Connect explores Lutheran education, and its beliefs and spiritual life. It helps new staff inquire into ‘why we do what we do’ and how these beliefs are practised in Lutheran education. The program supports new staff to explore and reflect on their role and contribution to the mission of their school or early childhood service.
Connect is equivalent to three days of professional learning. The Induction and Sessions 1, 2 and 3 are facilitated by locally-based Connect facilitators. Session 4 is facilitated by the Regional Office’s Connect Facilitator.
During each session of Connect, staff record their reflections and evidence of learning in an ePortfolio. At the conclusion of Connect, this ePortfolio is submitted to Lutheran Education Australia.
For access to Connect Facilitator resources, please contact your regional Connect Facilitator.
- Lutheran Education Queensland (LEQ) Facilitator
- Lutheran Education South Australia, Northern Territory & Western Australia (LESNW) Facilitator
- Lutheran Education Victoria, New South Wales & Tasmania (LEVNT) Facilitator
Connect
Welcome to Lutheran education!
Lutheran education is excited to have you join the team that is working in over 70 schools and over 50 early childhood services (ECS), and serving over 48,000 students and children across Australia.
Connect is the program for new staff in Lutheran education. It explores Lutheran education, its beliefs and spiritual life. It helps you inquire into ‘why we do what we do’. It will also help us to know you. The program is designed to ‘set you up for success’ as it supports you to serve and reflect on your role and contribution to the mission of your school or ECS.
Begin Connect
Growing Deep: Our Foundation
Lutheran schools and early childhood services are communities that value learning as God’s gift to people for their wonder, growth, and to inspire them to respond to the need of the world.
Enduring understanding
Lutheran education values all learners and their learning.
During the Connect Induction, participants will:
- Be welcomed and affirmed as a staff member in Lutheran education.
- Become familiar with the purpose of Connect.
- Choose and set up their ePortfolio.
- Explore what matters most in Lutheran education and how that is lived out.
- Explore the history and context of Lutheran education.
Growing Deep: Our Foundation
Lutheran schools and early childhood services are communities where grace abounds. While recognising the brokenness of humanity, they reflect the unconditional love of the Father, revealed through the saving work of his Son, Jesus.
Enduring understanding
God’s grace as revealed in Jesus Christ is central to a Lutheran understanding of a relationship with God and each other.
During Connect Session 1, participants will:
- Explore the challenges and opportunities for Lutheran education through an investigation of contemporary Australian spirituality
- Explore the centrality of grace
- Critically reflect on ways in which grace informs their Lutheran education community and their role.
Growing Deep: Our Foundation
Lutheran schools and early childhood services are communities which acknowledge God as creator and join in the ongoing creation and care of the world and all people.
Enduring understanding
Human beings are created in the image of God, and invited to join in God’s ongoing care and restoration of creation.
During Connect Session 2, participants will:
- Explore key Lutheran theological perspectives related to creation theology
- Reflect on how creation theology informs the why and how of Lutheran education
- Identify and describe ways in which creation theology shapes an aspect of their learning community and their role.
Growing Deep: Our Foundation
Lutheran schools and early childhood services are communities that recognise that God has intentionally created each person, and that each person is uniquely gifted to live in relationship with God and others.
Enduring understanding
God has created human beings to live in community; people serve God and others through their vocations.
During Connect Session 3, participants will:
- Explore how human beings are created to live in relationship with God and each other, the reality of brokenness and the importance of reconciliation
- Consider a Lutheran perspective on vocation, and its implications for service in their community
- Identify and describe how the learning on community and vocation might apply to their role in Lutheran education.
Growing Deep: Our Foundation
Lutheran schools and early childhood services are communities of hope, nurtured by the promises of God’s Word, love and forgiveness which empower staff and students to embrace the future with confidence.
Enduring understanding
God’s Word forms and informs Lutheran education communities.
During Connect Session 4, participants will:
- Explore a Lutheran understanding of God’s Word and the Bible (ie. God’s revelation, Christocentric, the Living Word, fully divine and fully human, the authority of God’s Word)
- Experience a variety of tools and resources to engage with and interpret the
- Bible for their context
- Identify and describe ways God’s Word forms and informs Lutheran education communities and their role
Connect ePortfolio
As Connect participants engage in the resources and learning experiences of each Session, they collate an ePortfolio, which is a collection of evidence, artefacts and understandings from their Connect Sessions. Connect Session 4 includes time for participants to complete evidence of their learning according to the Connect ePortfolio guidelines and submit their ePortfolio. The ePortfolio is assessed according to the criteria in the Connect Rubric.
FAQs:
No. Connect is an induction to the beliefs, spiritual life and practicalities of these in Lutheran school and ECS contexts. A strength of the Connect program is the opportunity for staff to discuss and explore examples and scenarios, where Lutheran theology informs and is practised in their school, ECS or classroom context. Connect helps new staff understand ‘why we do what we do’ in Lutheran education.
Complete Connect and submit the ePortfolio to get Accreditation as a teacher (At).
Once you have completed Connect and submitted the Connect ePortfolio, please email lea@lutheran.edu.au and your Regional Equip facilitator (i.e. at LEQ, LESNW or LEVNT) for the next steps towards your Accreditation as a Christian Studies teacher (Ac).