This unit develops key study skills in the overlapping contexts of university learning, life and ministry. It explores the crucial role of ongoing theological study for personal and professional development and encourages a positive attitude towards life-long learning. It equips students with knowledge and skills for deep learning, critical thinking and writing, navigating online study, managing competing pressures of study, life and ministry. The unit also teaches how to be a reflective learner.
Unit code: AR8112B
Unit status: Approved (Major revision)
Points: 24.0
Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational
Unit discipline: Religious Studies
Proposing College: Eva Burrows College
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Summarise with clarity and purpose the place of learning in life and ministry. |
| 2. | Evaluate and apply various learning strategies as a lifelong learner. |
| 3. | Critically apply diverse academic skills in educational contexts. |
| 4. | Discover and assess technological tools and resources for ethical application in life and ministry. |
| 5. | Critically reflect on the impact of mindset on learning and attitudes to learning. |
No prerequisites required.
This unit employs a constructivist approach to adult education, tailored to online or blended delivery. Teaching and learning in the unit occur through various student-centered learning experiences. Apart from undertaking assessment-for-learning tasks, students will engage with guided readings, videos, podcasts, group work, workshops, and tutorials. Students will engage in discussions that will provide spaces for peer-to-peer learning and the development of discipline-specific and soft skills.
Allen, David. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. London: Penguin Books, 2015.
Barreto, Eric D. ed., Reading Theologically. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2014.
Barreto, Eric D. Writing Theologically. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2015.
Bennett, Zoë, Carol Reekie, and Esther Shreeve., Your MA in Theology: A Study Skills Handbook. London: SCM Press, 2014.
Dockery, David S., ed., Theology, Church, and Ministry: A Handbook for Theological Education. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2017.
Kapic, Kelly M. A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2012.
Inglis, Holly J., Kathy L. Dawson, and Rodger Y. Nishioka. Sticky Learning: How Neuroscience Supports Teaching That's Remembered. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2014.
McGuire, Saundra Yancy. Teach Yourself How to Learn: Strategies You Can Use to Ace Any Course at Any Level. Virginia: Stylus Publishing, 2018.
Stephens, Mark. The End of Thinking? (Re-considering Series). Sydney: Acorn Press, 2021.
Ward, Frances. Lifelong Learning: Theological Education and Supervision. London: SCM Press, 2008.
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Variant 1 | ||||||||
| Essay | 500 | 10.0 | ||||||
| Portfolio | 2500 | 40.0 | ||||||
| Tutorial Paper/Seminar Paper | 3000 | 50.0 | ||||||
Variant 2 | ||||||||
| Oral Presentation | 500 | 10.0 | ||||||
| Article (for Newspaper, e.g. letter to the editor) | 2000 | 30.0 | ||||||
| Learning Resource | 3500 | 60.0 | ||||||
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 29 Aug, 2025
Unit record last updated: 2025-08-29 11:25:21 +1000