"Tutors are particularly well informed about the current professional needs of subject leaders and teachers of RE"
"Overall, the course recruits strongly are completion rates are unusually high"
"The distance learning study guides are of high quality"
"Assignment titles are negotiated with exceptional care to meet participants' aspirations"
"Participants extend subject expertise and understanding – and consequently confidence – while also improving their own practice, enhancing career prospects and, frequently, influencing the quality of RE teaching more widely"
Extracts from the 1999/2000 OFSTED Inspection report
Introduction
The Distance Learning Programme is designed for qualified teachers in any part of the country, or overseas, with at least one year's teaching experience or similar equivalent. The programme is open to teachers of any religious persuasion or none. It is a flexible learning structure and can be started at the beginning of any term.
The major aim of the programme is to meet the needs of individual teachers, particularly:
- those serving teachers in both primary and secondary schools who are seeking to:
- develop their understanding of the role and value of Religious Education (RE) in the curriculum
- improve their skills in designing and planning suitable learning experiences for pupils
- increase their knowledge about appropriate content and concepts for teaching RE
- serving teachers who wish to retrain as RE teachers and who are seeking a recognised and respected RE qualification
- teachers of early years children who wish to add an RE dimension to their general work with the very young
The distance learning programme adopts the approach to RE taken by the Westhill Project RE 5-16. It seeks to place the teaching of religion firmly in an educational context by making no assumptions about or preconditions for, the personal commitment of teachers, save to stress the role of the teacher in RE as that of educator. This requires the teacher to be sensitive to a variety of beliefs even though he/she may well have his/her own religious or philosophical standpoint. It is also recognised that RE should be developmental, relevant to pupils' search for meaning and hence open and multi-faith in character.
The programme
The programme is open to teachers in all phases of education and who have at least one year's professional experience. Students may register for ACE (Advanced Certificate in Education) 3 modules, or MEd, 6 modules plus a dissertation. Completion of the ACE will usually take up to two years and MEd up to three years by distance learning. There are opportunities for extensions if required.
Subject modules
There are 6 subject modules from which to choose. Principles and Practice of RE is compulsory. They are:
- Principles and Practice of RE
This module is designed to provide students with a clear understanding of the nature and aims of RE and its field of enquiry
- Teaching Religion in Schools
This module focuses on the conceptions of the nature of religion and religions. It will create a forum for discussion on such aspects of the debate about RE in schools such as the integrity of religions
- Teaching a Religion
This module can be studied in a variety of options, namely; Teaching Christianity, Islam Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism. It is designed to help students understand the nature of a religious tradition and explore its links to shared human experience, and its expression in the patterns of life of individuals
- Teaching Life Themes in RE
This module is designed to help students understand the theoretical and practical considerations of teaching RE in a thematic way
- Religious Education and Spiritual Development
This module examines the contribution of RE to pupils' spiritual development. Students will have the opportunity to explore conceptions of the spiritual and the spiritualities of religious traditions
- Assessing, Recording and Reporting RE
This module is designed to help students consider the issues about assessing RE in terms of the present context in schools and in the light of the experience of earlier, pioneering work in the area
Research Module
MEd students must study this as their 6th module. It is designed in particular to prepare the student for the dissertation
Dissertation
MEd students must complete a dissertation of 15,000 words. The topic chosen in conjunction with the tutor can be on any area of religious education of interest to the student
Patterns of Study
Students will normally choose to complete an ACE in two years and MEd in three years by Distance Learning but Patterns of Study are flexible and we are able to offer accreditation of prior learning and experience as another way of building up credit
Assessment
Assessments are designed to be practical and relevant to the work place, with opportunities to negotiate the focus. There is one assignment per module: ACE (3000 words), MEd (4000 words)
Entry Requirements
Entry requirements to the programme are normally a teaching qualification, and first degree, eg BEd, BA and a minimum of one year's professional experience. We are happy to discuss individual's entry to the programme.
For further information, contact:
Camilla O'Connor at Westhill RE Centre,
University of Birmingham, Selly Oak B29 6LL.
Tel 0121 415 2258