Religious Education

Curriculum Objectives

This unit provides students with critical insights into early childhood theory and practice and how that relates to and informs effective early years religious education. Students have the opportunity to explore and understand the notion of childhood, the image of the child in contemporary times, and how these assist early years religious educators to respond to students in the religion classroom. Students will also investigate young children’s spiritual promotion, religiosity, and religious education. Finally, specific teaching and learning practices that enable access to key early years religious education topics, such as children’s literature and biblical storytelling, will be evaluated.

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this unit of study, students will be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the notion of childhood, and how that contributes to effective early years religious education
• analyse critically the spiritual aspects of young children’s lives and learning, and what opportunities exist for religious education
• demonstrate specialised knowledge and critical understanding of contemporary early childhood education theory and practice, and how that can inform and shape early years religious education
• evaluate critically the effectiveness of specific teaching and learning practices in the early years religion classroom, including children’s literature and biblical storytelling

Assumed Knowledge 

D8120 & D8121

Study hours

10 hours per week for 12 week session, comprised of:

• At least one hour per week for online lectures.
• At least three hours per week of reading.
• At least six hours per week of directed study, including optional and assessable online activities.

Lecturer

Dr Beth Nolan

Teaching methods

Online lectures; online activities; guided reading; scaffolded assessments; feedback on assessments.

Indicative Assessment

At the Institute we use a range of assessment tasks, including essays, research papers, online posts, critical reflections, projects and praxis exercises. Within a unit of study each set of assessment tasks is designed as an integral part of your learning experience. These tasks vary across units and programs. All assessment tasks are aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework level appropriate for graduate awards.