Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of Birmingham offers a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) titled "What is Character? Virtue Ethics in Education." This course is designed to answer important questions about character and character education, such as what it is, why it is important, and whether it can be taught.

Course Details

• Duration: 2 weeks
• Course Type: MOOC
• Lead Academic: Tom Harrison, Deputy Director of Development at the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues
• Course Description: The course will cover the theoretical and philosophical basis for character education, including a background to virtue ethics, and provide practical knowledge on taking character education into educational settings.

Course Content

• Week 1: Examination of what character education is, what it is not, and why it matters, including the question of whether character should be taught in schools.
• Week 2: Exploration of the implications of character education on the ground, including whether character can be caught as well as taught in schools and the responsibility of teachers.

Knowledge Requirements

• No previous knowledge is necessary for this course, as it is designed for a diverse audience and covers a range of material.

Related Courses

• The University of Birmingham also offers an MA in Character Education, for which this MOOC can serve as a taster course.

Research Areas

• The Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, based within the School of Education at the University of Birmingham, is a leading research centre for the examination of how character and virtues impact on individuals and society. The Centre promotes the practical application of its research evidence through various development projects, with a key conviction that the virtues that make up a good character can be learnt and taught.