Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Ethics in the Globalized World

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The objectives stage is essential to direct the attention of students and the teacher to the central points of the lesson. By clearly establishing what is expected to be achieved, this section serves as a guide for the development of subsequent activities, ensuring that all involved have a common understanding of the desired learning outcomes. Furthermore, the objectives help to align expectations and assess the success of the lesson.

Main Objectives:

1. Equip students to analyze and understand the main aspects of ethics in a globalized world, including its implications and contemporary challenges.

2. Develop critical skills so that students can evaluate the interactions between different cultures, economies, and ethical systems in a global context.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage active participation of students in the discussion and application of prior knowledge acquired about ethics and globalization.
2. Foster the development of critical opinion and evidence-based argumentation.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The introduction serves to engage students and bridge the gap between prior theoretical knowledge and practical application of the topic. By presenting problem situations, critical thinking and the application of ethical concepts in real contexts are stimulated. The contextualization helps to understand the relevance of the topic, showing how ethics in a globalized world directly impacts society and the workplace.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine that a large multinational company is transferring its operations to a developing country where labor laws are more flexible. How does this impact business ethics and the company's international image?

2. Consider the situation of a government that restricts access to the internet in its country, claiming it is to protect national security. What are the ethical aspects of this decision in a globalized context?

Contextualization

Ethics in a globalized world is a theme that affects not only large corporations and governments but also the everyday lives of people. For example, the supply chain of electronic products involves the exploitation of resources in developing countries and cheap labor, raising ethical questions about human rights and sustainability. Moreover, events such as the Facebook data leak scandal show how decisions made by companies in one country can have ethical and political repercussions worldwide.

Development

Duration: (65 - 75 minutes)

The Development stage is designed to allow students to practically and interactively apply the concepts of ethics in the globalized world that they have previously studied. Through playful activities, discussions, and simulations, students will be able to explore real ethical dilemmas, develop argumentation and collaboration skills, and think critically about how ethical theories apply in complex contexts. This approach not only reinforces learning but also prepares students to face ethical challenges in their future careers and everyday life.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Global Ethics Olympics

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop critical thinking skills and practical application of ethical theories in real business scenarios in a global context.

- Description: In this activity, students will be divided into groups and participate in a competition that simulates the ethical challenges faced by companies in a globalized context. Each group will receive a case study that involves real dilemmas of business ethics, such as the exploitation of labor in developing countries or questionable environmental practices. Groups will have to present ethical and sustainable solutions, justifying their choices based on previously discussed ethical theories.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Distribute a case study for each group, ensuring that the cases are varied and challenging.

• Groups will have 60 minutes to analyze the case, debate possible solutions, and prepare a presentation.

• Each group must present its solutions to the class, followed by a question and answer session.

• At the end, each group will receive feedback from classmates and the teacher.

Activity 2 - Ethics Cinema: Film and Discussion

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Stimulate critical reflection and debate on ethics in the globalized context, using cinematic examples as a learning tool.

- Description: Students will watch excerpts from films that address ethical issues in the globalized world, such as 'The Social Dilemma' or 'The Corporation.' After the screening, groups will discuss the ethical dilemmas presented and how ethical theories can be applied to solve or analyze these issues. Each group will present their conclusions to the class.

- Instructions:

• Prepare an appropriate environment for screening film excerpts.

• Select excerpts that clearly illustrate ethical dilemmas in the globalized world.

• After the screening, divide the class into groups for discussion of the viewed excerpts.

• Each group should analyze the ethical dilemmas and discuss possible solutions using relevant ethical theories.

• Each group will present their conclusions to the class.

Activity 3 - Global Simulation Challenge

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Promote practical understanding of the ethical implications in the business world and develop decision-making skills in complex scenarios.

- Description: In this simulation, each group of students will represent a multinational company facing an ethical crisis. They will need to make real-time decisions, considering the economic and ethical impacts of their choices. The activity will be mediated by a customized 'board game,' where the groups' decisions will affect the development of the crisis and the reputation of their company.

- Instructions:

• Prepare the 'board game' in advance, including event and decision cards.

• Explain the rules of the game to the class and distribute materials to each group.

• Each group will have a limited time to make decisions and discuss strategies before each round.

• Facilitate the simulation, introducing unexpected events and challenges to test the students' ethical decisions.

• At the end, discuss with the class the lessons learned and how ethical theories could have helped in decision-making.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate the learning acquired during practical activities, allowing students to articulate and share their understandings and discoveries. The group discussion helps develop communication and argumentation skills, as well as providing an opportunity for students to critically reflect on the application of ethical theories in complex and real situations. This feedback is crucial to ensure that students can transfer their learning to future situations, both academic and professional.

Group Discussion

Start the group discussion with a brief recap of the activities performed, highlighting the main ethical points discussed in each. Then, ask each group to share the main conclusions from their presentations and discuss how the applied ethical concepts helped in finding solutions to the proposed dilemmas. Encourage students to reflect on the differences in approach between the groups and the impact of their decisions in the simulations.

Key Questions

1. What were the biggest challenges in applying the ethical theories discussed in the practical activities?

2. How can the ethical dilemmas addressed be applied or related to real-world situations you already know?

3. Were there any surprises regarding the decisions made by other groups? If so, what made them surprising?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The purpose of the Conclusion is to ensure that students have a clear and consolidated understanding of the topics addressed during the lesson, connecting the main points with the practical activities carried out. Furthermore, it serves to reinforce the importance of ethics in a globalized world, not only as a theoretical concept but as an essential tool for responsible and conscious decision-making in various contexts. This stage is vital to ensure that students can apply the knowledge acquired in future situations, both academic and professional.

Summary

To conclude, the teacher should summarize the main points discussed about ethics in a globalized world, recalling the concepts of ethical dilemmas, the impact of business decisions, and the importance of ethical theories in solving complex problems. This recap will help students consolidate the knowledge acquired during the lesson.

Theory Connection

Today's lesson was specially designed to effectively connect theory and practice. Through activities such as 'Global Ethics Olympics,' 'Ethics Cinema,' and 'Global Simulation Challenge,' students were able to directly apply the ethical theories studied in real and hypothetical situations, solidifying theoretical understanding through practical examples and interactive discussions.

Closing

Finally, it is essential to highlight the relevance of ethics in the globalized world for students’ education. Understanding and the ability to apply ethical principles in global and local contexts are crucial skills for students' academic, professional, and personal lives, preparing them to face the complex and interconnected challenges of contemporary society.