Approaches and Strategies for Value Development - Unit 5 Values & Peace Education

 Approaches and Strategies for Value Development

1. APPROACHES TO VALUE DEVELOPMENT

There are two dominant viewpoints regarding how values should be imparted to students:

🎓 Formalist View

·     Emphasizes that values must be explicitly taught through formal curriculum, textbooks, and planned lessons.
📝 Example: Schools design special moral science periods or include values-based content in subjects like literature and social science.

👨‍🏫 Behaviorist View

·     Suggests that values are caught by observing the behavior of role models like teachers, peers, and parents.
📝 Example: Students develop honesty and responsibility by watching a teacher consistently return lost items to the rightful owner.

✅ Balanced View: "Values are both taught and caught."

This integrated perspective combines both methods—structured value education and modeling exemplary behavior.
Hence, value inculcation is seen as a gradual five-step process.

5 Key Stages in Value Inculcation through school Programmes (5-Step Process)

1.   Knowing
➤Creating awareness about the value through assemblies, posters, talks, and value-based curriculum.
📝 Example: Students learn about the value of respect during weekly "Value of the Week" sessions.

2.   Believing
➤ Helping students internalize and appreciate the value as important and relevant.
📝 Example: Discussions and real-life stories help students believe in compassion and empathy.

3.   Judging
➤ Providing real-life or hypothetical situations where students must critically evaluate value-based dilemmas.
📝 Example: Debating whether to help a friend who is cheating in exams — helps students analyze right and wrong.

4.   Action
➤ Encouraging students to practice the value in real-life contexts.
📝 Example: Students volunteer in community clean-up drives to show responsibility and environmental care.

5.   Spontaneous Response
➤ When the value becomes an integral part of a student’s character, leading to natural, automatic behavior.
📝 Example: A student helps an injured peer without waiting for instructions — a spontaneous display of empathy.

 2. BASIC APPROACHES TO VALUE DEVELOPMENT

(Based on Superka, Akhrens & Hedstrom)

Approaches Include:

2.1 Value Inculcation Approach

➤ Values are instilled through direct and repetitive methods such as lectures, stories, music, and media.

✔️ Effective When Preceded by experiential activities and reflective thinking.
📝 Example: Teaching kindness through animated stories, followed by class role-plays.

Methods of Value Inculcation

·     Cleanliness & Orderliness
➤ Morning assemblies focus on weekly values.
➤ "Cleanliness Week" with slogan competitions and clean classroom awards.

·     Courtesy
➤ Integrate etiquette phrases in subjects.
➤ Display polite behavior through classroom drama.

·     Dignity of Labour
➤ Involve students in arranging classroom furniture or planting trees.
➤ Lessons on community helpers in social science.

·     Gender Equality
➤ Role-model stories of historical female leaders.
➤ Poster-making on gender justice and equal rights.

·     Punctuality
➤ Real-life examples of famous personalities who valued time.
➤ Proverbs like "A stitch in time saves nine" displayed on boards.

·     Religious Tolerance
➤ Celebrate multi-faith festivals.
➤ Biographies of peaceful leaders like Swami Vivekananda, Prophet Muhammad, and Jesus Christ.

·     Sensitivity
➤ Organize empathy walks and social visits (e.g., orphanage, old age homes).
➤ Use emotional songs or skits to build compassion.

·     Scientific Temper
➤ Encourage questioning, model exhibitions, science fairs.
➤ Organize debates: “Should superstitions be followed?”

2.2 Value Analysis Approach

(By Coombs & Metcalfe)
➤ Aims at helping students resolve moral dilemmas using rational thinking and discussion.

🧩 7 Steps in Value Analysis

1.  Presenting the Dilemma
➤ Introduce an issue using videos, stories, or real news events.
Example: “Your friend is shoplifting—what would you do?”

2.  Identifying Value Conflict
➤ Discuss which values are at stake (e.g., honesty vs. loyalty).

3.  Brainstorming Alternatives
➤ Let students suggest possible responses.

4.  Predicting Consequences
➤ Discuss short-term vs. long-term results of each option.

5.  Supporting with Evidence
➤ Use statistics, articles, and laws to support reasoning.

6.  Evaluating Consequences
➤ Rate outcomes using a scale (−2 = harmful, +2 = beneficial).

7.  Choosing Best Option
➤ Students choose a solution and justify their choice logically.

🛠️ Tools Used:

• Worksheets – For individual reflection.
• Group Discussions – For moral debate and perspective-sharing.

2.3 Value Clarification Approach

(By Raths, Harmin & Simon)
➤ Helps students identify and clarify their personal values.
➤ Non-impositional approach – does not tell students what to believe.

💎 Based On:

• Humanistic Psychology – Carl Rogers & Abraham Maslow
• Belief in self-exploration, free will, and emotional growth.

🧰 7 Steps in Value Clarification

1.  Choosing Freely
➤ Encourage independent choices.
Example: Selecting a school club without peer pressure.

2.  Choosing from Alternatives
➤ More options allow authentic decisions.

3.  Considering Consequences
➤ Discuss what might happen based on different choices.

4.  Prizing and Cherishing
➤ Students feel proud and emotionally connected to their values.

5.  Public Affirmation
➤ Share beliefs in public (e.g., class discussions, posters).

6.  Acting on Values
➤ Turn beliefs into consistent behavior.
Example: Regularly helping others out of personal conviction.

7.  Consistency (Repeating)
➤ Value-based actions become habits through practice.

✅ Benefits:

• Helps in self-awareness, decision-making, and identity formation.
• Encourages respect for diverse viewpoints and moral independence.

🧾 SUMMARY IN ONE LINE PER APPROACH

Approach	Explanation	Example
✅ Basic Approaches	Covers the 3 major styles – Cognitive (thinking), Affective (feeling), Behavioural (doing)	Dividing a class activity into discussion, storytelling, and reward
🧠 Cognitive Approach	Helps students understand values using logic and reasoning	Ask: “Why is telling truth important even if it’s difficult?”
❤️ Affective Approach	Focuses on students emotionally experiencing and valuing goodness	Story of a poor boy helped by a stranger – creates empathy
🙌 Behavioural Approach	Builds value through repeated action and reinforcement	Awarding students who show discipline consistently
🔄 Integrated Approach	Combines all three – thinking, feeling, and acting	Roleplay + story + discussion on respecting elders
🔍 Value Clarification Approach	Helps students explore and clarify their personal values	Ask: “What do you value most – friendship or honesty?” and explain why
⚖️ Value Analysis Approach	Encourages students to examine social issues and moral dilemmas	Debating: “Should mobile phones be banned in school?”
✨ Value Inculcation Approach	Repeatedly teaches values with rewards and punishments to make them permanent	Morning prayer, school pledges, honor system

Conclusion:

Different approaches help students learn values in different ways — some by teaching directly, some by encouraging reflection, and some by letting them explore real-life situations. A good teacher uses a mix of these to help children grow as responsible, ethical, and value-based individual