2.3 – Memorandum for Jade’s Formal Research Progress Report

Memorandum

To: Dr. Erika Paterson, ENGL301 Professor
From: Jade Duan, ENGL301 Student
Date: March 14, 2023
Subject: 301 Progress Report : Assimilating AI Ethics Awareness into Computer Science Course Projects

Purpose of Report

The purpose of the report is to investigate the feasibility of integrating AI ethics awareness elements into computer science courses at UBC.

Significance of Report

By examining the research results, the audience could better decide whether to help elevate the public’s awareness of AI ethics by delivering virtuous ideologies through their computer science courses.

Intended Audience

UBC Computer Science department Associate Head of Operations Prof. Steve Wolfman, and the teaching team of CPSC 210.

Report Objectives

The objectives of this report are:

• To determine the need of addressing ethical issues caused by the fast development of AI applications
• To confirm the feasibility of adjusting the practice projects in certain computer science courses to incorporate knowledge of AI ethics
• To provide recommendations on possible methods for implementing the adjustments within controllable cost

Methods

Primary sources are data collected via an online survey distributed among current computer science students at UBC, and a short email questionnaire for Prof. Steve Wolfman. Attached are the link to the survey questions and the list of questions in the short questionnaire:

• Link to the survey questions:
  https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6uopwwJf4rrvFMG
• Questions in the short questionnaire:
  1. To what extent do you think computer science education could involve in the movement of AI fair use?
  2. Have there been many, some or few students asking about the ethics of using AI applications?
  3. Would it require light, moderate or significant effort to add some non-functional AI ethics knowledge presentations in the practice projects of CPSC 210?

Secondary sources will include relevant literature materials.

Formal Report Outline

Attached is the link to the outline for the formal report:
https://blogs.ubc.ca/engl30199c2022w2/2023/03/09/assignment-2-3-jades-report-outline/

Research Plan

In order to analyze feasibility and provide effective recommendations, I plan to:

• Identify the seriousness of the lack of AI ethics awareness with examples collected from secondary sources.
• Research the cause of the issue through secondary sources, including news reports about legal cases, professionals’ video blogs discussing the issue, published papers about current development of AI applications.
• Assemble a thorough literature review based on findings from the research through secondary sources.
• Design the survey and the questionnaire with the subjects’ and reader’s best interests in mind.
• Distribute the survey and the questionnaire and collect primary data.
• Produce data visualization graphics, conduct data analysis and perform cost analysis.
• Draw conclusions using findings from both the primary and secondary sources, and produce sensible recommendations.

Writing Schedule

Attached is my writing schedule for the coming months:
301 Jade Duan Writing Schedule.docx

Thank you for taking the time to review my progress report. I look forward to reading your professional feedback.