Ethical Reasoning - ACA Code of Ethics


Learning Outcomes

This assignment is designed to address Ethical Reasoning learning outcomes. These specific outcomes are incorporated into the grading rubrics for the papers.

If you wish, you may click HERE to download the American Association of Colleges and Universities VALUE rubric on Ethical Reasoning


Instructions

Developing a clear understanding of what is ethical and what is unethical behavior is critical in the development of your skills as a counselor. Ethics, however, are not as simple as a "rule book" of dos and don'ts in the profession. While there may be clear policies and expectations and a given workplace, there are always GRAY areas that can trip us up.

In this assignment we are going to explore a particular gray area related to social networking. We are going to use a particular set of guidelines developed by the American Counseling Association.

Click here to download teh 2005 ACA Code of Ethics


This assignment is comprised of two quizzes - Ethics Quiz 1 and Ethics Quiz 2

Ethics Quiz 1

In this quiz I want you to write an essay related to your role as a case manager/counselor and your use of social networking tools such as Facebook, email, and websites.

Answer the following questions and should refer to the 2005 ACA Code of Ethics for support of your decision. (The Code of Ethics does not address electronic communication directly so the answers are not obvious.)

  1. What are the positive and negative aspects of having a Facebook presence? (Be sure to address any ethical challenges that this may present.)
  2. What are the positive and negative aspects of using email and/or video conferencing tools to interact with clients?

This quiz will simply be graded based on if you did it or not and the completeness of your answers. Save copies of your answers so you can review them for the next quiz.

This quiz will be graded on the depth of the answers and along the expectations outlined below:

Ethical Self-Awareness

Student discusses in detail/ analyzes both core beliefs and the origins of the core beliefs and discussion has greater depth and clarity.

Understanding Different Ethical Perspectives

Student names the perspective (Ethical Code), can present the gist of said perspective (Ethical Code), and accurately explains the detailsof the perspective.

Application of Ethical Perspectives

Student can independently apply ethical perspectives/ concepts (your own and the Ethical Code) to an ethical question, accurately, and is able to consider full implications of the application.

Once this quiz has been graded, the link below will become active...this link is to an article written on the ACA website about
social networking and ethics.

To Friend or not to Friend

Review this article about the ethical considerations involved in social media an communication.

When you have completed that review, take the next quiz.

Ethics Quiz 2

  1. Based on the reading and further consideration, how would I change my original answer regarding my Facebook presence?
  2. Based on the reading and further consideration, how would I change my original answer regarding using email and/or video conferencing tools to interact with clients?

This quiz will be graded on the completeness of your answers and the degree to which these two short essays meet the
criteria outlined in the table below:

Ethical Issue Recognition

Student can recognize ethical issues when presented in a complex, multilayered (gray) context AND can recognize cross- relationships among the issues.