Religious Education and Catholic Identity Through a Pedagogy of Encounter (CT9016C)

Content

This unit engages learners in critically examining their praxis as religious educators in light of the mission of Catholic schools and the theology of Vatican II. Participants will explore and evaluate a variety of perspectives on religious education in relation to curriculum expectations and the cultural and religious context. The unit explores concepts of identity and spirituality as they relate to students and also to teachers’ self- understanding. Teachers will deepen critical awareness of the pedagogical choices they make in Religious Education and the theology underpinning them. Through peer-engaged inquiry, learners use a theologically informed action research approach with a focus on building their capacity to engage student voice in dialogue with the Catholic tradition.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

BS8600C and CT8600C or equivalent

Pedagogy

Learners will engage in intensive mode with lecture input, directed reading activities, facilitated peer discussion, electronic resources and formative feedback, to achieve the learning outcomes. Theological Action Research (Cameron et al., 2010) consists of a team approach to reflection and dialogue in order to explore theological questions about practice to renew both theology and practice, supported by the supervisor.

Indicative Bibliography

• Boeve, Lieven. Theology at the Crossroads of University, Church and Society. London: Bloomsbury, 2016.
• Cameron, Helen, Deborah Bhatti, and Catherine Duce. Talking About God in Practice: Theological Action Research and Practical Theology. London: SCM Press, 2010.
• Dillen, Annemie, and Didier Pollefeyt. Children’s Voices: Children’s Perspectives in Ethics, Theology and Religious Education. Leuven: Peeters, 2010.
• Erricker, Jane, Cathy Ota, and Clive Erricker, eds. Spiritual Education: Cultural, Religious and Social Differences. Eastbourne: Sussex Academic Press, 2012.
• Lombaerts, Herman, and Didier Pollefeyt, eds. Hermeneutics and Religious Education. Leuven: Peeters, 2004.
• Loughran, John. What Expert Teachers Do. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin, 2010.
• Ritchhart, Ron, Mark Church, and Karin Morrison. Making Thinking Visible. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2011.
• Roebben, Bert, and Michael Warren, eds. Religious Education as Practical Theology. Leuven: Peeters, 2001.
• Smith, Kathy, and John Loughran, eds. Quality Learning: Teachers Changing Their Practice. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers, 2017.
• Timperley, Helen, Aaron Wilson, Heather Barrar, and Irene Fung. Teacher Professional Learning and Development: Best Evidence Synthesis Iteration. Wellington: Ministry of Education 2007. http//educationcounts.edcentre.govt.nz/goto/BES.

Assessment