Engineering 1000: Chap. 4-6

What is Groupthink?

A phenomenon where group cohesiveness leads to faulty decision-making

Which disaster is often cited as a result of Groupthink?

Space Shuttle Challenger explosion

What was NASA’s management reaction when engineers raised concerns about launching the Challenger at low temperatures?

They were “appalled” and pressured a go-ahead

Which of the following is not a symptom of Groupthink?

Active Listening to all members

The Code of Hammurabi is an early example of what type of rule?

Legal consequences for structural failures

What engineering disaster influenced the requirement for professional licensure in the US?

Boston Molasses Flood

Which is not a type of ethics/morals discussed in class

Organizational Ethics

Why is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) important in engineering decision-making, as implied by the case studies and discussions in class?

DEI helps ensure that ethical decisions are made with input from diverse perspectives, reducing the risk of groupthink.

Illusion of Invulnerability

The group ignores warnings and assumes no harm will come from their decisions

Collective Rationalization

The group dismisses or rationalizes contrary information or warnings

Belief in Inherent Morality of the Group

Group members believe their decisions are morally superior

Self-Censorship

Group members withhold their dissenting views or doubts

Illusion of Unanimity

Silence or lack of objections is mistaken for agreement

Direct Pressure on Dissenters

Group members are pressured to conform or avoid expressing dissenting opinions

Outgroup Stereotypes

Group members create negative views of those outside the group

Self-Appointed Mindguards

Certain members protect the leader from contradictory or challenging information

Common Morality

The set of moral beliefs shared by almost everyone in society

Personal Ethics/Morality

The set of moral beliefs held by an individual which may differ from person to person

Professional Ethics

The set of moral standards adopted by professionals when acting within their profession

What type of morals/ethics is “People should not eat meat because it is inhuman”

Personal Morals/Ethics

What type of morals/ethics is “People should not take things that don’t belong to them”

Common Morals

What type of morals/ethics is “People should act in a professional matter for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest”

Professional Ethics

What type of morals/ethics is “People should act in a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity and dignity of the profession”

Professional Ethics

What type of morals/ethics is “People should not intentionally hurt others”

Common Morals

What type of morals/ethics is “People should drive on the right side of the road”

None of the above

What type of morals/ethics is “People shall preform services only in the areas of their competence”

Professional Ethics

What type of morals/ethics is “People should issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner”

Professional Ethics

Which event directly led to increased incentives for Professional Licensure as a requirement to practice?

The Boston Molasses Disaster of 1919

What is the first example of codified rules of Engineering?

The Code of Hammurabi (1754 BCE)

Select which canon of the Engineering Code of Ethics most applies: “An engineer gives a positive, upbeat assessment to a local news outlet about a public works project where the person is aware of serious safety problems with the project.”

Canon 3: Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner

Select which canon of the Engineering Code of Ethics most applies: “ A mechanical engineer has started a design business. The person accepts a contract to do structural design work on a commercial building.”

No Violation has occurred

Select which canon of the Engineering Code of Ethics most applies: “Two members of the engineering team with roughly equivalent education relevant to the job and experience are being considered for a promotion. One of the candidates has lost money in a real estate venture and is facing bankruptcy. The other candidate knows about this and goes around spreading information about their financial problems and claims that this is affecting their performance at work.”

Canon 5: Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others

Select which canon of the Engineering Code of Ethics most applies: “A technologist who manages projects for a construction company has had some difficulty getting permits issued from some city departments due to a backlog. In order to move their projects to the front of the queue, the technologists begin sending extravagant gifts to certain city department heads in exchange for preferential treatment.”

Canon 4: Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest 

Select which canon of the Engineering Code of Ethics most applies: “An engineer who is quite competent on the job is a volunteer who helps run the model trains at the local museum”

No Violation has occurred

Select which canon of the Engineering Code of Ethics most applies: “An engineer moves to a new job in the same industry. In order to make a good first impression, he tells his new employer proprietary details of how work is done by his former employer”

Canon 4: Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest

Select which canon of the Engineering Code of Ethics most applies: “An engineer who is quite competent on the job enjoys the sort of active social life on the weekends that results in rides in the back seat of police cars and photos in the mug shot section of the local online news sites.  Along with the mug shots, the person is identified along with their job and place of employment”

Canon 6: Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity and dignity of the profession

What is Generative AI?

An AI that generates new content like text, images, or music

What early program laid the groundwork for Generative AI in 1966?

ELIZA

Which company launched the Generative Pre-trained Transformer models?

OpenAI

What is DALL-E designed to do?

Generate images from text descriptions

How should Generative AI be used in writing, according to the presentation?

As a tool to inspire and augment human creativity

What is an essential part of upholding academic integrity when using AI in education?

Clear attribution for AI-generated content

What should be done to maintain the accuracy of AI-generated content?

Cross-check facts against credible sources

What was the outcome of attorney Steven A. Schwartz’s use of AI-generated content?

He faced serious professional consequences

What is a known limitation of Generative AI models like ChatGPT?

They may produce factually incorrect content

Why is human oversight crucial when using Generative AI?

AI can make mistakes that require human correction

How did Amazon’s AI recruitment tool demonstrate bias?

It preferred resumes with male-associated terms

What lesson was learned from Amazon’s AI recruitment tool incident?

Historical data can introduce bias into AI models

Which strategy helps mitigate bias in AI models?

Using diverse training data

What is a potential risk of over-relying on AI in education?

Diminishing problem-solving abilities

How should AI be used to enhance student writing outcomes?

By actively editing and personalizing it

What does the “digital divide” refer to in the context of AI?

Disparities in access to AI tools

What is crucial for ensuring transparency in AI use in education?

Academic integrity and disclosure

What was one of the key challenges highlighted about writing in Engineering Technology programs?

Emphasizing technical skills over writing skills

What do ABET Criterion 3 Student Outcomes emphasize?

Oral and graphical communication in technical settings

What are some challenges students face e with writing?

Writing anxiety and organizing thoughts

Why is AI not a replacement for factual databases?

AI relies on pre-existing data, which may be inaccurate

What practical step can help ensure the accuracy of AI content?

Fact-checking with reliable sources

What is a consequence of inherent biases in AI models?

Reinforcing stereotypes and inequalities

What should institutions do to ensure equitable AI access for students?

Provide equal access to AI resources

What is the importance of teaching effective communication in Engineering Technology?

It’s foundational for academic and professional success

The slug is a unit of…

Mass

The kilogram is a unit of…

Mass

The Newton is a unit of…

Weight

The pounds-force (dbf) is a unit of…

Weight