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 child pedagogy 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 child pedagogy 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 should be able to:
- Demonstrate, both individually and collectively, a basic understanding of educational principles for work with children.
- Based upon the student’s experience, reflect on and share perspectives on the role of Sunday school in the life of the church
- Reflect on how to apply child pedagogy in Sunday school
- Develop an awareness of Sunday school as a place for growth and learning
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of the liturgical year in the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch and how this knowledge can be communicated to children of different ages.
- Reflect 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
- Develop an awareness of how best to integrate learners’ experiences in teaching
Further course information
Details of lessons, participation in discussions and contact with teacher and other participants take place mainly through the teaching platform Canvas.
You will have two evening lessons during the week.
The first evening will be related to the specific subject that you have chosen – you will participate in the class and discuss 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 discusses 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 is 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 Canvas 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 on another course within the seminary
