Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 1
ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
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ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Ghana app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Engineering
Class: SHS 1
Term: 1st Term
Week: 13
Grade code: 1.1.3.LI.3
Strand code: 1
Sub-strand code: 3
Content standard code: 1.1.3.CS.1
Indicator code: 1.1.3.LI.3
Theme: ENGINEERING PRACTICE
Subtheme: ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
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This lesson introduces the fundamental concepts of ethics and professionalism within the field of engineering. In Ghana, as we see new roads, hospitals, schools, and digital systems being built, the role of the engineer is more important than ever. The safety of the public, the quality of our infrastructure, and the trust people have in technology all depend on engineers making the right, or 'ethical', decisions. This lesson will explore what it means to be an ethical engineer and how to tell the difference between right and wrong actions in the profession.
A. What are Ethics? Ethics are moral principles that guide a person's behaviour or the conducting of an activity. Think of them as the rules for deciding what is right and what is wrong. Personal Ethics: Your own beliefs about right and wrong (e.g., "I should not lie," "I should help someone in need"). Professional Ethics: A set of moral principles and rules of conduct that a group of people in a specific profession (like doctors, lawyers, or engineers) agree to follow. B. What is Engineering Ethics? Engineering ethics is the set of moral principles that apply to the practice of engineering. The engineer has a direct and vital impact on the quality of life for all people. The core, number one principle of engineering ethics is:
> "Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public."
This means that an engineer's first duty is to protect the people who will use or be affected by their work. An engineer who designs a weak bridge to save money has failed this primary duty. An engineer who ensures a new water treatment plant provides clean, safe water has fulfilled it. C. Distinguishing Between Ethical and Unethical Behaviours
To understand the difference, let's look at specific examples. We can organise them into a table.