Warm-Up: A Workplace Dilemma

Instructions: Read the scenario below and be ready to share your immediate thoughts with a partner, then with the class.

Imagine you are on your first co-op placement. You notice a coworker consistently taking extra-long breaks, and they ask you to cover for them if anyone asks. If you don't, you worry about making a bad impression early in your placement. If you do, you feel uncomfortable. There's also the risk that you or they might get caught.

What is your immediate gut feeling about what you should do?

Why do you think that's your first instinct?

Discussion Points:

• Did anyone have a different initial reaction?
• What factors influenced your quick decision?
• Are there any potential complications with your immediate choice?

The Ethical Framework Guide: Making Thoughtful Choices

Sometimes, making the "right" decision isn't as simple as following your gut. Ethical dilemmas can be complicated, affecting many people in different ways. This guide provides a structured framework to help you think through tough choices more objectively.

Step 1: Identify the Ethical Dilemma

What is the core conflict or problem that requires a decision? What values are at stake? Try to state the dilemma clearly and concisely.

Step 2: Identify the Stakeholders

Who are all the individuals or groups of people who will be affected by this decision? Think broadly. What are their interests, concerns, or potential gains/losses?

• Stakeholder 1:
  
  
• Stakeholder 2:
  
  
• Stakeholder 3:
  
  
• Stakeholder 4:
  
  

Add more as needed.

Step 3: List Possible Options

What are the different courses of action you could take? Brainstorm as many realistic and relevant options as possible, even if some seem less ideal at first.

• Option A:
  
  
• Option B:
  
  
• Option C:
  
  

Add more as needed.

Step 4: Evaluate Consequences for Each Option

For each option you listed in Step 3, consider the potential positive and negative consequences for each stakeholder identified in Step 2. Think short-term and long-term.

Option A Consequences:

• Positive:
  
  
• Negative:
  
  
  

Option B Consequences:

• Positive:
  
  
• Negative:
  
  
  

Option C Consequences:

• Positive:
  
  
• Negative:
  
  
  

Continue for all options.

Step 5: Make Your Choice

Based on your thorough evaluation of the consequences, which option do you believe is the most ethical and responsible choice?

My Choice:

Step 6: Justify Your Decision

Explain why you made the choice you did. Refer back to the dilemma, the stakeholders, the options you considered, and the consequences you evaluated. How does your choice align with ethical principles or values?

Ethical Dilemma Shuffle: Group Application

Instructions for Teacher:
Prepare several ethical dilemma cards (on index cards or small slips of paper) before class. Each card should present a brief, open-ended ethical scenario relevant to 11th-grade students. Distribute these randomly to small groups.

Example Dilemma Cards:

• Dilemma 1: The Plagiarism Problem
  Your best friend is struggling in a class and asks to copy a small section of your essay. They promise they won't get caught and say it's the only way they can pass the course. What do you do?

• Dilemma 2: The Online Secret
  You accidentally see a private message from a classmate to another friend that reveals they are cyberbullying someone in your grade. If you report it, your classmate might face serious consequences, but if you don't, the bullying might continue. What do you do?

• Dilemma 3: The Environmental Club Fundraiser
  Your school's environmental club is raising money for a new project. A local fast-food chain, known for its poor environmental practices, offers a large donation in exchange for prominent advertising at your club events. The money would significantly help the project. What do you do?

• Dilemma 4: The Sports Injury
  You are a star athlete on a team, and a critical championship game is coming up. You sustain a minor injury that your doctor says will get worse if you play, potentially ending your career. Your coach and teammates are counting on you, and if you don't play, the team has little chance of winning. What do you do?

Instructions for Students:

1. Get Your Dilemma: Each group will receive one ethical dilemma card.
2. Apply the Framework: As a group, use your The Ethical Framework Guide to thoroughly analyze the scenario on your card. Work through all six steps of the ethical decision-making framework.
   • Identify the Dilemma
   • Identify Stakeholders
   • List Options
   • Evaluate Consequences
   • Make Your Choice
   • Justify Your Decision
3. Prepare to Share: Be ready to briefly present your chosen dilemma, the process you followed, and your final justified decision to the class. Focus on how the framework helped your group think through the problem.

SOS Summary Exit Ticket: Ethical Choices

Instructions: Before you leave, please complete this quick exit ticket to summarize your learning from today's lesson on ethical decision-making frameworks. Be concise!

S - Summarize

What was one key idea, concept, or new tool you learned or discussed today about making ethical choices?

O - Obstacles

What was one challenge, difficulty, or lingering question you still have about applying ethical frameworks or making tough decisions?

S - Suggest

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone who is struggling to make an ethical decision, based on what we learned today?

Ethical Choices: Teacher Script

I. Warm-Up: A Workplace Dilemma (5 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're diving into something we all do, often without even realizing it: making ethical decisions. Before we get into the heavy stuff, let's start with a quick scenario that might feel very real if you're thinking about future co-op or work experiences."

*(Project Warm-Up: A Workplace Dilemma slide/prompt on the Making the Right Call Slideshow)

"Take a look at this prompt on the screen: Imagine you are on your first co-op placement. You notice a coworker consistently taking extra-long breaks, and they ask you to cover for them if anyone asks. What is your immediate gut feeling about what you should do? And why do you think that's your first instinct?"

"I want you to quickly think about your answer for about 30 seconds, then turn to a partner and discuss your initial thoughts for a minute or so. No right or wrong answers here, just what comes to mind first."

Allow 1-2 minutes for partner discussion.

"Alright, let's bring it back together. Who'd like to share their initial gut feeling? What did you and your partner discuss? Did anyone have a different initial reaction? What factors influenced your quick decision?"

Facilitate a brief class share-out. Encourage quick, honest answers.

II. Introduce Framework: What's Your Moral Compass? (15 minutes)

"Excellent discussion. You can already see how quickly different ideas and feelings come up when faced with a tough choice. That's exactly what we're talking about today. While our gut feelings are powerful, sometimes, especially with more complex situations, they aren't the only or even the best guide."

*(Transition to "Beyond the Gut Feeling" slide on Making the Right Call Slideshow)

"Today, we're going to learn about 'ethical frameworks.' Think of an ethical framework as a tool or a step-by-step guide to help us move beyond just that 'gut feeling' and make more thoughtful, justified ethical decisions. It's like having a moral compass that you can actively use to navigate tricky waters."

*(Transition to "Our Ethical Toolkit: Step 1 & 2" slide on Making the Right Call Slideshow)

"Let's look at the first few steps. First, we need to Identify the Ethical Dilemma. What's the real problem here? What values are clashing? Then, we Identify the Stakeholders. Who is going to be affected by this decision? Who has an interest here? It's often more people than you initially think."

*(Distribute The Ethical Framework Guide to students.)

"You each have a copy of The Ethical Framework Guide which outlines these steps. Let's briefly look at the first two steps there."

*(Transition to "Our Ethical Toolkit: Step 3 & 4" slide on Making the Right Call Slideshow)

"Next, we need to List Possible Options. Don't just think of two choices; try to brainstorm several. And then, for each of those options, we Evaluate the Consequences. What are the potential good and bad outcomes for all the stakeholders we identified? This is where it gets really important to think broadly—short-term, long-term, direct, indirect."

*(Transition to "Our Ethical Toolkit: Step 5 & 6" slide on Making the Right Call Slideshow)

"Finally, based on all that careful thought, you Make Your Choice. And just as important, you need to be able to Justify Your Decision. Explain why you chose that option, referring back to the framework. It's not enough to just pick an answer; you need to show your work, ethically speaking."

III. Apply the Framework in Groups: Ethical Dilemma Shuffle (20 minutes)

*(Transition to "Group Work: Ethical Dilemma Shuffle!" slide on Making the Right Call Slideshow)

"Now it's your turn to put this framework into practice. I'm going to divide you into small groups of 3-4 students. Each group will receive a card with an ethical dilemma on it. These are designed to be challenging, real-world-ish scenarios."

"Your task is to work together, using your The Ethical Framework Guide, to apply all six steps of the framework to your dilemma. Discuss each step thoroughly. Make sure everyone in your group understands the dilemma, the stakeholders, the options, and the potential consequences before you make and justify your final choice."

Divide students into groups and distribute ethical dilemma cards from Ethical Dilemma Shuffle. Circulate among groups, listen to discussions, and prompt deeper thinking with questions like: "Who else might be affected here?" "What are the long-term impacts of that choice?" "Are there any other options you haven't considered?"

IV. Evaluate Outcomes & Reflect: Share and Discuss (5 minutes)

*(As time winds down, bring the class back together.)

"Alright, class, let's bring it back. Fantastic discussions happening around the room. I heard some really thoughtful debates. Can one or two groups quickly share their dilemma and the ethical choice they arrived at, along with a brief explanation of how the framework guided their decision?"

Allow 1-2 groups to share, prompting brief class discussion.

*(Transition to "Reflect & Share" slide on Making the Right Call Slideshow)

"So, what did you learn from applying this framework? Was it easy or difficult? Did it change your 'gut feeling' about the dilemma? The goal isn't necessarily to always arrive at the 'perfect' answer, but to make a more reasoned and justified one."

"Before you go, please grab an SOS Summary Exit Ticket. Take a couple of minutes to complete it. This will help you reflect on your learning today and help me understand what resonated with you and what questions you might still have."

Distribute SOS Summary Exit Ticket and dismiss class as students complete it.