NATIONAL INSTITUTE for CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

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Why NICE?

Aims of NICE

The National Institute for Christian Education:

• Assists teachers to understand the special task of parents in nurturing their children
• Develops strategies that will support the complementary roles teachers and parents have to play in the education of their children
• Provides educational programs that will enable teachers to develop skills for teaching Christianly
• Provides teachers with access to ideas and knowledge that will assist them in their task of equipping students for discipleship and service
• Provides teachers with knowledge and skills that will assist them in the development of Christ-centred curricula
• Provides teachers with opportunities to think critically about their calling, their craft and their commitment as they relate these to the classroom
• Promotes induction programs for teachers in Christian schools
• Develops courses for school leaders to enable them to better understand their calling and their responsibilities
• Develops accredited award courses that will provide all teachers with the necessary foundations for thinking Christianly about education as well as the opportunity for advanced study

Why Should Teachers Bother to Study Further?

Teachers are very busy people, at times already almost overwhelmed by the pressures and demands of their profession. So why do we encourage these busy professionals to commit themselves to the rigour of postgraduate study with NICE? The short answer is that being faithful to Jesus Christ should motivate Christian educators to seek out training that helps them to carry out their task in a way that glorifies God. NICE courses help them to do this. Although non-Christians can also enrol in NICE if they so desire, the courses will probably be primarily attractive to those with a heart commitment to Jesus Christ rather than teachers who have a different faith commitment.

As lifelong learners, Christian teachers must keep in tension the unchanging absolutes of the Christian gospel, and the rapidly changing educational sphere in which they work. With integrity and hard thinking, this tension can be a stimulus to significant growth. We need a reflective integration that makes profound connections between belief and practice, between intuition and experience, between worldview and lifestyle, between a teacher's own learning and that of his or her students.

How can we impact our classrooms with this connectedness? How can we apply a Christian worldview so that it keeps unfolding new possibilities for education? NICE was established for exactly this purpose - to provide support for ongoing professional development which is firmly planted in a Christian perspective of the world and transforms classroom practice.

The courses described on this website have been designed to challenge educators to review their unquestioned assumptions, to engage in personal and collective professional learning, and to jointly develop educational programmes which are distinctively Christian. The assignments encourage teachers to apply the directed readings to areas of programming, policy and research in their own school contexts.

What do NICE Students Say?

• I found this unit extremely valuable and effective in prompting changes, reflections and constructive self assessment in my teaching practices within the context of the Gospel. I have used both "assignments" in the school with other staff and council.
• Gave me insights in leadership and ideas about how God would like me to lead and what good leadership can look like.
• Curriculum development is an important aspect of schools developing Christian curriculum and therefore support students to be faithful disciples.
• This unit gave me the tools and skills I needed to enable me to implement important changes in my work environment. I would definitely recommend NICE study.
• A useful course of study. The assignments were engaging and pushed my thinking in the area of change.
• An essential unit. I found exciting to do. It would be great to make it assessible to more people in different forms ie to school coucils, parents, teachers (who are not wanting to do a full unit)
• I would definitely recommend it to other people as the practice and essence of the reflection and dialogue are worthwhile.
• I was very impressed with the course material, content and my lecturer.
• This was an excellent course. I wish I had done it much earlier on as it lays down the foundation for understanding the history and purpose of Christian education. I would recommend it.

Updated on 2 July 2008