NATIONAL INSTITUTE for CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

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What Programs and Courses Does NICE Offer?

Postgraduate Study

NICE is a teaching institute in the College of Chrisitan Higher Education (CCHE) through which the following courses are accredited with the NSW Department of Education and Training:

• Bachelor of Education a one year full-time equivalent course which enables three year trained teachers to upgrade to a four-year qualification. Pleaseclick herefor more information about the Bachelor of Education course.
• Graduate Diploma of Education a one year course in education for people involved in education (teachers, board members, parents) who would like to explore schooling from a Christian perspective in more detail. Pleaseclick herefor more information about the Graduate Diploma of Education course.
• Master of Education a 12–18 month full-time equivalent course for four-year trained teachers. Pleaseclick herefor more information about the Master of Education course.
• Master of Education (Leadership) a 12–18 month full-time equivalent course which does not require teaching qualifications. Pleaseclick herefor more information about the Master of Education (Leadership) course.

NICE does not offer teaching in preservices courses.

Study linked to CCHE courses is delivered via distance education with unit materials being transmitted online through NICEOnline which is also the location of web-based discussion forums. NICEOnline is designed to encourage the development of professional learning community.

Pleaseclick hereto view a diagramatic overview of NICE's teaching program.

Other Study Opportunities

NICE is able to tailor programs to the needs of your school community. Programs, of varying length, can be arranged on most topics relating to Chrisitan education that are suitable for teachers, parents, boards, executives or other staff members.

Seminars and Workshops

NICE offers a variety of seminars and workshops on a variety of topics. These include:

• Teachers New to Christian Schools Workshop. 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 Workshop. 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 Inservice. Normally of two days duration, this inservice for parents and teachers starts with the Word of God and helps participants to understand, critique and reframe their own worldviews thus equipping them to speak faithfully, intelligently and winsomely into critical issues of our day such as the environment, medial technology, wars, politics medical ethics, etc. A train-the-trainer program which equips and qualifies participants to teach the introductory material to others is also available.
• Why Christian Schools Seminar. From two hours to one day in length, this dynamic programs 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 Seminar. 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 a tthe impact of issues raised in this seminar, expecially which dealing with matters such as academic achievement, competition, and community promotion.

School-Based Professional Development

Sometimes entire schools take a one-week break from regular teaching so that all teachers together can focus on important issues that will improve the quality of the education provided to students. At these times, NICE often will be asked to provide programs focussing on issues such as curriculum design, ways of learning, leadership, philosophy of education, biblical foundations, subject specific instruction and educational leadership. Research shows that these week-long, whole school activities are a great way to learn. Study done in them may be used to obtain credit through Recognition of Prior Learning into the CCHE courses taught by NICE. Shorter activities can also be arranged.

Conferences

During the year, NICE staff take part in a number of conference across Australia and around the world in addition to those listed below.

• Transforming Education Conference. NICE is involved, along with Christian Education National, in organising this conference for partent, teachers and board members predominantly within the Christian Education National network of schools. The conference is usually held in January every two years and generally involves international speakers.
• Redeeming the Academic Mind. Under the umbrella of CCHE, NICE is involved in a scholarly conference for Christian academics in all areas but particularly focussing on education.

Updated on 2 July 2008