Luis Arias

Lecturer, Criminal Justice

How is Luis engaging students in the classroom?

Luis employs crime scene scenario videos to offer his students a practical framework for applying their understanding of criminal law. He also integrates moral dilemmas into his teaching approach to foster critical thinking, ethical reasoning, decision-making abilities, empathy, values clarification, and meaningful engagement among his students.

What do students think?

Students enthusiastically participate in Luis's classes, finding the video-based approach helpful to visualizing the scenarios. They recognize that the resulting discussions are valuable opportunities to concretely apply their course material.

Students also enjoy actively participating in discussions centered on moral dilemmas, and are very eager to share their viewpoints.

What’s Next?

Luis is currently involved in COLLABORATIVE ONLINE INTERNATIONAL LEARNING (COIL), where he partners his Immigration Law and Administration students with their counterparts at Universidad de Anahuac in Mexico City. He is also planning to collaborate with a UTEP Philosophy professor to enhance his student’s experience with moral dilemmas.

Want to Know More?

Using Moral Dilemmas as a springboard for discussion

Integrating Ethics From Thought to Action
These modules are designed to help faculty, and their students, sort out their ethical worldviews and consider the value systems they have constructed for themselves.

The Trolley Dilemma
The “trolley dilemma” is one of the most famous of these philosophical imaginings to help us clarify our thinking by pushing it to the limits.

Trolley Problem Ethics
This exercise can help introduce students to the basics of utilitarian and deontological ethical frameworks.

Using video in the classroom:
This website offers tips for creating effective educational videos.

Machinima in the classroom:
Watch this video to learn about more about educational machinima.

UTEP Resources

UTEP provides Yuja and Adobe Express (AE) Premium for easy video production and Blackboard Integration.

The UTEP InSPIRE creative team is ready to assist with consultations and collaborations to seamlessly integrate video into your classroom.