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Synopses of Units
Core Units
Foundations of Christian Education
This unit promotes an authentic and robust understanding of the Bible as the core foundation for the development of Christian education. Starting from a recognition of the Bible’s inspired and divine character, this course enables students to develop a sound biblical understanding of the theology, history, and literature of the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments, and to be prepared to apply this growth in educational planning and decision making at all levels.
Worldviews in Education
This unit enables students to appreciate the philosophically committed nature of all education by exploring the role that worldviews play in human life, thereby enabling them to critique worldviews in contemporary educational practice and, in their own school communities, to engage in educational decision making that is faithful to a Christian understanding of the world and our place and task in it.
Elective Units
Teachers as Curriculum Developers
This unit investigates varying concepts of curriculum design. It encourages the development of dynamically structured curricula which are influenced by the vision of the school community, and which reflect a Christian worldview.
Reflective Practice in the Classroom
Students reflect on the implementation of curriculum change and discuss how to act to improve aspects of the curriculum so that it more clearly embodies biblical values and encourages responsive discipleship in children.
Evaluation and Assessment
Curriculum evaluation (the appraisal of programs, curricula and institution) and assessment (the appraisal of what individuals know and can do) are an integral part of a teacher’s role. Students evaluate and develop systematic evaluation and assessment approaches which support the purposes of the Christian school and are suited to the student’s situation and needs.
Ways of Learning
This unit investigates and evaluates current understanding of the learning process in the everyday classroom situation, with attention being given to the influence of worldviews in shaping various theoretical positions.
Research Methods in Education
There is no doubt that educational practice is influenced in major ways by the results of educational research. Students will develop a basic understanding of educational research principles and methods so that they may be more effective in responsibly interpreting and conducting research.
Directed Reading
This unit systematically examines a significant educational problem or issue. The investigation of the problem will include a review of existing literature, suggesting a number of alternative solutions and justifying the choice of one of these alternatives.
Minor Research Thesis
This focuses on an educational issue or problem that the student identifies.
Major Research Thesis
The option of a major research project gives students with research experience the opportunity to explore an area in greater depth. Entry into this unit is normally dependent upon a Credit grade in ED530.
Practical Investigations in Teaching and Learning
Sometimes in their schools, teachers encounter situations about which they wish to conduct limited research. By identifying an issue (needs analysis), embedding it in a worldview context, and devising a systematic study and evaluation of the situation, they intend to devise an action plan that improves their responses to the situation. This is often called action research. The purpose of the unit is to provide teachers with training and the framework in which to engage in action research without undergoing the full development that is necessary for a longer term and detailed research project.
Quantitative Research Methods in Education
This unit is designed to help students develop an awareness of the assumptions and perspectives that underlie quantitative approaches to research, and to provide a robust understanding for the effective practice of quantitative research methodology in an educational context.
Qualitative Research Methods in Education
This unit is designed to help students develop an awareness of the assumptions and perspectives that underlie qualitative approaches to research, and to provide a robust understanding for the effective practice of qualitative research methodology in an educational context.
Understanding Innovation in Schools
This unit equips teachers, and especially those in leadership positions, in planning for, and implementing, responsible and effective innovation that will lead to more effective learning in the school.
Effective Teaching
One of the most complex and difficult tasks in the field of education today is determining what constitutes effective teaching. This unit has been designed for students who are interested in the assessment of teaching and are seeking to develop or improve their own teaching and assessment systems in a way that is consistent with a Christian worldview.
Special Education
Teachers face such a wide diversity of special needs in the classroom that it is an ongoing process to develop a well-informed repertoire of relevant skills and an awareness of the resources available. This unit focuses on the development of a biblical understanding of exceptionality, on the major issues and choices facing educators in this area, and on the development of basic skills to effectively serve students with special needs.
Issues in Teaching Mathematics
How do we celebrate the Lordship of Christ in the area of mathematics? This unit focuses on an important Key Learning Area by laying a Christian foundation to the understanding of mathematics and following this through into the classroom perspectives and strategies.
Leadership: Vision and Mission
School leaders are a vital link in the translation of a school community’s vision into the daily life of the classroom. This unit encourages the understanding and development of distinctively Christian leadership in the settings of Christian schools which are committed to Christ-centred education.
Maintaining Quality Teaching
This unit develops competence in the planning and implementation of systematic strategies of school-based professional development, making effective use of teacher appraisal information.
Ethical Administration and Decision Making
Students develop their understanding of key issues in educational leadership and through reflection and practice improve a range of competencies necessary to make biblically informed, ethical decisions within the complex environments of educational communities.
Perspectives and Trends in Education
Educational practice is more than the application of techniques to achieve particular outcomes. It takes place in the context of understandings about meaning and purpose in human life. Different answers to basic questions will lead to different practices. This unit helps students to explore basic perspectives on education and to consider how a Christian perspective might generate distinctive practice.
Understanding Christian Schooling in Australia
Where have Christian schools come from? Students are introduced to the roots of Australian Christianity and educational development and will come to appreciate the important themes and distinctives within Christian schools. By knowing from where we have come we may be better equipped to reflect upon and evaluate our present schooling programs and practices.
Stakeholders and the Christian School Community
This unit is designed to help students investigate and evaluate current understandings of community in the school setting and explore the application of a Christian worldview perspective to interactions between key community stakeholders in the relationship-rich school environment.
Comprehensive Essay with Literature Review
By their very nature, there is often little interconnectedness between units of study in many degree programs. This unit is designed to highlight the worldview and structural coherence that connects units of study, and provide students with assessment contexts in which they can demonstrate their progressive growth as teachers that has taken place over the course of their studies. The assessments focus on students’ reflections around two tasks. First a comprehensive essay requires students to critically review their course and to propose areas of further investigation. The unit concludes with a literature review of one of these areas and a critical review of an article from a contrary worldview perspective.
Comprehensive Essay with Professional Portfolio
This unit is designed to allow students to demonstrate how their studies with NICE have helped develop their understanding of Christian Education and then showcase the authentic application of this understanding in their classroom practice. The portfolio is begun early in the course (either with or immediately after the first unit) and is submitted towards the end of the course. Through reflective journaling and compilation of relevant material, the students are expected to show a progressively developing integration of a biblical perspective into pedagogy, curriculum, assessment, stakeholder relationships and all aspects of the teaching and learning task.
informing reforming transforming
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