K-12 education as an enterprise always has two main aims; to teach basic skills and knowledge and to cultivate moral citizenry. There is substantial evidence that empathy can promote morality and character development through education. To shed light on what has been done and to identify the pathways already established, a thematic review of…

The term "respect for diversity" has gained prominence in many policy and curricular developments aimed at promoting reconciliation and pluralism. To explore the understandings of "respect for diversity" held by children in a society that has both emerged from conflict and is increasingly multicultural, 15 group interviews were…

This article will argue that neuroscientific insights can inform religious and spiritual education's capacity for strengthening student understanding, promoting transformation and ultimately wisdom. Among other findings, it will show that current neuroscientific research supports a holistic approach to pedagogy which emphasises the cognitive,…

Character development in higher education is a complex process. This process has often been delegated to a single course on ethics or courses on religion. The authors of this article pose an alternative higher educational process whereby character development is rooted in a series of abilities that are contextualized throughout the entire…

The importance of moral courage to teaching and learning has been recognized by a number of authors. The process pedagogy of Alfred North Whitehead proposes that emotion is central to experience and to the imaginative questioning which enables learning and the ability to stand up for one's beliefs. Faculty who wish to connect with their students…

A commonly used teaching method to promote student engagement is the classroom debate. This study evaluates how affective characteristics, as defined in Bloom's taxonomy, were stimulated during debates that took place on a professional ethics module for first year computing undergraduates. The debates led to lively interactive group discussions…

"Educational Theories, Cultures and Learning" focuses on how education is understood in different cultures, the theories and related assumptions we make about learners and students and how we think about them, and how we can understand the principle actors in education--learners and teachers. Within this volume, internationally renowned…

A developmental psychologist discusses the meaning of "moral development" and suggests ways to implement classroom activities fostering the moral growth of pupils. (MB)

The issues involved in the incorporation of values or value processes into the social studies classroom are abundant and complex. The purpose of this article is to examine issues and alternatives. (Author/JB)

The purpose of this paper is to suggest some reasons why feelings are important to study as a part of K-12 social studies and to suggest a few ways this might be done. Reasons why feelings should be taught include the following. Knowledge of how people feel in various situations, as well as knowledge of the forces and factors which bring such…

Methods of using values clarification techniques to meet the affective needs of students with emotional disabilities are discussed. The theoretical background and benefits of values clarification are briefly reviewed, and suggestions are offered for implementing such a program at three levels of student skill in the valuing process. (DB)

This manual for elementary school teachers discusses the stages of social reasoning and suggests methods for establishing a classroom and school-wide community to aid students in social reasoning and self-governance. The document contains five sections. Section one focuses on the stages of social reasoning according to William Damon: premoral…

This book examines intervention with children having emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD), through the use of many case studies, activities, and examples. The text is organized in a developmental manner, with behavioral interventions recommended for lower grades and cognitive-behavioral approaches recommended for older students. The first unit…

The major premise of the three essays in this booklet is that moral education in the schools is and will become even more explicit and direct. Another premise is that only through education do people become moral; ethical behavior arises neither from psychological predetermination nor from instinct. New approaches to moral education are necessary…