Innovating IT Ethics Education: The Role of AI in Course Development

Innovating IT Ethics Education: The Role of AI in Course Development

연구 분야: Artificial Intelligence

학회: International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction

This article outlines the evolution of the course “Social, Professional and Ethical Aspects of IT” at Tallinn University of Technology. Before 2022, the course relied on lectures, papers, and seminar presentations, culminating in an oral or essay exam. However, in 2023, the Estonian-language version of the course (the English-language version was essentially unchanged) introduced problem-solving challenges and small group projects while maintaining lectures. By 2024, the course structure had become modular, with IT history, professional ethics, intellectual property, human-computer interaction, and sustainability offered as e-learning modules. Large language models, particularly ChatGPT, played a pivotal role in developing course materials, problem scenarios, and test questions later refined and evaluated by instructors. Participation in e-learning modules with practice session attendance increased from 68% in 2023 to 95% in 2024. The average course result rose from 70% to 85%, and ethical issues related to LLM use were partially resolved. Student feedback highlighted the value of AI in fostering critical thinking, collaborative learning, and real-world problem-solving. However, the study also identified gaps in AI integration for creative tasks and lingering concerns about LLMs’ reliability and ethical implications. Faculty adoption of AI tools such as LLMs remains limited, underscoring the need for institutional support, more precise guidelines, and training (including risk awareness). This paper explores the transformative potential of LLMs in education, emphasizing bridging the gap between academic objectives and industry-relevant skills while addressing challenges to ensure ethical and effective implementation.