Courses

This course reviews the foundations and practises of both macro- and micro-level program development for schools and school systems. Students will consider the underlying assumptions and effects of alternative approaches to program planning. They will explore how worldviews shape curriculum theory and analyze how they affect curriculum development. They will also examine contemporary issues and research problems related to planned curriculum change and development. The participants will develop a framework and criteria for developing programs, resources, and curriculum practice based on a Christian worldview.

In this course participants will review the role of principals and other educational leaders in nurturing a healthy professional climate and sustaining teacher growth. They will develop an integrated model for continuous staff development. On the basis of the principles of Christian servant leadership and current supervision paradigms, they will consider how to supervise and evaluate school personnel. They will also scrutinize methods of staff selection, induction, and dismissal. Throughout, the focus will be on strategies for building positive school cultures.

This course involves an examination of the characteristics of schools and classrooms that provide an environment for productive instruction and successful student learning within the contours of a defined vision for education. Included is an exploration of theories, current research, and examples of constructive and dynamic educational leadership. Learners will analyze models, practices, and investigate how to implement effective educational programs and bring about related changes at the classroom and institutional levels while overcoming barriers to change.

The school is a community for learning within a larger community. This course explores the links between schools and the social, political, and legal forces that impinge on them. Students will examine the relationship of the school with its social context, and how school leaders interact with external influences and affect them.

Learners will be introduced to principles and practices of adult education. Focusing on facilitation methods and instructional design, this course develops practical skills necessary to teach adults. Whether in a classroom or other formal learning context or workplace, leaders are all teachers. This course equips leaders to facilitate transformational learning experiences that are learner-centered, supportive, well-organized and based on critical inquiry in the context of practice.

This course provides a foundation for students in the health care stream and a comprehensive application of servant leadership principles to the health sector. As emerging leaders, students develop their leadership skills in inspiring, stewarding, and problem solving. The course facilitates integrated learning on the needed leadership competencies to support health systems and organizations. The leadership competencies include leading change, leading people, being results driven, ensuring business acumen, and building coalitions and communication. Leadership issues in the course include values, ideologies, leadership imperatives, cultural change, population health, reform, vision, financial and human resource considerations, education, professional regulation, technology, and health system integration.

This course explores how effective leaders use creativity and innovation to address emerging global needs. Necessary skills of cognitive load management, cross-cultural collaboration, interpersonal and communications skills, and adaptability and resilience will be explored as tools for leaders facing the need to promote new ways of being for twenty-first century organizations.

When health service executives and professionals are asked to explain what outcomes are being achieved by the provincial and territorial health systems across Canada, the reply is usually rhetoric and platitudes, but with little evidence. The reality is we do not have the ability to define what we accomplish that costs approximately 44 per cent of the provincial and territorial budgets. This course explores the concepts of accountability and governance in detail. The collective goal is to better explain what the health systems are producing as tangible outcomes. Servant leaders are called to communicate with the communities and populations they serve with integrity and honesty and to serve their patient/client/resident needs as best they can, based on the organization's values and strategy, as well as the customer's expectations.

Learners will analyze personal cultural values and beliefs, expanding their cultural self-awareness and cultural competency. Learners will examine implicit biases in educational structures and processes, assess culturally-inclusive theoretical perspectives, analyze inclusive pedagogy, and explore global Indigenous perspectives on teaching and learning. Learners will develop and apply practical strategies to create culturally-inclusive learning environments and learning activities, and establish and develop meaningful intercultural communication and relationships, applying coaching/facilitation skills to engage all learners in authentic learning experiences.