THEL209 - Study Tour in Theology

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

Teaching organisation

Unit rationale, description and aim

In this unit, participants will visit a series of international sites of significance for the study of theology, particularly as such travel promotes reflection on the integration of specific, related theological themes. Work for the unit will include preparation for and debriefing after the tour.

Opportunities to combine learning and travel enhances the possibilities for student engagement, including but not limited to greater cultural understanding, broader perspectives, opportunity to engage with local populations, cultural observations which leads to connecting previous disparate and unconnected "facts" in a new or unique fashion, provision of real world experience (e.g. participation on an archaeological dig or site analysis), motivation to pursuing learning further in light of exposure to modern or ancient material culture, opportunities for approaching theological topics through a broader range of learning styles, and the supportive provision of lectures alongside on site learning. Additionally, study tours may provide students with a global network of contacts and references, personal growth and independence, career opportunities, stronger social ties with student colleagues, and the creation of lifelong learning memories that inspire future academic and personal investigation.

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.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Prepare an analysis of the theological background relevant to the themes under consideration (GA5, GA8);

LO2 - Identify and elaborate on relevant features from various site visits contributing to the theological themes under investigation (GA5, GA8)

LO3 - Use material and insights from the tour to present a synthesis of theological learning in a given area of theology (GA8, GA9).

Graduate attributes

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA8 - locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information 

GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media 

Content

Topics will be as appropriate to the themes, issues, and visits of the tour. These will be set out in the detailed extended unit outline prepared for each specific study tour as approved by the Executive Dean.

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This unit involves 300 hours of focused learning. The total includes formally structured learning activities such as lectures, tutorials and site visits. The remaining hours typically involve reading, research, and the preparation and submission of tasks for assessment.

The unit is offered in attendance mode. Students learn through formally structured and sequenced learning activities that support the achievement of the learning outcomes. Students are asked to critically reflect, analyse, and integrate new information with existing knowledge, draw meaningful new connections, and then apply what they have learned. Collaborative and peer learning is also emphasized. On site activities and designed to enable students to acquire and assimilate theological knowledge through modern interpretative approaches.

This unit emphasises students as active, adult learners. Students are recognised as adult learners who engage best when what they are learning is relevant to them and gives them the opportunity to be responsible for their own learning. In many ways, the student is the one who drives the learning forward. Active participation in this unit is essential. Learning is designed to be an engaging and supportive experience, which helps students to develop critical thinking and reflection skills.

Assessment strategy and rationale

A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. Such procedures may include, but are not limited to: essays, reports, examinations, student presentations or case studies.

In order to pass this unit, students are required to attempt all assessment tasks and achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher. The assessment tasks for this unit are designed for students to progressively demonstrate their achievement of each learning outcome.

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

As appropriate to the themes and visits of the tour. These will be set out in the detailed extended unit outline prepared for each specific study tour as approved by the Executive Dean.