EDUA 5655 Educating for Character & Values
EDUCATING FOR CHARACTER AND VALUES
Character and values are vital for child development; they teach students what it means to be a good citizen at school, at home, and in their communities. Character education can encourage children to embrace ethical and civic virtues that are widely agreed upon, such as honesty, loyalty, respect for others, and social awareness. In return, creating a generation of children with strong values can help society as a whole become a more peaceful and civilized place. With the implementation of new standards and curricular requirements, it can be difficult for teachers to consider adding a "non-academic" subject to their curriculum. However, teaching character and values isn’t about adding, it’s about integrating it effectively with existing classroom practices and curricula.
This course imparts the importance of teaching character and values, the ramifications of what can happen if they are not taught, and how values can be taught without involving religion, politics, or other personal stances. In the course, the teacher will study various universal values in depth, understanding how they enrich students’ lives, and learn concrete strategies for how to implement values education in the classroom. After finishing the course, teachers will be equipped with comprehensive strategies for integrating character and values education in the classroom and forging responsible 21st century citizens.