The first studio teaching I was ever involved with was the Land Ethic Studio to year 3 students at the University of Arizona. The premise was based on the belief that the Sonora desert is a precious part of the Southwest landscape and an important part of its overall ecology. With the expansive reach of urban sprawl, it was a wonderful counterpoint to the mindless construction projects not only in the city but in the desert as well. Through architectural education, the students not only learn how to build but to build carefully and knowing the reasons and the need to build in the first place.
The link between "ethic" and design was important, as it offers a different perspective from the typical connection to the professional practice side of architecture. So in fact good design also means having a sound ethical position. Years later, the studio reappears in my mind often, not only relative to the environment/ sustainability but also how our students need to instill a sense of ethic in their work. This issue is particularly important now as portfolios, essays, exam questions, models, renderings, and reports could be purchased online.
Without an ethical grounding, nothing will matter.