Research Conversations
b.chapmanUsing XR and AI Technologies in the Teaching of Ethics in the Humanities and Education
Drs. A.G. Rud and Mark Fagiano will explore the educational benefits of incorporating XR and AI technologies in the teaching of ethics in humanities and teacher education courses. Despite significant advances in technology to enhance learning and engagement, many educators struggle to incorporate technology into their curriculum. Although ethics courses often cover abstract ethical dilemmas, studies show that merely thinking about moral choices does not change one’s character or future actions. Yet XR technologies show promise in simulating moral sensations to help students move beyond reflection to develop habits that enhance their lives. AI technologies can be used to design and structure decision trees within these XR experiences. Drs. Rud and Fagiano plan to develop a WSU Ethics Virtual Reality (EVR) lab to explore questions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in education and ethics. The lab will be programmed for interdisciplinary programs such as medical ethics, business ethics, educational ethics, and environmental ethics, and will establish infrastructure for further research. This innovative line of research may transform the teaching of history, political science, sociology, education, and other disciplines in which course content centers on moral and ethical decisions or analysis. Drs. Rud and Fagiano also plan to develop a research ethics module for use in training WSU researchers.
Dr. A.G. Rud, Distinguished Professor of Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education, is nationally known for his expertise in the philosophical dimensions of education. His research focuses on the cultural foundations of education, particularly the moral dimensions of teaching, learning, and leading, P-20. Rud is past president of the John Dewey Society and edited its peer-reviewed international journal, Education and Culture, for six years. He is past chair of the Dewey Studies Special Interest Group of the AERA. Rud is president of the Philosophy of Education Society. He is widely published in his field, and recently contributed to and coedited two books on Dewey.
Dr. Mark Fagiano is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at WSU. His research focuses on philosophical problems in the disciplines of ethics, social and political philosophy, and the philosophy of technology. As a pragmatist, Dr. Fagiano’s research is grounded in the vision of William James, especially the theory of relations. Dr. Fagiano explores pressing existential and social problems related to the pursuit of living a good life. In his teaching, he aims to help students learn how philosophical reflection can assist them in making important life decisions.
