| CODE | EDE5023 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Teaching Ethics in Schools: Core Ethical Theories and their Application | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Education Studies | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit integrates ethical theory with the practice of teaching ethics in the primary and secondary sectors (including the middle school level). The sessions are organised in the following way: 1. Introduction to Ethical Theories and Their Educational Importance This session will provide an overview of the main ethical theories, such as utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and care ethics. It will highlight the significance of these theories in developing moral reasoning and ethical behaviour in students. 2. Utilitarianism: The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number Focusing on the principles of utilitarianism, this lecture will examine how actions can be evaluated based on their consequences and the overall happiness they produce. It will set the stage for practical applications in teaching. 3. Teaching Utilitarianism in Primary and Secondary Schools This session will explore methods for teaching utilitarianism to children. For primary students (ages 5-11), activities will include simple, relatable scenarios and group discussions. For secondary students (ages 12-16), the focus will be on more complex case studies and debates, including topics like the ethics of AI and job displacement due to technology. 4. Deontology: Duty and Moral Rules This lecture will introduce deontological ethics, which emphasises the importance of duty, rules, and principles in ethical decision-making. It will prepare educators to convey these concepts to students. 5. Teaching Deontology in Primary and Secondary Schools This session will present strategies for teaching deontological ethics. For primary students, it will involve stories and role-playing exercises. For secondary students, it will include the analysis of historical figures and events through a deontological lens, exploring topics like digital citizenship, the ethics of algorithms, and the balance between robotic autonomy and human control. 6. Virtue Ethics: Cultivating Moral Character Focusing on virtue ethics, this lecture will discuss the role of character and virtues such as honesty, courage, and compassion. It will provide a foundation for teaching these concepts to students. 7. Teaching Virtue Ethics in Primary and Secondary Schools This session will cover methods for teaching virtue ethics. For primary students, it will include activities that highlight specific virtues through storytelling and games. For secondary students, it will focus on reflective exercises and discussions about moral exemplars, addressing issues such as the ethical use of agricultural practices, responsible gaming environments, and civic engagement. 8. Care Ethics: Emphasising Relationships and Empathy This lecture will explore care ethics, which prioritises relationships and empathy. It will discuss how these concepts can be integrated into the classroom to enhance students鈥� understanding of ethical behaviour. 9. Teaching Care Ethics in Primary and Secondary Schools This session will outline approaches for teaching care ethics. For primary students, it will involve collaborative projects and empathy-building activities. For secondary students, it will include discussions on current social issues and the role of empathy in resolving conflicts, such as respecting others鈥� privacy, the ethics of surveillance technologies, and the role of the media in safeguarding integrity. 10. Integrating Ethical Theories in a Comprehensive Curriculum The final session will provide strategies for integrating the various ethical theories into a cohesive and comprehensive ethics curriculum. It will offer guidance on creating lesson plans that interweave utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and care ethics, ensuring that students receive a well-rounded ethical education. The integration will also include practical applications of ethical theories to contemporary issues like big data ethics, responsible use of AI (deepfakes, misinformation, biases), and ethical issues related to hacking and digital privacy. Study-Unit Aims: The study-unit aims to equip prospective teachers with a comprehensive understanding of major ethical theories, including utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and care ethics, enabling them to effectively convey these concepts to students. It seeks to enable teachers to demonstrate the application of core ethical theories to contemporary real-life scenarios, such as issues related to AI, digital citizenship, and social justice, thus helping students relate ethical concepts to their daily lives. The study-unit promotes the development of critical thinking skills and ethical decision-making abilities in students by providing teachers with strategies to engage students in thoughtful discussions and reflections on ethical dilemmas. Additionally, it offers practical approaches for teaching ethics in both primary and secondary school settings, considering the developmental stages of children aged 5-11 and 12-16, and addressing the diverse needs and perspectives of students. Finally, the study-unit prepares teachers to incorporate ethical theories and considerations into various subjects and aspects of the school curriculum, fostering a holistic educational environment that emphasises the importance of ethics across all areas of study. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Define key ethical theories such as utilitarianism, deontology, virtue ethics, and care ethics; - Describe the application of ethical theories to contemporary issues like AI, digital citizenship, and social justice; - Discuss the importance of ethical decision-making and how it can be taught in schools; - Explain strategies for teaching ethics to primary and secondary school students; - Identify the developmental stages of children aged 5-11 and 12-16 in relation to their understanding of ethics; - Illustrate how to engage students in discussions and reflections on ethical dilemmas; - Classify different real-life scenarios and apply appropriate ethical theories to them; - Relate ethical theories to practical situations that students may encounter in their daily lives; - Recognise the diverse needs and perspectives of students when teaching ethics; - Review methods for integrating ethical considerations into various subjects within the school curriculum. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Administer ethical discussions and activities in the classroom effectively; - Apply ethical theories to real-world scenarios and classroom situations; - Choose appropriate ethical frameworks to address specific dilemmas encountered by students; - Conduct engaging lessons that incorporate ethical reasoning and moral decision-making; - Demonstrate the ability to explain complex ethical concepts in an accessible manner; - Employ various teaching strategies to foster ethical understanding among students; - Implement ethical theories into the broader school curriculum seamlessly; - Interpret students' ethical perspectives and guide them towards thoughtful conclusions; - Roleplay ethical scenarios to help students understand and practise moral reasoning; - Solve ethical dilemmas using a structured approach grounded in core ethical theories. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Chakraborti, Chhanda. (2023) Introduction to Ethics: Concepts, Theories, and Contemporary Issues. 1st ed. Singapore: Springer. - MacKinnon Vda. de Montes, Barbara. (2009) Ethics鈥�: Theory and Contemporary Issues. 6th ed.. Wadsworth. - Markie, P. and Cahn, Steven M. (2012) Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. - Tavanti, M. (2023). Sustainability Ethics: Common Good Values for a Better World. Ethics International Press. Supplementary Readings: - Sachs, J. D., Flanagan, O., Sorondo, M. S., Vendley, W., Annett, A., & Thorson, J. (Eds.). (2022). Ethics in action for sustainable development. Columbia University Press. - Thompson, Mel (2010). Understand Ethics. [New ed.]. Teach Yourself. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Online Learning | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Michael Grech |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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