Enhancing Catholic School Identity from edX

The Catholic identity of schools today is being challenged by processes of pluralisation and secularisation. While school communities used to be considered more or less homogeneous, nowadays schools are characterised by increasing diversity and a diminishing interest in the Catholic faith tradition, among students as well as teachers.

How can schools today maintain and strengthen their Catholic identity, whilesimultaneously remaining open to diversity and otherness? How can the Catholic faith traditionstay relevant for young people today in a way that takes their individuality into account?

The model of the Catholic Dialogue School, developed at the Catholic University of Leuven, provides a theological framework and a pedagogical strategy for schools that want to enhance their Catholic identity.

On the one hand, it supports principals and teachers in ‘translating’ Catholic teachings so that they become more life-giving and inspiring for students. On the other hand, it encourages schools to enter into dialogue with other traditions and ideologies that are present at school and in society. After all, it is through this dialogue that one’s own identity can be strengthened and deepened in a mutually enriching process.

In the words of Pope Francis:

“If there is one word that we should never tire of repeating, it is this: dialogue. We are called to promote a culture of dialogue by every possible means and thus to rebuild the fabric of society.

"[…] This culture of dialogue, which should be included in all lesson programs like a red thread, will help teach young generations to avoid and resolve conflicts in a different way than we're used to."

Through five extensive modules of this MOOC, you will become acquainted with a new vocabulary and theological framework regarding Catholic school identity. You will learn, in an active way, about several quantitative instruments to assess the Catholic identity of your school - alongside practical theological instruments to strengthen and enhance it.

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to assess and enhance the current catholic identity of your school
The theological underpinnings of the catholic dialogue school
How toread and interpret the different scales and graphs

Good examples of a recontextualising dialogue school
Ways to apply specific strategies to enhance the catholic identity of your school

How to assess and enhance the current catholic identity of your school
The theological underpinnings of the catholic dialogue school
How toread and interpret the different scales and graphs
Good examples of a recontextualising dialogue school
Ways to apply specific strategies to enhance the catholic identity of your school

Syllabus

The course has five components.

Personal Identity

At the heart of any Catholic school is its people: its teachers, administrators, staff and volunteers; its trustees and board members; its parents; and of course its students, the very reason for which the school exists. When we want to describe the identity of a Catholic school today – with the aim of enhancing its future identity – we first look at how the individuals within the school relate to faith.

Institutional Identity

In this section, we turn from studying how individuals relate to religious content, to how they see their school relating to the Catholic faith tradition – that is, we move from personal perspectives regarding religious belief to how those same individuals perceive the identity of the school itself. You will learn how to assess Catholic identity and will be invited to think about how to strengthen it.

Professional Identity

In this section, we look at how cultural, moral, and religious diversity are treated in a Catholic school community. Here we will examine how individuals evaluate their current school environment and how they envision their ideal one. A school can respond in many ways to diversity, and to consider what these responses might look like in practice can help to support a Catholic school's future development.

Synthesis

In the synthesis, we bring all three perspectives together to see the school in its totality. We will take a look at the subpopulations and intercorrelations to have a broad and deep understanding of the identity of the school. The shift to a Recontextualising Catholic Dialogue School will be handled together with a case study.

From Individual Identity to School Identity

Finally, the possibility of setting up the School Identity Research in your school will be explained, as well as the analysis of meta-data to see on a more global level (group of schools, longitudinal perspective, diocesan perspective, etc.) how Catholic School Identity is developing.

All components are supported by knowledge clips, lectures, exercises, examples, online questionnaires, discussion fora, practical issues, case studies, etc.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops a framework and strategies for maintaining and strengthening a Catholic school's identity while remaining open to diversity and otherness

Taught by instructors from the Catholic University of Leuven, recognized for their work in Catholic school identity

In-depth exploration of the Recontextualizing Catholic Dialogue School model, providing a theological framework and pedagogical strategy

Focuses on Catholic school identity, a topic of high relevance to educators and administrators in Catholic schools

May be most relevant to educators, administrators, and staff in Catholic schools, or those interested in Catholic school identity

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Enhancing Catholic School Identity with these activities:

Review Catholic identity frameworks

Show steps

Refresh your knowledge of the key concepts and frameworks related to Catholic identity in schools to strengthen your understanding of the course material.

Show steps

Review the course syllabus and identify the key topics related to Catholic identity.
Read articles and books on Catholic identity in education.
Attend a workshop or webinar on Catholic identity in schools.

Show all one activities

Career center

Learners who complete Enhancing Catholic School Identity will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Teacher

Teachers play a vital role in shaping the Catholic identity of a school. They are responsible for teaching students about the Catholic faith, and they also help to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students. This course can help teachers develop their understanding of Catholic school identity and how to effectively teach about the Catholic faith. It can also help them learn how to create a classroom environment that is both supportive and challenging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Chaplain

Chaplains provide spiritual guidance and support to students, faculty, and staff at Catholic schools. They work to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of the school community and they help to promote the Catholic faith. This course can help chaplains develop their understanding of Catholic school identity and how to effectively minister to the needs of the school community.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chaplain

Catholic School Principal

As the lead administrator of a Catholic school, Catholic School Principals oversee all aspects of the school, from academics and extracurricular activities to finances and marketing. They work closely with teachers, staff, parents, and the local community to create a supportive and nurturing environment for students. This course can help Catholic School Principals enhance their understanding of Catholic school identity and how to effectively lead a school that is both faithful to its mission and responsive to the needs of its students.

See salaries and explore the career path for Catholic School Principal

Admissions Counselor

Admissions counselors help prospective students and families learn about Catholic schools and make decisions about enrollment. They work closely with the school community to ensure that the school is a good fit for each student. This course can help admissions counselors develop their understanding of Catholic school identity and how to effectively communicate the school's mission and values to prospective families.

See salaries and explore the career path for Admissions Counselor

Educational Consultant

Educational consultants provide guidance and support to schools on a variety of educational issues. They work with schools to develop and implement effective teaching strategies, improve student outcomes, and enhance the school's overall climate. This course can help educational consultants develop their understanding of Catholic school identity and how to effectively support Catholic schools in their efforts to provide a high-quality education.

See salaries and explore the career path for Educational Consultant

Development Officer

Development officers are responsible for fundraising and managing the financial resources of Catholic schools. They work closely with the school community to identify and cultivate donors and to develop fundraising strategies. This course can help development officers develop their understanding of Catholic school identity and how to effectively communicate the school's mission and values to potential donors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Development Officer

School Counselor

School counselors provide counseling and support to students, faculty, and staff at Catholic schools. They work to create a safe and supportive environment for all members of the school community and they help to promote the mental health and well-being of students. This course can help school counselors develop their understanding of Catholic school identity and how to effectively minister to the needs of the school community.

See salaries and explore the career path for School Counselor

Curriculum Coordinator

Curriculum coordinators are responsible for developing and implementing the curriculum for Catholic schools. They work closely with teachers to ensure that the curriculum is aligned with the school's mission and values and that it meets the needs of students. This course can help curriculum coordinators develop their understanding of Catholic school identity and how to effectively develop and implement a curriculum that is both faithful to the school's mission and responsive to the needs of students.

See salaries and explore the career path for Curriculum Coordinator

Diocesan Superintendent

Diocesan superintendents are responsible for overseeing the Catholic schools in a diocese. They work closely with bishops, pastors, and school principals to ensure that the schools are providing a high-quality education that is faithful to the Catholic faith. This course can help diocesan superintendents develop their understanding of Catholic school identity and how to effectively lead and support Catholic schools.

See salaries and explore the career path for Diocesan Superintendent

Religious Education Coordinator

Religious education coordinators are responsible for developing and implementing the religious education program for Catholic schools. They work closely with teachers and administrators to ensure that the program is aligned with the school's mission and values and that it meets the needs of students. This course can help religious education coordinators develop their understanding of Catholic school identity and how to effectively develop and implement a religious education program that is both faithful to the school's mission and responsive to the needs of students.

See salaries and explore the career path for Religious Education Coordinator

Technology Coordinator

Technology coordinators are responsible for managing the technology resources of Catholic schools. They work closely with teachers and administrators to ensure that technology is being used effectively to support teaching and learning. This course can help technology coordinators develop their understanding of Catholic school identity and how to effectively integrate technology into the curriculum and the school's overall operations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technology Coordinator

Instructional Coach

Instructional coaches work with teachers to improve their teaching practice. They provide feedback, support, and professional development opportunities to help teachers grow and develop as educators. This course can help instructional coaches develop their understanding of Catholic school identity and how to effectively support teachers in their efforts to provide a high-quality education that is faithful to the school's mission.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Coach

Librarian

Librarians provide access to information and resources for students, faculty, and staff at Catholic schools. They work to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of the school community and they help to promote literacy and the love of reading. This course can help librarians develop their understanding of Catholic school identity and how to effectively support the school's mission and values through their work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Librarian

Business Manager

Business managers are responsible for managing the financial and operational aspects of Catholic schools. They work closely with the school administration to ensure that the school is operating efficiently and effectively. This course can help business managers develop their understanding of Catholic school identity and how to effectively manage the school's resources to support its mission.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Manager

Administrative Assistant

Administrative assistants provide administrative and clerical support to the school administration and faculty. They work to ensure that the school runs smoothly and efficiently. This course may be useful for administrative assistants who are interested in developing their understanding of Catholic school identity and how to effectively support the school's mission and values through their work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Administrative Assistant