IPENZ Code of Ethics
Teacher: Francois du Plessis
School: Sacred Heart College, Auckland
For his Level 3 Electronics and Controls course at Sacred Heart College, Auckland, Francois du Plessis asked Futureintech Facilitator Angela Hart to recommend a professional engineer who could visit his class to help explain the knowledge that underpins an electronics and controls outcome. Traffic engineer Veronica Maka, who was working on the Lincoln Rd project at the time, volunteered as a Futureintech Ambassador to visit the class and answer questions the students had prepared.
Besides the technical details relating to control systems and input/output components used in traffic control, the students wanted to get as much information as possible about the engineer's technological practice. Specifically, they were keen to find out about the codes of ethics to which engineers must adhere. Francois notes that most of the questions involved the engineer's professional conduct during his technological practice, which suggested to Francois that students generally associate codes of ethics with professional conduct.
Following the visit, Francois introduced the class to the IPENZ Codes of Ethics website and asked students to match the five fundamental ethical values listed on the site to the information they obtained from their visitor the previous day.
After studying the document, the students said codes of ethics involved more than they had expected. "Many students have a limited understanding of codes of ethics," Francois says. The website gives students valuable insight on what codes of ethics entails. Students have found the information easily understandable and, most importantly, they have seen the relevance of the website in terms of technological practice."
"The website can be used by Technology teachers (all areas) who are keen on delivering external technology achievement standards. This information can also be used in the internal achievement standards, when students look at 'key factors' that will have an effect on their design. While this information is intended for professional engineers, it could easily be applied to all technologists.
"I recommend that students access and study this document when preparing for the interview with a professional technologist, so they can come up with meaningful questions."
