Strengths-based education (SBE) integrates VIA character strengths into teaching practices, offering a research-based approach that supports student learning and development on a holistic level. This FLC will explore how SBE promotes student success through multiple pathways: enhancing self-understanding, clarifying personal values, building resilience for stress management, facilitating social integration, strengthening self-concept, guiding career direction, and supporting overall wellbeing. Participants will explore the SBE approach both individually and collaboratively, working toward identifying and cultivating their students’ signature strengths through classroom assignments, assessments, and activities.
VIA character strengths, such as creativity, curiosity, love of learning, critical thinking, and more can feature prominently in student reflections, peer feedback and critique practices as well as interdisciplinary learning. Faculty who utilize a strengths-based approach may choose to begin their courses with character strength assessments, then adjust their assignments in ways that allow students to leverage their signature strengths while developing others. Intentionally weaving character strengths into a Pratt education can create more engaging learning experiences that prepare students for professional success and more importantly for personal flourishing beyond their classroom studies.
This FLC will be a small group of faculty and will rely heavily on collaboration, community and research to identify and work with character strengths in education. The final format of this FLC, as often is, a potential collaborative or individual research article to be considered for the iteratio (the CTL’s open-access journal) publication.
All are welcome, but please apply early as spots are limited.
Relevant dates:
- Deadline to Apply: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
- Kick-Off Meeting: Friday, May 16 (12pm–2pm)
- Pre-Summer Meeting: TBD Friday—late May or early June (based on participant availability)
- Pre-Fall Meeting: TBD —late August (based on participant availability)
- Monthly Meetings (75-Minute Meetings in September, October, November, TBD Fridays (based on participant availability)
- Final Meeting: TBD —December 2025
Commitment to this SoTL (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning) research community will begin with a kickoff on Friday, May 16 (12pm–2pm), where we’ll get to know each other and collectively embark on this project. We’ll also confirm upcoming dates for upcoming monthly gatherings.
This FLC will run for one semester with a possibility to continue the work as part of CTL’s Resolutions programs for another semester, where interested participants would shift focus from learning and experimentation to data analysis and writing or presentation of findings.
Members of the FLC will gain many benefits from cross-disciplinary collaboration and scholarship. Part-time faculty will receive a $1000 stipend (with a potential to renew for another semester of additional $500 in Spring 2026). FLC participants will have opportunities to present their preliminary work as well as to submit their final work to the CTL open-access journal, iteratio.
The deadline to apply is Wednesday, April 30. (Limited Spots Available!)
Please email Judit Török (jtorok@pratt.edu) with any questions.
