What is the central research question you want answered?
What are the objectives of your project?
The practice of including secular along with spiritual guidelines in the teaching of applied ethics has been adopted in many countries including Great Britain, Australia, Holland, Germany and Norway. Our group has collected information on a number of such programs. This material now needs to be collated and adapted to meet Canadian requirements. There are two research questions.
The first is how best to present this material pedagogically and the second relates to assessing its efficacy by comparison to existing course content in Social Studies and related curricula at the secondary level.
The objective is to enhance the understanding and tolerance of young people for the belief traditions of others and to help them realize how these traditions can help in arriving at ethical decisions.
Size of Project (Number of pages, minutes, cm, etc.)
The 'Teachers' Guide' to be developed is expected to comprise no more than 200 pages.
Project Description (Use this space to further elaborate on the project)
In publicly funded schools of the Western world the preaching of particular religions is gradually being replaced by teaching about the core beliefs of a multitude of faiths and other convictions. This transition has not always been seamless. In some schools the elimination of what was formerly known as religious education also deprived students of guidance in value clarification and instruction in the history of ideas.
The proposed Teachers' Guide addresses this lacuna by showing how the acquisition of knowledge about a wide variety of beliefs -religious and secular - can help in shaping one's own world view while respecting the rights of others to draw different conclusions. It will also make the point that one need not agree with the beliefs of others in order to collaborate with them on matters of common concern.
We hope to achieve this objective via four distinct projects:
1) Lit review on the development of curricula incorporating multitude faiths or beliefs
2) Consultation with curriculum specialists and advisors
3) Condensation of material into a form consistent with Social Studies curricula in BC
4) Drafting of a teachers' guide or lesson plan
How do you plan to use the results of this project?
Initially the lesson plan to be developed will be made available to school boards and interested teachers for their evaluation. If possible a trial run will be arranged. Subsequently the 'Guide' may be submitted to the Ministry of Education for their approval and wider distribution.
Late in 2006 the B.C.Ministry of Education invited two members of our group to
participate in planning sessions for a new course on Social Justice to be offered as of next year. The Ministry is aware of our work in this area.
What larger goal is served by undertaking this project?
This source book emphasizes the pluralistic origin of the moral decencies shared by the vast majority of humankind. Its implementation may be expected to contribute to better interpersonal relations between students in our multicultural school population. It may also help students to hold their personal beliefs with greater humility.
What community do you represent or work with?
Greater Vancouver cultural, religious and secular representatives interested in pursuing common projects to benefit the community at large.
What is your organization/group's goal or mandate?
Our mission statement reads as follows:
" World Views Collaborative is a council of individuals from different belief traditions who share many human values and ethical principles. It seeks to promote religious - secular dialogue leading to joint action on civic and educational issues of common concern. The group favours peaceful conflict resolution and eschews partisan politics."
Larger (More than one semester)
If you know the duration more specifically, please indicate here
This project is likely to require at least two semesters over two academic years.
What are the specific deliverables that you expect of the student?
1. To become familiar with the existing literature on the topic at issue.
2. To consult with other curriculum specialists and advisors.
3. To condense the available information and rearrange it in a form consistent
with Social Studies curricula in British Columbia.
4. To help produce draft of a teachers' guide or lesson plan to be tested.
Estimated time commitment per week
8 hours over four semesters (or its 4 hrs./week equivalent spread over eight semesters.)
Liaison Name
Ernest G. Poser Ph.D. et.al. (There will be additional liaison persons to be named.)
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Liaison Position
Co-founder and Director. World Views Collaborative
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Liason Contact Info (If different from above)
4517 West 4th.Ave.
Vancouver B.C.
V6R 1R4
e-mail: erjuposer@shaw.ca
(604) 222-4748
How much time per week will the
liaison be available to the project?
One member of the liaison committee will be available to the student at least one hour/week.
How will the liaison provide direction and support to the project?
By personal contact, e-mail, guided reading, provision of source material and referrals to other consultants.
Student area of study/experience
Secondary education, curriculum writing and preferably some teaching experience.
Student skills/attributes
Background in curriculum studies.
Ability to condense redundant and sometimes controversial material.
Communication, interpersonal and writing skills.
Open mindedness.
Student related interests
Moral education. Conflict resolution. Social studies, Psychology of belief.
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