Ethics, Values and Decision Making for Educators (DE9035L)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

This unit considers issues in education from an ethical perspective. Students will become familiar with and use the language and key ideas of both Christian and non-Christian ethical frameworks. They will consider their role as decision makers in the morally complex Australian education environment and apply a reflective ethical decision making process informed by Lutheran theology to arrive at decisions which are theologically and educationally justifiable.

Unit code: DE9035L

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Education Studies

Delivery Mode: Online

Proposing College: Australian Lutheran College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Demonstrate critical understanding of a Lutheran approach to ethics within a broader awareness of a range of ethical frameworks
2.

Identify and analyse the values and ethical considerations in decisions taken by educators

3.

Justify a personal ethical position on an issue of educational practice through use of a critically rigorous, sustained ethical argument which appropriately considers the moral complexities of the issue

Unit sequence

Course relationship: A level 9 unit in postgraduate education courses

Prerequisites: DE9016L Education and Theology in Dialogue

Pedagogy

This unit uses teaching strategies (e.g. engagement with online learning materials, including audio/video, tasks, forums, and synchronous and asynchronous discussion) which encourage student engagement and participation in a variety of learning tasks and opportunities which foster deep learning.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Bartsch, Malcolm. A God who speaks and acts: theology for teachers in Lutheran schools. North Adelaide, SA: Lutheran Education Australia, 2013.
  • Biermann, Joel D. A case for character: towards a Lutheran virtue ethics. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2014.
  • Birch, Bruce C. Bible and ethics in the Christian life: a new conversation. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2018.
  • Bloomquist, Karen, and John Stumme, eds. The promise of Lutheran ethics. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 1998.
  • Campbell, Elizabeth M. The ethical teacher. Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press, 2003.
  • Duignan, Patrick. Educational Leadership: Together creating ethical learning environments. Second Edition. Port Melbourne: Cambridge University Press, 2012.
  • Fluker, Walter. Ethical leadership: the quest for character, civility and community. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2009.
  • Gill, Robin. Christian ethics: the basics. New York: Routledge, 2020.
  • McCarthy, David Matzko. Moral vision: seeing the world with love and justice. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2018.
  • Morgan, Peggy, and Clive Lawton, eds. Ethical issues in six religious traditions. Edinburgh, UK: Edinburgh University Press, 2007.
  • Rowson, Richard. Working ethics: how to be fair in a culturally complex world. London, UK: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2006.
  • Starratt, Robert.. Cultivating an ethical school. New York, NY: Routledge, 2012.
  • Worthing, Mark W. When choice matters: an introduction to Christian ethics. Millswood, SA: Pantaenus Press, 2004.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

The core nature of Christian and Lutheran ethics

 3000 25.0
Report

Ethical analysis of an education issue

 5000 75.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Maggie Kappelhoff on 19 Jul, 2021

Unit record last updated: 2021-07-19 14:34:37 +1000