Abstract:
Does teaching ethics to students in agriculture and natural resources have any measurable impact upon their perceptions, beliefs and values? This study suggests that it does in at least two important ways: first, students came to think more critically about their personal value sets and to entertain the notion that values and beliefs might change as ethical reasoning develops; and second, that course content effected some movement toward greater inclusiveness, i.e. a shifting away from egoism and toward greater altruism. However, in spite of our conscious efforts in the course to instill greater appreciation for cultural diversity, instruction seemed no substitute for first-hand experiences.
Based upon our preliminary findings, we believe (1) interactive opportunities to work with case studies, and employing topical situations from agriculture and natural resources offer students the best chance to consider new ideas and become more willing to examine their own basic assumptions, perceptions. beliefs, and values: and (2) that course outcomes based upon an applied approach to ethics instmction are measurable and can be objectively assessed with reasonable reliability.
Keywords:
teaching ethics, difference, preliminary study
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