Unit rationale, description and aim
Religious Education is a distinctive educational and theological discipline that contributes to the mission and educational practice of Catholic schools. This unit introduces students to the nature, purposes and professional practice of Religious Education in Australian Catholic primary schools.
Drawing on historical, theological and educational perspectives, students examine its distinctive contribution to Catholic schooling and its place within Australia’s diverse and pluralist society. Students develop an understanding of the curriculum, pedagogy and assessment principles that shape contemporary Religious Education. They explore children’s human and religious development and consider Christianity as an educational, cultural and ecclesial phenomenon.
Recognising that Catholic schools operate across different diocesan and state jurisdictions, students engage with relevant curriculum frameworks and policy contexts while identifying the theological and educational principles underpinning effective practice. They apply this knowledge to the design of meaningful and developmentally responsive Religious Education learning experiences.
The aim of this unit is to develop the knowledge, skills and emerging professional identity required to teach Religious Education thoughtfully, critically and creatively in Catholic primary schools.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Identify and analyse the development of approaches...
Learning Outcome 01
Apply knowledge of children’s human and religious ...
Learning Outcome 02
Design meaningful and culturally responsive Religi...
Learning Outcome 03
Critically evaluate Religious Education approaches...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include
1. The nature and development of Catholic schooling in Australia.
2. The nature, purposes and contemporary approaches to Religious Education, including its place within the mission of Catholic schools and its historical development.
3. The educational, theological and ecclesial foundations that inform Religious Education.
4. Children's human and religious development and the implications for planning, teaching, assessment and evaluation in Religious Education.
5. Religious Education curriculum, pedagogy, planning and assessment including engagement with diocesan frameworks and the design of developmentally appropriate learning experiences.
6. The use of Scripture and other sources of the Catholic tradition in designing meaningful Religious Education learning experiences for primary students.
7. Contemporary approaches to sacramental education, including the complementary roles of the child, family, parish and the Catholic school.
8. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, including the significance of spirituality, Country, culture and community for respectful and culturally responsive practice in Religious Education.
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment strategy progressively develops students’ understanding of Religious Education and their capacity to design, implement and evaluate effective Religious Education in contemporary Catholic primary schools. Assessment tasks align with the Learning Outcomes and provide opportunities for students to demonstrate both theoretical knowledge and professional application.
The first assessment task requires students to explain the nature, purposes and contemporary approaches to Religious Education. Students demonstrate understanding of Religious Education as both an educational and theological discipline and apply this knowledge through the development of a teaching and learning activity (LO1, LO3).
The second assessment task builds on this foundation by engaging students with curriculum frameworks and contemporary pedagogical approaches. Students interpret curriculum requirements, apply knowledge of children’s human and religious development, and design developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive learning experiences, including engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives (LO2, LO3).
The final assessment task requires students to critically evaluate contemporary Religious Education approaches through the design of age-appropriate learning experiences that engage Scripture, sacramental teaching and other key sources of the Catholic tradition. Students demonstrate how these sources contribute to meaningful Religious Education and support the mission and educational practice of contemporary Catholic primary schools (LO2, LO3, LO4).
Overview of assessments
Assessment Task 1 – Written task A written task...
Assessment Task 1 – Written task
A written task that requires students to demonstrate their understanding of Religious Education as an educational and theological discipline and develop a teaching and learning activity that reflects a selected Religious Education approach.
30%
Assessment Task 2 – Teaching and Learning Plan ...
Assessment Task 2 – Teaching and Learning Plan
A learning plan that demonstrates meaningful Religious Education learning experiences that respond to children's human and religious development.
30%
Assessment Task 3 – Teaching and Learning resour...
Assessment Task 3 – Teaching and Learning resources
A written or oral task that requires students to critically evaluate religious education approaches through the design of age-appropriate Religious Education learning experiences that demonstrate how these sources contribute to the mission and educational practice of contemporary Catholic schools.
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
EDRE290 is offered in face-to-face, intensive, online and multimode formats. Across these delivery modes, the unit incorporates a flipped learning approach in which students engage with key concepts, readings, recorded presentations and curriculum materials before scheduled learning sessions. Scheduled sessions are then used to clarify understanding, discuss significant questions, apply theory to Religious Education practice and collaboratively develop meaningful learning experiences.
Through tutorials, workshops, webinars and asynchronous activities, students examine theological and educational principles, children’s human and religious development, curriculum frameworks, Scripture, sacramental education and culturally responsive practice incorporating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives. Learning activities support students to interpret curriculum, critically evaluate approaches and justify pedagogical decisions. Engagement with curriculum frameworks from different Australian Catholic education jurisdictions enables students to recognise both local requirements and the broader principles informing effective Religious Education.
The unit comprises 150 hours of learning. The hours are devoted to direct learning, preparatory learning, independent study, curriculum investigation, assessment preparation and reflection. The balance of directed and independent learning is adapted to each delivery mode while maintaining consistent opportunities to achieve the Learning Outcomes.