The authors stress that teaching persons to communicate their values is an important component of an educational program of values clarification. (GW)

A basic introduction is presented to the concept of "values," to their use in daily life, and the forms of statements communicating values effectively. Values are defined as characteristics, properties, or qualities regarded as particularly important for an individual or a group. Their usefulness is found in their serving as a basis for decisions,…

Of the two processes involved in initiating a values awareness lesson (structuring and focus setting), focus setting is described as the one involving more planning and deliberation. Three criteria useful in selecting a focus-setting question are: (l) Is the topic within the knowledge of the students? (2) Is the question relevant to the students?…

A taxonomy of stages in the development of values concepts is presented and illustrated. In addition, the role of direct and social feedback in the evolution of an individual's values is examined. Level I of the taxonomy, Developing Behavior Patterns, is a pre-values stage experienced in early childhood. At this stage, the infant learns what he…

The authors present the DALSTRA model of decision making, a descriptive statement of ways individuals or groups respond to different kinds of decision-making problems they encounter. Decision making is viewed in two phases: the decision-making antecedents (whether to decide, how to decide) and the modes of decision making (Chance/Impulse,…

Voluntarily initiated student verbal behaviors originating during classroom communication related to values awareness are identified, defined, and illustrated by examples. These behaviors are: (1) focus setting; (2) reporting course of action; (3) reporting value judgment; (4) reporting value; (5) reporting prediction; (6) reporting data; and (7)…

The transcript of a values awareness lesson in communicable diseases is presented to illustrate the two stages of a typical values class--introducing the lesson and implementing the lesson. In this case, an overhead slide-transparency is used (along with prefacing remarks) to lead the class into considering those whom a gonorrhea-infected youth…

The author introduces the concept of "inferring value teacher behavior." This behavior is essentially a value statement formulated by the teacher about a student's value. It contains the three characteristics of value statements (states the characteristics, identifies it as a value, identifies a value referent) but, in addition, the…

The term "teaching behaviors" is defined; categories of behaviors are identified; and, within these categories, taxonomies of teaching behaviors useful in facilitating the goals of values awareness instruction are examined. A teaching behavior is defined as a word, set of words, or some nonverbal actions used by the teacher to have some specified…