Academic courses – unit descriptions
Postgraduate education units
Successful completion of learning objectives and assessment requirements assumes that students have access to the required learning resources listed for consultation and reference.
Note: unit descriptions are correct at time of publishing; however students should check with their lecturer before purchasing any required text books, or if there are any difficulties purchasing them.EDU3006 The Christian Teacher as Counsellor
EDU3016 Foundations of Christian Education
EDU3017 Contemporary Issues in Learning and Teaching
EDU3018 Ethical Leadership
EDU3019 Lutheran Perspectives on Schooling
EDU3020 Leading Christian Schools
EDU3021 Current Issues in Curriculum
EDU3023 Christian School Worship
EDU3029 Teaching the Christian faith in the Lutheran school
EDU3031 Teaching Christian Studies
EDU3032 Leading Christian Studies
EDU3006 The Christian Teacher as Counsellor
Prerequisites:
- Nil
- Note: the unit assumes that participants will be Christian teachers who desire to integrate theology and pastoral care and counselling within their vocation as teachers.
Course unit purpose
Elective unit
The unit explores ways in which the principles and practice of pastoral care and counselling can be utilised by teachers within the context of the Christian school.
Each participant enters this unit from a different background of experience in the area of counselling, and therefore with different individual expectations of the unit, within the unit’s wider purpose and goals. The unit is thus designed to provide a learning experience which meets each of the different situations and needs of its participants.
Required texts:
- Lutheran Church of Australia. Commission on Worship, 1998. Rites and resources for pastoral care, ed David A Schubert, Openbook Publishers, Adelaide SA.
- Each student is also required to select one basic text book on educational counselling from the recommended learning support material provided, which specifically deals with their particular field of interest.
EDU3016 Foundations of Christian Education
Prerequisites:
- Nil
Course unit purpose
Core unit for the MEd, MEd(Research), GradCertEd, GradCertRE and GradCertEdLeadership
This unit enables students to explore the relationship between theology and education in forming an understanding of education and the principles which provide the foundations for a Christian approach to education and its policies and practice. In particular, fundamentals of Lutheran theology are examined together with the corresponding Lutheran principles of education, in order to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between theology and education in the Lutheran educational context, and to develop a critical framework for evaluating current educational policies and practices.
Required texts:
- Bartsch, Malcolm I, 2001. Why a Lutheran school?: education and theology in dialogue, Board for Lutheran Schools, Adelaide SA.
- Hebart, Friedemann, 2000. One in the gospel: the Formula of Concord for our day, 2nd ed, Openbook Publishers, Adelaide SA.
- Veith, Gene Edward, 2010. The spirituality of the cross: the way of the first evangelicals, 2nd ed, Concordia, St Louis MO.
EDU3017 Contemporary Issues in Learning and Teaching
Prerequisites:
- Nil
Course unit purpose
Alternative core unit within the Master of Education.
Education is an exciting, challenging and ever changing field. Ongoing research and professional writing open up new and revised theories of learning and pedagogy. Teachers working in Christian schools, aware of these changes, need to be equipped to evaluate them also from a theological perspective. This unit is designed to:
- enable teachers to reflect critically on educational theory and its practice
- engage teachers in a critical reading of relevant literature
- involve teachers in experience-based professional discussion of effective teaching and learning
- provide teachers with opportunities for further related studies in the conversation between theology and education
Required texts:
- Nil
EDU3018 Ethical Leadership
Prerequisites:
- BIB3003 Bible Then and Now and THE3002 Christian Faith in Modern Context are desirable but not essential
Course unit purpose
Core unit within the GradCertEdLeadership; alternative core unit in the MEd; an elective unit within the GradCertEd and GradCertRE.
This unit considers the ethics and values dimension within issues in education, using insights from Lutheran theology to inform the ethical decision making of educators, especially school leaders.
Required texts:
- Bloomquist, Karen L and John R Stumme, ed, 1998. The promise of Lutheran ethics, Fortress, Minneapolis MN.
- Schubert, David, 2004. Christian faith and freedom: Martin Luther’s The freedom of a Christian paraphrased for today, plus A simple way to pray condensed, D Schubert, Magill SA. [Supplied to students]
EDU3019 Lutheran Perspectives on Schooling
Prerequisites:
- BIB3003 Bible Then and Now and THE3002 Christian Faith in Modern Context are desirable but not essential
Course unit purpose
This unit may be used as an alternate core unit of the GradCertRE in the place of EDU3016 Foundations of Christian Education for students who have not had teaching experience in a Lutheran school.
This unit will provide the opportunity for students to explore a Lutheran perspective on the study of education and schooling, through developing an increased understanding of the historical, social and cultural context of Lutheran schools and the basic theological presuppositions relevant to a Lutheran approach to education.
Required texts:
- Bartsch, Malcolm, 2001. Why a Lutheran school?: education and theology in dialogue, Board for Lutheran Schools, North Adelaide SA.
- Veith, Gene Edward, 2010. The spirituality of the cross: the way of the first evangelicals, 2nd ed, Concordia, St Louis MO.
EDU3020 Leading Christian Schools
Prerequisites:
- Nil
Course unit purpose
Core unit of GradCertEdLeadership: elective unit within the GradCertEd, GradCertRE and MEd.
The unit will focus on the changing role of the school leader, including but not exclusively the principal, especially as it relates to leading the school as a learning community. A range of school improvement and staff development strategies will be explored. Special emphasis will be given to change in the context of the Christian school. Participants will be invited to reflect on their own leadership style in relation to the vision for the Christian school. In general the course will assist participants to exercise leadership and be more effective administrators in their school.
Required texts:
- Crowther, Frank, et al, 2009. Developing teacher leaders: how teacher leadership enhances school success, 2nd ed, Corwin Press, Thousand Oaks CA.
EDU3021 Current Issues in Curriculum
Prerequisites:
- Nil
Course unit purpose
Elective
The unit provides opportunity for the students to develop skills in critical reflection on curriculum issues and apply those skills to their personal school setting. It is a unit of value to teachers, chaplains, subject coordinators, curriculum coordinators and principals.
Required texts:
- Nil
EDU3023 Christian School Worship
Prerequisites:
- Nil
Course unit purpose
Elective
This unit provides an introduction to the theology and practice of Christian worship in Lutheran schools.
Required texts:
- Dawn, Marva J, 1999. A royal waste of time: the splendor of worshiping God and being church for the world, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids MI.
EDU3029 Teaching the Christian faith in the Lutheran school
Prerequisites:
- Basic biblical knowledge and some understanding of the fundamentals of theology from a Lutheran perspective is desirable
Course unit purpose
Core unit within the Graduate Certificate in Religious Education: elective for other courses. Its emphasis is on the theory and practice of teaching Christian Studies.
Teachers of Christian studies have a challenging task in the contemporary Lutheran school. It can no longer be assumed that students come from similar faith backgrounds or that they bring with them a common level of biblical or religious literacy. In some cases students and/or their parents may openly question the need for Christian Studies in the curriculum. Christian Studies teachers need to be clear of the purposes, goals and underpinning expectations of the Christian Studies curriculum framework so that they can ensure that these are reflected in their classroom practice.
Required texts:
- Bartsch, Malcolm I, 2001. Why a Lutheran school?: education and theology in dialogue Board for Lutheran Schools, North Adelaide SA.
- Lutheran Education Australia, 2006. A vision for learners and learning in Lutheran schools. LEA, North Adelaide SA
- Lutheran Education Australia, 2005. Christian Studies curriculum framework: curriculum statements, LEA, North Adelaide SA.
- Lutheran Education Australia, 2005. Christian Studies curriculum framework: theological notes, LEA, North Adelaide SA.
EDU3031 Teaching Christian Studies
Prerequisites:
- Basic requirements of the 120 hour Lutheran Education Australia (LEA) Equip course already completed, plus
- Teaching a unit of work in Christian Studies, focusing on Equip module emphases in theology and pedagogy, and
- Preparing a report and student work samples.
Course unit purpose
Advanced standing of 50% of the unit will be given for these prerequisite requirements.
Core unit within the Graduate Certificate in Religious Education as an alternative unit for EDU3029 Teaching the Christian Faith in the Lutheran School.
Teachers of Christian studies have a challenging task in the contemporary Lutheran school. They face a variety of competing faiths and ideologies in society, reflected in the backgrounds and understandings of the learners in the classroom.
This section of the unit is designed to:
- engage teachers in a critical reading of relevant literature
- enable teachers to reflect critically on approaches to religious education
Required texts:
- Nil
EDU3032 Leading Christian Studies
Prerequisites:
- Basic requirements of the 120 hour Lutheran Education Australia (LEA) Equip course already completed, plus
- Teaching a unit of work in Christian Studies, focusing on equip module emphases in theology and pedagogy and preparing a report and student work samples.
- EDU3031 Teaching Christian Studies or EDU3029 Teaching the Christian faith in the Lutheran school
Course unit purpose
Advanced standing of 50% of the unit will be given for these prerequisite requirements.
Elective unit
This unit introduces teachers to an overview of various perspectives of educational leadership, with a focus on teacher leadership. The unit also provides a context for the teacher to explore and develop a teacher leadership model for leading Christian Studies in a school.
Required texts:
- Nil
Updated: 04/07/2011 [1.04]
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