Enhancing Capacity in a Christian School (XP9120L)

Content

This unit enables students to engage with the question of how faith-based schools develop their capacity to fulfil their core mission. The integrating theme of the unit is developing Christian professional learning communities and conversations. Students will draw from the disciplines of education and theology. They may pursue this study from a number of potential perspectives including leadership, curriculum and the teaching of Christian Studies (Religious Education). Key theological emphases are vocation, Christian service and the law/gospel tension. The policy statements and other relevant systemic documents from the student’s own Christian education tradition will be incorporated.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

DE9016L Education and Theology In Dialogue

Pedagogy

The unit contains content in a number of areas which pertain to the development of school capacity. Students engage with this material via online means which may include but are not limited to external readings embedded in lecturer written content, audio/video, reflection tasks, forums, links to relevant websites and asynchronous discussion with lecturer.

Indicative Bibliography

• Barnes, L. Philip, ed. 2012. Debates in Religious Education. London, UK: Routledge.
• Bartsch, Malcolm I. 2013. A God who speaks and acts: theology for teachers in Lutheran schools. North Adelaide, SA: Lutheran Education Australia. http://www.lutheran.edu.au/publications-and-policies/printed-publications/
• Blankstein, Alan. 2012. Failure is not an option: 6 principles that advance student achievement in highly effective schools. 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press
• Braaten, Carl E. 2007. Principles of Lutheran theology. 2nd ed. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.
• Buchanan, Michael. 2012. Leadership and religious schools: international perspectives and challenges. New York: Continuum
• Christenson, Tom. 2004. The gift and task of Lutheran higher education. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress.
• ———. 2011. Who needs a Lutheran college? Values vision vocation. Minneapolis, MN: Lutheran University Press.
• Cranston, Neil, and Lisa Ehrich. 2009. Australian school leadership today. Bowen Hills, QLD: Australian Academic Press.
• Crowther, Frank. 2011. From school improvement to sustained capacity: the parallel leadership pathway. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
• Dimmock, Clive. 2012. Leadership, capacity building and school improvement: concepts, themes and impact. London, UK: Routledge.
• Gabriel, John. 2005. How to thrive as a teacher leader. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
• Katzenmeyer, Marilyn. 2009. Awakening the sleeping giant: helping teachers develop as leaders. 3rd ed. Moorabbin, VIC: Hawker Brownlow Education.
• Lee, Heekap. 2010. Faith-based education that contructs: a creative dialogue between constructivism and faith-based education. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock.
• Lovat, Terence J. 2009. What is this thing called Religious Education? Terrigal, NSW: David Barlow Publishing.
• Marcuson, Margaret. 2009. Leaders who last: sustaining yourself and your ministry. New York, NY: Seabury Books.
• McBeth, Mark. 2009. The distributed leadership toolbox: essential practices for successful schools. Moorabbin, VIC: Hawker Brownlow Education.
• Militello, Matthew. 2010. Leading with inquiry & action: how principals improve teaching and learning. Moorabbin, VIC: Hawker Brownlow Education.
• Ornstein, Allan C., and Francis P. Hunkins. 2009. Curriculum: foundations, principles and issues. 5th ed. Boston, MA: Pearson.
• Parkey, Forrest W., Eric J. Anctil, and Glen Hass, eds. 2014. Curriculum leadership: readings for developing quality educational programs. 10th ed. Boston, MA: Pearson.

Assessment