Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:

• Critically analyse the systemic and cultural nature of organizational life, health, dysfunction and conflict in terms of the grids of general systems theory, organizational culture, organizational psycho-dynamics, polarity and family systems theory.

• Apply advanced knowledge of the nature and purpose of Professional Learning Communities, including the influence of Christian perspectives, within an educational organisation.

• Integrate a Christian perspective to critically analyse and apply expert knowledge and understanding of theories of organisational culture, organisational psycho-dynamics, polarity and family systems to educational settings.

• Investigate the essential characteristics of learning communities and apply a Christian perspective to critically evaluate the roles and support mechanisms that build healthy, effective learning communities within educational settings.

Unit Description

This unit is designed to supply candidates with a range of interpretive grids to assist in discerning and responding to the systemic, semi-conscious or irrational aspects of organisational life and change that can detract or assist in the fulfillment of organisational purposes, specific to educational contexts. The unit will integrate a Christian perspective and theological understanding of living in community as relevant to educational contexts.

Topics developed would include:

• An introduction to general systems thinking and organisational time-lines
• Organisational culture, the concept and diagnostics,
• Family systems theory; differentiation and fusion as systemic reality,
• Professional Learning Communities,
• Conflict levels and anxiety management,
• Psycho-dynamics and organizational neuroses,
• Charisma, narcissism and ethical leadership,
• Polarity Theory.

This unit is delivered as a split intensive. The class will meet for two intensives, one per school term with the ability to communicate to your peers and lecturer electronically in-between. All learning will happen through your readings and in a face-to-face setting.

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Unit offerings

Please note

The Unit Offerings listed above are a guide only and the timetable for any year is the final authority. The College may vary offerings based on demand, regulatory requirements, continual improvement processes or other conditions.

This unit may be available in different modes of delivery i.e. online and face-to-face as listed above. The unit content will not differ between these modes of delivery. There will possibly be a difference in the schedule and/or the prescribed assessment tasks, however both will cover and assess the same content.