Professional Standards & Ethics Flashcards

An adult educator discovers that a learner is using a fraudulent transcript to enroll in a credential program. What is the most ethically appropriate first step?

Answer: Report it to the appropriate institutional authority per policy

Educators must follow institutional reporting procedures when academic dishonesty or fraud is discovered, protecting institutional integrity.

Which principle from the AAACE Code of Ethics specifically addresses adult educators' responsibility toward the profession itself?

Answer: Contributing to ongoing professional development and knowledge

Professionals have an obligation to advance their field through continued learning, research, and sharing of knowledge.

A learner with a disability requests extended test time, but the educator believes the request is unjustified. What is the correct course of action?

Answer: Refer the request to the institution's disability services office for proper evaluation

ADA compliance requires accommodations to be evaluated through formal institutional processes, not individual instructor discretion.

An adult educator is asked by an employer to share which employees are struggling in a workplace literacy program. The educator should:

Answer: Refuse unless participants have given written consent to disclose

Learner confidentiality is protected regardless of who funds the program; written consent is required before disclosing individual performance data.

Which of the following best describes the ethical concept of 'non-maleficence' as applied to adult education?

Answer: Avoiding actions that could harm learners physically or psychologically

Non-maleficence is the principle of 'do no harm,' requiring educators to avoid practices that could cause learners physical, psychological, or social harm.

An adult educator is developing curriculum for a government-funded program and realizes that the prescribed content conflicts with current evidence-based best practices. The ethical response is to:

Answer: Raise the conflict with program administrators and advocate for evidence-based revision

Educators have a professional duty to advocate for learners by surfacing curriculum gaps or inaccuracies through appropriate administrative channels.

A CAE practitioner who serves on a certification exam development committee uses practice questions they helped write in their own prep course. This is an example of:

Answer: A serious conflict of interest that compromises exam integrity

Using privileged access to non-public exam content for personal financial or competitive gain is a clear conflict of interest and ethical violation.