Teaching Character and Creating Positive Classrooms (Coursera)

Positive psychology meets K-12 pedagogy. This course explores key ideas of positive psychology and shows how great teachers apply those lessons to maximize student engagement and accomplishment. Through lectures, discussions, interviews and footage of great educators in action, you’ll learn how to integrate character-based objectives into your own teaching.

Syllabus

WEEK 1

Your Character Journey

Let’s begin with an exploration of our own strengths of character… we all have them!

Graded: Compare the Two Rankings

WEEK 2

The Science of Character

This module explores the research base that supports the teaching of character.

Graded: Character Reflection

WEEK 3

Teaching Character in Every Moment

Character education starts with an intentional approach to every human-to-human interaction.

Graded: Responding with Micro-Moments

WEEK 4

Macro Structures

Create a plan for teaching character and then work every day to make it happen.

Graded: Dual Purpose Lesson Objective

Graded: Midterm Exam

WEEK 5

Talking About Character Growth

No one ever masters something like grit or gratitude; the goal is to integrate those lessons into our daily lives.

Graded: Preparing to Teach Character