The MEd(Leaderhip) is for noneducators involved in education. It is not a teaching qualification.
Enrolment Prerequisites
An appropriate three year undergraduate qualification (in any discipline) or equivalent is required for people who have a strategic role in education institutions and/or professional training contexts. Students in this program do not need an accredited teacher qualification.
Study Commitment
The course is equivalent to 12–18 months full time study and may be completed on a full time or part time basis over a period of less than 10 years.
Course Structure
Students in this course are required to complete eight units which includes the two mandatory foundational core units:
- ED500 Foundations of Christian Education
- ED501 Worldviews in Education
For the remaining six electives students choose one of the following streams:
- Stream 1: Coursework which involves the completion of six nonthesis electives
- Stream 2: Coursework and Minor Thesis which involves completing a minor research thesis (16,000–18,000 words) plus two elective units
Stream 1: Coursework
After completing the two mandatory, foundational core units students complete six coursework electives. The electives are divided into six strands. Normally four electives will be completed from the leadership strand. When choosing electives, students should be mindful that units within a strand complement and build on one another so it is preferable to complete as many units from one strand as possible. The National Institute for Christian Education encourages flexibility in the matter of assessment tasks, which enables students to negotiate with lecturers to ensure that appropriate learning outcomes are achieved and are relevant to the student's individual situation and needs.
Curriculum Strand
The focus is on central issues for practising teachers and curriculum developers and includes the design implementation and evaluation of teaching and learning situations.
- ED510 Teachers as Curriculum Developers
- ED511 Reflective Practice in the Classroom
- ED512 Evaluation and Assessment
Practical Research Strand
The systematic study of classroom experiences is used as a foundation for the development and testing of new ideas and strategies in educational practice.
- ED534 Practical Investigations in Teaching and Learning
Teaching and Learning Strand
The ability of educators to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of classroom teaching and learning is encouraged and the ability to successfully plan, design and implement change and classroom innovation is developed.
- ED520 Ways of Learning
- ED542 Understanding Innovation in Schools
- ED543 Effective Teaching
- ED544 Special Education
Leadership Strand
School leadership is one of the most critical issues facing Christian schooling. This strand applies the biblical ideas of servant leadership and office to the development of a communal vision and mission. The special challenge of welding a diverse group of teachers into an effective team is addressed, as is the need for teacher appraisal in conjunction with ongoing professional development. Visionary leadership of schools also includes interpersonal and problem solving skills that are necessary in decision making processes.
- ED531 Directed Reading
- ED542 Understanding Innovation in Schools
- ED560 Leadership: Vision and Mission
- ED562 Ethical Administration and Decision Making
- ED571 Understanding Christian Schooling in Australia
- ED573 Stakeholders and the Christian School Community
- ED581 Comprehensive Essay with Professional Portfolio
Contextual Studies Strand
Grounded in the reality of the classroom, key themes and contexts that have shaped and continue to shape Christian schooling are examined.
- ED570 Perspectives and Trends in Education
- ED571 Understanding Christian Schooling in Australia
- ED573 Stakeholders and the Christian School Community
Summative Integration Strand
Stream 2: Coursework and Minor Thesis
After completing the two mandatory, foundational core units students complete two elective units and three research units, one of which is a two unit equivalent (18 credit point) minor thesis.
Elective Units
Two elective units are chosen from the leadership strand as described above in Stream 1: Coursework. Electives cannot be chosen from the summative integration or practical research strands.
Research Units
The research units are:
ED530 Research Methods in Education with a minimum grade of credit required
ED531 Directed Reading (in an area of leadership)
ED532 Minor Research Thesis (2 unit or 18 credit point equivalent involving a 16,000 to 18,000 word thesis)
The requirements with regard to the minor research option in this stream will be the same as those applying to students in MEd including research but with the research directed towards educationally related issues specific to the student's situation.
SYNOPSES of ALL UNITS
Please click here for a synopsis of all the units that the Institute teaches.
DIAGRAMATIC OVERVIEW of TEACHING PROGRAM
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EXAMPLE of UNIT OUTLINE
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