Grappling with the issues and questions of society One possible way of entering into a critical dialogue with the Catholic faith tradition …..

Models of contemporary learning What big questions, issues, tensions are learners dealing with in each model? In your view, what makes these questions and issues worthy of learners’ attention in a Catholic school today? What different approaches to this issue/question, if any, are explored by learners? What is the stance/approach of the teachers to the issue? How is this revealed to the learners? To what extent do the learners enter into a critical dialogue with the Catholic faith tradition concerning this issue? If you were the teacher, how might you enhance this element of the learning?

Some considerations when designing the learning … What’s the issue or question that learners will address and why is this worth pursuing? What are the various approaches to this issue in the classroom, school, community? What’s the preferred view and approach of the teachers and why? How does a critical engagement with the Catholic faith Tradition nuance the teachers’ view further? How do we engage learners critically in a dialogue with this Tradition?

One possible way of entering into a critical dialogue with the Catholic faith tradition Applying three lenses Window Mirror Icon

What element(s) of the Catholic tradition speaks to what’s at stake in this issue? How does it reveal God’s dream for a different future for all people? Text Symbol Individuals or peoples Scripture Teaching Artwork, music, poetry What service might this dream ask of each of us?

Window What is the historical context of the text, symbol, scripture text, art, music, poetry? When was it constructed and why? What was happening in the world of the time that has a bearing on how we understand this piece?

Mirror When I hold up the text, image, symbol etc what do I notice looking back at me? Who are the characters? What’s the plot and what’s happening in the plot ? What’s the genre? What strategies has the creator used to communicate their message and what might their message be? What’s the image of God and of people being conveyed? How does it speak to me (or not)? What am I drawn to or challenged by?

Icon- religious artwork that communicates something of meaning and truth to the person gazing at it. - a window between God and people Icons are like windows into God ….. Some say that they are also open windows through which God enters people’s lives …

Icons in the form of texts, symbols, people, stories, scripture, teachings, artwork, poetry, music ….

Considering the icon … If this text contains an aspect of God’s vision/dream for humanity and the world, what is it saying to you? What does it say to the approach you are taking to the issue? What service is being asked of you in this vision?

Think, Pair, share What possibilities does this offer for enabling learners to engage critically with the Catholic tradition around the issues in your context?