Teaching virtue literacy: A strategy for character education in the university

The development of virtue literacy is one of the most utilized strategies for character education but one of the least theorized. In this article, we draw on emerging research to explain the strategy and identify eight key functions: 1) providing a shared language of character, 2) refining moral vocabulary, 3) supporting moral perception, 4) informing virtuous thoughts, feelings, and actions, 5) facilitating intentional character development, 6) inspiring moral creativity, 7) encouraging moral accountability, and 8) enabling more accurate evaluations of character. To make these theoretical insights pedagogically relevant, we present eight methods for teaching virtue literacy in a university context, drawing on creative examples from educators at various institutions. Our hope is that the combination of scholarly research and practical examples can inform, inspire, and equip university educators to foster virtue literacy in their own contexts.