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Mason Technology Ethics

A Research Project at George Mason University.

An emoji face thinking with its mouth open.

The Mason Tech Ethics project addresses one way students can be prepared to face the challenge of working with emerging technologies and techniques - algorithms, AI, machine learning, and large language models, to name a few. We use role-plays (RPs) in combination with case studies (CS) to situate students in scenarios they are likely to face outside the classroom.

Should all data be collected even if it currently doesn't have a use? Should an algorithm that uses social media indicators be used to predict credit risk? How can solidarity and respect be embedded into the implementation of machines in a previously human-intensive industry? These are some examples of the ethical dilemmas students grapple with through the cases, and are tasked with deliberating from the perspective of a role on how to move forward.

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Design Role-Play Case Studies (RPCS) Run RPCS in the Classroom Assessing RPCS Publications & Proceedings from this Project

We currently have 8 developed cases:

Interested in running similar activities in your courses? Below are some highlighted resources from this project. For all the publications and proceedings, see the Publications and Proceedings at the bottom of the page.

Design Role-Play Case Studies (RPCS)

We created A Framework to Develop and Implement Role-Play Case Studies to Teach Responsible Technology Use. Read more in the journal paper, “A Framework to Develop and Implement Role-Play Case Studies to Teach Responsible Technology Use” [17].

Diagram of the role-play case study design process.

Run RPCS in the Classroom

Here are some examples of activities, in addition to the role-plays themselves, that can support and scaffold the role-plays in the classroom. Read more in the conference paper, “Role-Play Case Studies to Teach Computing Ethics: Theoretical Foundations and Practical Guidelines” [14].

Diagram of activities used to support role-play case studies in the classroom.

Assessing RPCS

One way to assess role-plays is by having students do concept maps that allow them to envision how different concepts are connected to each other. Below is an example of a concept map for one case study. Read more in the conference paper, “Assessing Engineering Student's Representation and Identification of Ethical Dilemmas through Concept Maps and Role-Plays” [9].

Example concept map created by a student for a role-play case study.

Publications & Proceedings from this Project