Professional Standards & Ethics Flashcards

An adult learner discloses during a one-on-one meeting that they are in a domestic violence situation. The educator's primary ethical obligation is to:

Answer: Provide referrals to appropriate support services and follow mandatory reporting laws if applicable

Educators must connect learners to appropriate resources and comply with any mandatory reporting obligations under state law.

The principle of 'respect for persons' in adult education ethics most directly requires educators to:

Answer: Honor learner autonomy and right to self-determination in their learning

Respect for persons means recognizing learners as autonomous agents capable of directing their own learning and life decisions.

A learner approaches an educator offering payment for guaranteed passing grades. The educator should:

Answer: Decline and document the incident, reporting it per institutional policy

Accepting payment for grades is academic fraud; documenting and reporting protects the educator, the institution, and the integrity of credentials.

Which ethical framework is most commonly associated with emphasizing the greatest good for the greatest number, and how does it apply in adult education?

Answer: Utilitarianism — making decisions that maximize overall learner benefit

Utilitarianism evaluates actions by their outcomes and is applied when educators must make resource or policy decisions affecting many learners.

An educator notices a colleague consistently belittling adult learners with limited literacy skills. The most professionally ethical response is to:

Answer: Address the concern with the colleague privately, then escalate to administration if the behavior continues

Peer accountability is an ethical obligation; the correct sequence is private conversation first, followed by formal reporting if the behavior persists.

When designing assessments for adult learners, cultural bias most directly threatens which ethical principle?

Answer: Fairness and equity

Culturally biased assessments unfairly disadvantage learners from certain backgrounds, violating the ethical principle of equitable treatment.

A professional code of ethics differs from a code of conduct primarily in that a code of ethics:

Answer: Articulates core values and principles to guide professional judgment

A code of ethics sets aspirational values and guiding principles, whereas a code of conduct specifies concrete required or prohibited behaviors.