The Philosophy of Religious Education Sparks module will be offered in an online format on Tuesdays, January 20, February 3 and 17, and March 3, 17 and 31, 3-5pm ET / 2-4pm CT / 1-3pm MT / 12-2pm PT. The module will be co-facilitated by Ginger Yoder, CRE-Advanced Level and Katherine Childs, Religious Educator. Registration is limited to 15 participants and the fee is $300. The registration deadline is January 13.

Module Requirements

The Philosophy of Religious Education Sparks module is an online learning experience comprised of six two-hour webinars with reading and other assignments for each session. Credit will be offered for full participation in the module. Full participation includes:

• Online attendance at each of the six two-hour sessions;
• Reading and reflection to prepare for each session;
• Responses to Reflection Questions on the Discussion Forum after each session; 
• Submission of final evaluation within a week of the ending of the module.

Learning Objectives

The learning objectives of this module are:

• Understand philosophies of education that have influenced Unitarian Universalist religious education and faith development, in dialogue, over time;
• Articulate one’s own religious faith and religious education philosophy;
• Develop clarity about the purposes of lifespan religious education;
• Hone skill, comfort, and competence in developing and sharing a congregational philosophy of religious education with teachers and parents;
• Understand learning and faith development theories; and
• Express how our congregations can become more welcoming and inclusive to those of us with historically-marginalized identities.

Required Reading 

The resource material for this module consists of five essays from the book, Essex Conversations: Visions for Lifespan Religious Education (Boston: Skinner House, 2001), four essays from the Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide (6th Ed.), the text Learning Theories Simplified, 2nd ed., an article, and videos, as listed below. It is best if participants obtain the books before the module begins.

From Essex Conversations:

• Hoertdoerfer, “Religion as Relationship”
• James, “Building Strong and Radical Religious Communities
• Bowens-Wheatley, “Toward Wholeness and Liberation”
• Morriss, “Doorway to the Sacred”
• Harper, “Learning Types & Their Needs”

From The Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide, Sixth Edition:

• Bray McNatt, “Our Faith”
• York, “Our Religious Education”
• Nguyen, “Our Work for Social Justice”
• Hauser, “Our Communities”

Learning Theories Simplified, 2nd ed. by Bob Bates. This text is on the 2022 RE Credentialing Program Resource List and provides easy-to-digest synopses of more than 100 learning theories. (see sections on Vygotsky, Piaget).

Other

• Article: Sociocultural Theory of Cognitive Development or watch video: Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory (YouTube, 5:21)
• Joy Berry’s “Wrought Faith: Making Faith Happen” (YouTube, 19:12 mins)
• Gail Forsyth-Vail’s RE History video (36:32)
• Ramon Selove’s Neurodivergence Series recorded​​webinar (36:42 mins)

Technical Considerations

The webinar platform is Zoom, which you can download from Zoom.

In order register and access module materials, participants must have or create a UUA profile name. On UUA.org, click on “create account” at the top right and follow instructions on the page. If you have already participated in an online module, use the profile name you have already created. You must provide your profile name to be added to the group and begin the preparation required before the first session.

Register here

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