To me, there is an ethical "operating system" which is what you are describing, very low level principles that you apply.
But your ability to be ethical in a specific situation depends on your database of "ethical considerations" about possible decisions you might make that will have serious ethical ramifications and how those things are wired up. The purpose of a course is to build up that database.
You might have a deep and earnest desire to be kind to someone, but without a cultural framework for understanding their feelings, for example, you could be completely unable to do that.
But your ability to be ethical in a specific situation depends on your database of "ethical considerations" about possible decisions you might make that will have serious ethical ramifications and how those things are wired up. The purpose of a course is to build up that database.
You might have a deep and earnest desire to be kind to someone, but without a cultural framework for understanding their feelings, for example, you could be completely unable to do that.