Unit rationale, description and aim
This unit introduces students to a theological framework to facilitate the development of a coherent understanding of the Catholic tradition in its communal, sacramental, liturgical and moral dimensions. Students will be required to bring this knowledge and understanding into critical dialogue with their own belief stance, to assess its implications for their work in Catholic schools, and to demonstrate skills to communicate it to a variety of audiences
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.
Explain the role and mission of the Church in the ...
Learning Outcome 01
Give a critical and nuanced account of the communa...
Learning Outcome 02
Demonstrate skills in communicating beliefs about ...
Learning Outcome 03
Content
Topics will include:
- The communal nature of Christian faith
- The nature, role and mission of the Church
- Key developments in the history of the Church
- The local and universal dimensions of Church life
- The sacramental life of the Church: sacraments and sacramentality
- Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation
- Liturgy and Prayer in Church life
- Moral and ethical life in the Church
- Variety in Catholic traditions
- The role of Mary in the Church
- Contemporary challenges facing the Church in the world
- Implications for teaching and being part of a Catholic school community
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. These assessments are appropriate for the online and multi-mode of student engagement. The learning activities listed below are organised to support a progressive developmental sequence of learning / scaffold learning progressively. They take a social constructivist approach which recognises the particular relevance, value and need for peer to peer engagement in learning within theology.
Assessment Task 1: A Written Task that seeks to articulate approaches to the theology of the church. This task will address Learning Outcomes 1 and 2 and develop Graduate Attributes 3 and 5.
Assessment Task 2: A Critical Reflection on theology of the sacraments that present a contemporary understanding of the sacrament. This task will address Learning Outcomes 2 and 3 develop Graduate Attributes 3, 5 and 9.
Assessment Task 3: A Communication Task on Christian ethics. This task will address Learning Outcomes 2 and 3 and develop Graduate Attributes 5 and 9.
Overview of assessments
Written Task that seeks to articulate approaches ...
Written Task that seeks to articulate approaches to the theology of the church.
40%
A Critical Reflection on theology of the sacramen...
A Critical Reflection on theology of the sacraments
30%
Communication Task on Christian Ethics
Communication Task on Christian Ethics
30%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit involves 150 hours of focused learning, or the equivalent of 10 hours per week for 15 weeks. The total includes formally structured learning activities such as lectures, tutorials, online learning, video-conferencing, or supervision. The remaining hours typically involve reading, research, and the preparation of tasks for assessment.
The unit is offered in two modes, online and multi-mode. In both modes, students learn through formally structured and sequenced learning activities that support the achievement of the learning outcomes. Students are asked to reflect critically, analyse, and integrate new information with existing knowledge, draw meaningful new connections, and then apply what they have learned to their professional contexts.