Overview
The purpose of this course is to gather and train Sunday school teachers within the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch in Sweden. The course is based on the liturgical year of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch. Participants will be guided as to how to adapt the content of this framework to different pedagogical levels depending on the age of the children in their Sunday school classes. The course also provides an introduction to pedagogy in general and pedagogy of children in particular and how this pedagogy can be applied to Sunday school.
During the course, course participants will share their experience, and collaborate in compiling material and activities that can be used in Sunday school teaching in local churches, including material that participants cover during the course.
The course will cover the following modules:
Module 1, Introduction to pedagogy in general and pedagogy of children in particular.
Module 2, Sunday school as a place of growth and learning.
Module 3, Introduction to the liturgical year of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch and how this can be communicated to children of different ages.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, participants will have:
- developed a basic understanding of educational principles for working with children
- gained experience on how to reflect on and share perspectives on the role of Sunday school in the life of the church
- deepened their understanding on how to apply pedagogy of children in Sunday school
- developed an awareness of Sunday school as a place for growth and learning
- broadened their understanding of the liturgical year in the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch and how to use the liturgical year in the Sunday school
- reflected on our own knowledge development throughout life and relate it to our role as educator and how such knowledge can be used to support our co-teachers
- developed an awareness of how best to integrate learners’ experiences in teaching
Requirements
Students are expected to participate in all course activities, both by being present and playing an active role in scheduled course sessions, and by completing assignments to be done outside of scheduled lessons. If participants miss lessons, they may be required to do extra assignments in order to fulfill the participation requirements of the course. 80% attendance and participation (including completion of assignments) are required for the course to be considered to have been completed.
Additional Information
Disposition of 50 % course on distance
Details of lessons, participation in discussions and contact with the teacher and other participants take place primarily through the teaching platform Canvas.
You will have two evening lessons each week.
The first evening will be related to the specific subject that you have chosen – you will participate in the class and participate in discussion with your teacher and other participants in the course.
On the second evening, you will participate in an open lecture where you and all the participants within the Syrian Orthodox seminary participate and discuss important subjects within the Syrian Orthodox Church and society today. In this lesson you will have a significant influence on which subjects and discussions will take place. You will also, together with your fellow participants, present and actively defend your perspectives and solutions to questions that are raised. Within folkbildning teaching takes place not only between teacher and student, but also between student and teacher and between student and student. We learn from each other and together as a group. You will be encouraged to do the various assignments that you will be given together with other participants in the course. You will also have access to material, your teacher and other participants through the Canvas platform outside of the scheduled lessons. Your active participation is vital for the course!
If a course has a low number of participants you will be offered a place in another course within the seminary.
