenario

Implementation

  • Students read ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

  • Students read the article from ACM digital library

    Using the new ACM code of ethics in decision making, Ronald E. Anderson Deborah G. Johnson Donald Gotterbarn Judith Perrolle

  • Each student in the team devises ONE case study question. And provide the following answers:
    • List all ACM Code of Ethics imperatives which apply to your scenario
    • Provide an ethical course of action based on the ACM Code of Ethics to resolve the issues in your scenario
  • Send your scenario and explanation to CSCI391@gmail.com

    Example of the case study
    Assume the following situation: You are the designer of a popular piece of free software. Users often contact you for help running your software, but you have difficulty helping them troubleshoot over the phone or email, and you wish you could just show them what to do. One day you get fed up, and add a remote assistance function into your program, allowing you to access the user's sessions, see what they see, send commands to the program, etc. This function does not require any user interaction to activate, because that would be one more thing to guide them through. Users are now overall much happier about their experience when they call for assistance, and have commented that they had no idea such a thing was even possible. What are the ethical implications of your actions? Are there any negative implications, and if so, what could you do to mitigate them?

    ASSESSMENT

    Scenario and Solution: Addresses goals (1), (3) and (4)

    5: Scenario is original and involves two or more imperatives from the ACM Code of Ethics, a least two of which are in conflict
    4:Scenario/solution is original, realistic and involves at least two imperatives from the ACM Code of Ethics.
    3: Scenario/solution is original, realistic and involves one imperative from the ACM Code of Ethics
    2: Scenario/solution is contrived (not realistic) but involves at least one imperative from the ACM Code of Ethics
    1: Scenario is simple and involves a single imperative from the ACM Code of Ethics in an obvious way
    0: Scenario/solution fails to illustrate an imperative from the ACM Code of Ethics

    ACM CODE OF ETHICS IMPERATIVES: Addresses goals (1) and (2)

    4:Identifies most relevant imperatives from the ACM Code of Ethics; clearly and thoroughly explains how the imperatives are violated or upheld
    3: Identifies at least two relevant imperatives; clearly and thoroughly explains how the imperatives are violated or upheld
    2: Identifies at least two relevant imperatives but includes only minimal explanation
    1: Identifies at least one relevant imperative but provides no explanation
    0: Fails to identify any relevant imperatives