Building Character through Youth Social Action (FutureLearn)

Building Character through Youth Social Action (FutureLearn)

Learn about the history of social action, and how youth social action can help build character in young people. Youth social action – activities young people do to help others and the environment – is becoming increasingly recognised as a way to improve communities and develop young people’s characters. Educational institutions, businesses, voluntary organisations and governments are investing in social action to provide opportunities to young people of all backgrounds.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

On this course you will explore the historical and theoretical roots of youth social action, and learn how social action can be a journey for young people, helping them build their character and confidence.

What topics will you cover?

Week 1: What is character? What is youth social action?

  • An introduction to youth social action
  • An introduction to character
  • Character and youth social action
  • Youth social action and social mobility
  • Reflection and review

Week 2: A young person’s social action journey

  • A school’s perspective
  • A young person’s perspective
  • A youth social action provider’s perspective
  • A college’s perspective
  • A university’s perspective
  • An employer’s perspective

What will you achieve?

  • Learn what character and youth social action are and why they matter
  • Explore the link between character and youth social action through a range of disciplines
  • Demonstrate an understanding of how to implement key approaches to developing character in young people through youth social action
  • Identify how character virtues are built through youth social action and what the double benefit is
  • Reflect on what makes a quality youth social action experience
Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Become a Pharmacy Preceptor (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Taipei Medical University

Become a Pharmacy Preceptor (FutureLearn)

Learn how to become an effective pharmacy preceptor, exploring the qualities a great preceptor needs. Good internship programs are vital for training healthcare providers well - that’s why effective pharmacy preceptors, the teachers who guide students through their pharmacy training, are so important. This course will provide those looking to to be internship preceptors, in the context of pharmacy education, with basic knowledge about pharmacy precepting.

Self Paced
4 Weeks
The Online Educator: People and Pedagogy (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
The Open University

The Online Educator: People and Pedagogy (FutureLearn)

Design engaging courses, make your teaching more inclusive, navigate online research ethics and shape your digital identity. Enhance your online teaching with strategies from educational technology experts. As e-learning becomes ever-more widespread, online educators are being required to design learning experiences that engage and meet the needs of very diverse learners.

Self Paced
4 Weeks
Music and Social Action (Coursera) Coursera
Yale University

Music and Social Action (Coursera)

What is a musician’s response to the condition of the world? Do musicians have an obligation and an opportunity to serve the needs of the world with their musicianship? At a time of crisis for the classical music profession, with a changing commercial landscape, a shrinking audience base, and a contraction in the number of professional orchestras, how does a young musician construct a career today? Are we looking at a dying art form or a moment of reinvigoration?

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Positive Psychology: Character, Grit and Research Methods (Coursera) Coursera
University of Pennsylvania

Positive Psychology: Character, Grit and Research Methods (Coursera)

Learners discover how apply to research methods to their study of Positive Psychology. In this course, we study with Dr. Angela Duckworth and Dr. Claire Robertson-Kraft. Through an exploration their work "True Grit" and interviews with researchers and practitioners, you develop a research hypothesis and learn how to understand the difference between internal and external validity. You also begin to understand and apply the strengths and weaknesses associated with different types of measurements and evaluation designs. You then interpret the results in an empirical study.

Sep 7th 2026
4 Weeks
What is Character? Virtue Ethics in Education (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Birmingham

What is Character? Virtue Ethics in Education (FutureLearn)

Explore important questions about character education and how it contributes to individual and societal flourishing. Character education is increasingly being talked about by politicians, employers, teachers, parents and young people across the world. Can teaching virtues such as honesty, self-control, fairness, resilience and respect - which contribute to good character - be part of the solution to many of the challenges facing society today?

No sessions available
2 Weeks
Teaching Students Who Have Suffered Complex Trauma (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Queensland University of Technology

Teaching Students Who Have Suffered Complex Trauma (FutureLearn)

Find out what complex trauma is, how it affects children and adolescents, and what can be done to help. Learn how to support students who have experienced complex trauma. Complex trauma affects the physical, emotional and social development of children and adolescents. In order to minimise harm, teachers and school leaders need to respond appropriately using trauma-informed practices and policies. In this course, you’ll get an introduction to what complex trauma is and how it affects young people’s development at school.

Self Paced
2 Weeks
The PEP TALK Guide to Supporting Young People’s Mental Health (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Mental Health Foundation

The PEP TALK Guide to Supporting Young People’s Mental Health (FutureLearn)

Learn supportive skills from counsellors, youth workers, and mental health professionals to aid young people’s mental wellbeing. Discover expert advice from the Mental Health Foundation. This course will teach you different ways you can support young people who have experienced trauma, focussing on the youth mental wellbeing resource PEP TALK.

Jun 7th 2021
2 Weeks
Teaching English Online (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Cambridge Assessment English

Teaching English Online (FutureLearn)

Learn how to transfer your teaching skills to an online context and start teaching English online. Become an expert online English teacher. Is it time for a new online direction in your teaching career? Join our 4-week course to learn how to adapt your face-to-face teaching skills to an online environment. Teaching English online is now becoming increasingly important all over the world, giving learners and teachers flexibility to work and learn wherever they want in the world.

Self Paced
4 Weeks
Professional Development for Early Career Teachers (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of East Anglia

Professional Development for Early Career Teachers (FutureLearn)

Find out how to develop and improve your teaching abilities as you start your career as a teacher. Improve your teaching practice and learn to manage your workload. The early stages of a career in teaching can be daunting. You’re regularly faced with new responsibilities and challenges. On this course you will get advice and support on improving your teaching skills as well as juggling your workload so you’re able to handle these challenges.

Self Paced
5-12 Weeks
Youth Mental Health: Helping Young People with Anxiety (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of East Anglia

Youth Mental Health: Helping Young People with Anxiety (FutureLearn)

Get an introduction to managing anxiety disorders in teenagers, with a course ideal for teachers and healthcare professionals. Learn how to identify and help with anxiety in young people. On this course you will learn how to identify anxiety disorders experienced by young people, understand ‘stigma’ related to mental health and develop your ability to help a young person experiencing debilitating anxiety

No sessions available
3 Weeks
Global Health, Conflict and Violence (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Bergen

Global Health, Conflict and Violence (FutureLearn)

Understand the role of medical peace work, and consider the role of healthcare workers in times of conflict and violence. Explore the role of medics and healthcare workers in promoting peace. On this course you will learn about the key principles and different forms of medical peace work in the context of global health, conflict and violence.

Self Paced
3 Weeks