EDSE 518 - Educating for Character & Values

Instilling strong values in children can create an entire generation that helps society become a more peaceful and civilized place. Teachers can play a vital role in cultivating these values, but having to implement new standards and curricular requirements can make teachers hesitant to add a “nonacademic” subject to their already full plates. However, teaching character and values is not about adding these subjects, but about integrating them effectively into existing classroom practices and curricula.

In this course, you will examine the importance of teaching children character and values, the ramifications of not teaching these principles, and how you can teach values without involving religion, politics, or other personal stances. You’ll explore various universal values in depth, understanding how they enrich students’ lives, and develop concrete strategies for how to implement values-related education in the classroom. In addition, you’ll learn how to model positive behaviors in your own life and classroom, and how to use literature and media to teach lasting character lessons to your students.

By the end of this course, you’ll be equipped with comprehensive strategies for integrating character- and values-related education in the classroom and forging responsible 21st-century citizens.