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EDUC 583 Foundations of Christian Education

A survey of the historical, philosophical, psychological, and sociological foundations of education. Emphasis is given to the relationship of these foundational areas to the design and practice of contemporary Christian education.

Units: 3

WHO NEEDS THIS COURSE?

Graduate students:

  • MAEd

This course may also be taken by

  • Teachers for continuing education
  • Teachers as non-degree course for professional development
  • Graduate students of other schools as transfer credit

TIME INVESTMENT

For every 3-credit course, a student should spend at least 9 hours/week on reading and reflecting, for discussion forums, application papers, projects, and other requirements.

 

COURSE OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course, the students will be able to:

  1. Define the curriculum in various ways, reflecting the multiplicity of meanings given to the term.
  2. Develop a basic understanding of the concept of curriculum as a field.
  3. Examine the contribution of various traditional and modern philosophical positions, including Christian philosophy, to the field of curriculum.
  4. Explain the various psychological perspectives that enriched the way curriculums are designed.
  5. Identify significant historical events and trends that have shaped the curriculum field and education in general over time and in different countries around the world.
  6. Describe the sociological forces that impact education and the field of curriculum and how they define the social purposes of schools.
  7. Recognize the biblical basis of the Christian curriculum and the distinctiveness of Adventist education.
  8. Reflect on the current curriculum trends.

 

TOPICS TO COVER

Week 1

Introduction to Curriculum
Week 2

Philosophical Foundations (Part A)
Week 3

Philosophical Foundations (Part B)
Week 4 

Historical Foundations
Week 5

Psychological Foundations
Week 6

Sociological Foundations
Week 7

Spiritual Foundations
Week 8

Trends in Curriculum

      

 

FACILITATOR

Gianina Petre, PhD

GIANINA ESTERA PETRE is from Romania. She has a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction and currently serves as a guest faculty at the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies.

She served as a preschool and primary school teacher in Romania both for public and Adventist institutions for several years. In 2019, she was finally called to serve at the Adventist University in Romania.

She has been actively involved in the field of educational research and has published several articles in various research conferences.

DEVELOPER

Safary Wa-Mbaleka, PhD

SAFARY WA-MBALEKA is the director of the Adventist University of Africa Online in Kenya, Africa. Before coming to Africa, He served as a full time faculty at the Education department of the Graduate School at AIIAS. He also served there as the TESOL program director for eight years. Through the years, He has designed and taught many TESOL courses in the Philippines, USA, Puerto Rico and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A number of his publications in the field of TESOL are freely accessible online. In TESOL, he is especially passionate about research on Mother-Tongue-Based Education, multicultural education, and L2 teachers and learners.