There area different cycles of a VaKE-course. The prototypical one contains of eleven steps. However, practice has shown that every VaKE course is unique and organic depending on the dilemma story, the group-dynamics, the educational aims etc. Therefore we have created several variations.

VaKE starts with a dilemma story based on a moral conflict. The learners have to decide, which solution of the dilemma they prefer, and they discuss their position with the other learners. In doing so, they become sensitized for values. During the discussion, the learners realize that they need knowledge to argue on a topic. The dilemma story is prepared in a way to make the learners want to leran more about the topic it deals with. The learners are motivated to do autonomous research on different problem areas and share their knowledge with the others. The concept which lies behind this mode of problem-based and self-organized learning is constructivism. Based on the newly gained knowledge, the learners discuss and decide again. In the end of a VaKE sequence, there is a general synthesis of the whole process in any creative form (like a role-play or a written journal) and a generalization through a discussion of related issues.