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Character-Infused Virtue Ethics and Implications for the Design of Character Development Training

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Abstract

The process of instructional design is inextricably infused with ethical decision-making. At times, the instructional designer is faced with conflicts in meeting the professional mandates to represent the desires of the hiring organization in the instructional design and, at the same time, in offering learner-centered training that meets the unique needs of the learner. The dilemma is perhaps most evident in designing character development training or curriculum. In this design arena, the instructional designer must make choices that, given the presence of multiple cultural factors at play, become ethical decisions that intersect three main cultural views: (a) an organization or institution’s approach or mandates to core cultural values; (b) the instructional designer’s own values, character traits, and views; and (c) the learners’ values and culture. In this chapter, the character-infused decision-making approach based on virtue ethics will be presented as a potential framework to be adapted in making ethical design choices in the context of instructional design, and especially in the design of character development training. The chapter ends with the conclusion that what is most needed is for the instructional designer to pursue excellence in the character trait of wisdom, i.e., the ability to discern the right actions in any given situation. Although the ethical dilemmas will always remain and cultural differences can exacerbate dilemmas, wisdom and an approach based on virtue ethics can guide instructional designers in their design process.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, United States

    Pamela C. Moore

  2. Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States

    Begüm Saçak

Authors
  1. Pamela C. Moore
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  2. Begüm Saçak
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Correspondence to Pamela C. Moore .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA

    Brad Hokanson

  2. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

    Marisa Exter

  3. College of Education, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    Matthew M. Schmidt

  4. College of Education, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA

    Andrew A. Tawfik

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Moore, P.C., Saçak, B. (2023). Character-Infused Virtue Ethics and Implications for the Design of Character Development Training. In: Hokanson, B., Exter, M., Schmidt, M.M., Tawfik, A.A. (eds) Toward Inclusive Learning Design. Educational Communications and Technology: Issues and Innovations. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37697-9_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37697-9_2

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