EDU400A Biblical Foundations of Education (NICE@School)
It is essential that those teaching in Christian schools develop a substantial understanding of the Bible as the overarching framework for their education practice. This subject is designed to assist students to develop of a coherent, education-purposed, biblical theology that flows out of the entire biblical narrative. This ‘big picture’, or metanarrative, study seeks to develop in students a deep understanding of the integrity of faith and knowledge that should be apparent in education that is genuinely Christian through a survey of the Scriptures as an integrated whole and the implications for life and education of our embeddedness in this Scripture-based metanarrative.
For more information see the Subject Overview.
EDU400 Biblical Foundations of Education
It is essential that those teaching in Christian schools develop a substantial understanding of the Bible as the overarching framework for their education practice. This subject is designed to assist students to develop of a coherent, education-purposed, biblical theology that flows out of the entire biblical narrative. This "big picture", or metanarrative, study seeks to develop in students a deep understanding of the integrity of faith and knowledge that should be apparent in education that is genuinely Christian through a survey of the Scriptures as an integrated whole and the implications for life and education of our embeddedness in this Scripture-based metanarrative.
For more information see the Subject Overview.
EDU501 Worldviews and Educational Practice
Worldviews give rise to cultural practices across all areas of life, including education. Educational practices are never neutral. They are always grounded in and shaped by beliefs, commitments, assumptions and perspectives which rise out of trusted accounts of the meaning and purpose of life. For Christian educators, the Scriptures are uniquely authoritative in this regard, however they are never read, or adhered to in isolation. They must be interpreted well within educational contexts that are challenged by alternative mainstream cultural narratives and practices. This subject seeks to equip educators for this task.
For more information see the Subject Overview.
EDU501A Worldviews and Educational Practice (NICE@School)
Worldviews give rise to cultural practices across all areas of life, including education. Educational practices are never neutral. They are always grounded in and shaped by beliefs, commitments, assumptions and perspectives which rise out of trusted accounts of the meaning and purpose of life. For Christian educators, the Scriptures are uniquely authoritative in this regard, however they are never read, or adhered to in isolation. They must be interpreted well within educational contexts that are challenged by alternative mainstream cultural narratives and practices. This subject seeks to equip educators for this task.
For more information see the Subject Overview.
EDU503 Curriculum Development in Christian Schools
Curriculum development is not a religiously neutral arrangement of content and resources for learning, but is strongly influenced by the decisions, priorities and convictions of the curriculum developer. In this subject, students explore curriculum as a human construct that shapes the teaching and learning of created realities through particular worldview lenses. Upon formulating criteria for biblically faithful curriculum development, students will review curriculum documents and investigate the benefits and challenges of collaborative curriculum development in their communities of practice.
For more information see the Subject Overview.
EDU505 A Biblical Vision for Christian School Leadership
A specific goal of this subject is to help you gain an in-depth understanding of leadership theory in general and education leadership theory, in particular. Of course, just like any academic activity, these ‘theories’ have been developed within particular worldview frameworks—think ‘no neutrality—and you should be able to begin to identify and think critically about these. As you read what scholars and practitioners have to say about leadership you will be encouraged to both identify and critique your own ideas as well as a biblical perspective on the literature in this field.
For more information see the Subject Overview.
EDU506 Biblical Principles of School Management
Taking on any leadership position in a school is a daunting prospect for today’s educators. The challenging and problematic nature of the role is further heightened if the principalship occurs in the context of a Christian school. A Christian school principal is not only tasked with staff, management and instructional leadership; he/she also must maintain the school’s biblical vision and purpose while responding authentically to shifting cultural norms. This subject has been written by a team of seven principals with over a century of collective experience in Christian education to assist leaders with understanding and growing into their role from a theoretical as well as a biblical perspective.
For more information see the Subject Overview.
EDU507 Reflective Pedagogy
In the current climate of increased emphasis on educational excellence and the improvement of the professional performance of classroom teachers, there is a need for teachers to gain an understanding of the big picture of the practice of pedagogy, and why particular practices may or may not be appropriate. This subject requires teachers to examine the origins of the foundational assumptions and presuppositions regarding theology, pedagogy and epistemology within which their teaching is set and to seek to modify their practices in order to faithfully represent these foundations and maximise the learning outcomes for their students.
For more information see the Subject Overview.