Integrating Values Education into STEM Curriculum: A Case Study on Cultivating Professional Ethics and Social Responsibility in 'Radiation Physics and Protection'
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In an era of rapid technological advancement, equipping STEM students with not only technical skills but also professional ethics and a strong sense of social responsibility has become a critical challenge for higher education worldwide. To address this, this study presents a case study of a pedagogical reform in 'Radiation Physics and Protection,' a core course for medical imaging technology majors. Based on two years of teaching practice with 540 undergraduate students at a university in China, this study uses a qualitative analysis to examine three teaching cases designed to enhance students' comprehensive competencies: "Cultivating a Sense of Professional Mission Through Historical Narrative," "Fostering Professional Ethics Through the History of Science and Hands-on Practice," and "Developing Critical Thinking Through Debates on Socioscientific Issues." The findings indicate that by adhering to the design principles of "Goal Alignment, Seamless Integration, Student-Centered Approach, and Value-Oriented Guidance," abstract values can be successfully internalized within a professional curriculum. Based on these findings, this paper proposes a generalizable "Tri-element Fusion" pedagogical model (Knowledge Domain, Value Domain, and Pedagogical Practice Domain), offering a practical framework for ethics and values education in other STEM courses globally.
DOI: 10.54691/6y5dv695
Authors: Wenbo Xu, Jiayi Feng, Mingguo Zhang, Shuhui Fang
Institution: Chengdu Neusoft University
Language: English
Topic: Values and Moral Education
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4414319009