Seminars and Workshops
The National Institute for Christian Education offers a range of seminars and workshops on a variety of topics. The duration of these professional development experiences can range from 1 hr to many days. We have found that these multi-day, whole school activities are a great way to learn. Topic ideas can be suggested by the school to meet the specific professional development requirements. It is worth noting that study done in these seminars and workshops may be used to obtain credit through Recognition of Prior Learning into courses taught by the Institute. Examples of possible topics include:
Teachers New to Christian Schools
This is an interactive day that brings together teachers new to Christian schools in a vibrant learning environment so that they can explore the specific philosophy of Christian schools, the foundations that generate their distinctives, and then to explore some ways in which these can be worked out in the classroom and school.
Values
This one-day inservice for teachers and parents explores values instruction in schools. The workshop guides participants to respond positively and faithfully to the government mandate to promote the values it has identified in a way that reflects biblical principles rather than adopting a secular humanist view of the issue.
Worldview
This program can run from a day to a week. It helps teachers understand the power of unexamined worldview assumptions that they have and that are embedded in cultural ideas about education. It then helps participants to view the world from a perspective that is consistent with the biblical narrative and to make educational implications.
Why Christian Schools
From two hours to one day in length, this dynamic program informs parent communities about the core reasons for being involved in Christian schooling. It grounds its resources, presentations and activities in a biblical worldview.
Education Excellence in Christian Schools
There are a multitude of views in contemporary society about what makes a successful school. But Christians want to ensure that how they approach this issue is faithful to God's Word and reflects Christian goals and values. Participants might be surprised at the impact of issues raised in this seminar, especially when dealing with matters such as academic achievement, competition, and community promotion.
Biblical Foundations
This seminar looks at biblical theology, hermeneutics and the shaping authority of the biblical narrative on education. It helps teachers to read the Bible in a Christocentric way and to develop a worldview from which an approach to educational issues can be made.
Designing Christian Curriculum
This seminar addresses the issue of school based curriculum development. It assists teachers to write curricula that are informed by the situational analysis of the school context including government requirements and that are consistent with a biblical worldview.
Ways of Learning
This seminar examines the traditional and contemporary theories about learning and encourages critique in the light of a biblical worldview. Teachers are assisted in promoting authentic learning within an educational community where individual gifting and styles are honoured.
Educational Leadership
This seminar is geared towards school leaders at various level and aspiring leaders. It addresses the issues of an articulation of a shared vision; building community and shaping culture. The relationship between leadership and management is explored all within the context of a view of leadership shaped by the biblical story.
Philosophy of Education
This seminar is an examination of the various philosophies of education – their development and implications. Teachers are encouraged to identify various implications in current educational contexts and to critique their rationale from a biblical perspective. Teachers will be assisted in developing their own educational philosophy commensurate with their own confessed beliefs.
Subject Specific Instruction
By negotiation, we run seminars on the range of school disciplines using lecturers to unpack worldview issues and subject specialist to bring a contemporary Christian mindset to the area of study.