Skills and Processes To Be Developed Through Religious Education
Progression in RE depends upon the development of the following generic learning skills applied to RE. These skills should be used in developing a range of activities for pupils to demonstrate their capabilities in RE. They ensure that teachers will move pupils on from knowledge accumulation and work that is merely descriptive to higher level thinking and more sophisticated skills.
Reflection – this includes:
Reflecting on feelings, relationships, experience, ultimate questions, beliefs and practices
Empathy – this includes:
Considering the thoughts, feelings, experiences, attitudes, beliefs and values of others
Developing the ability to identify feelings such as love, wonder, forgiveness and sorrow
Seeing the world through the eyes of others, and seeing issues from their point of view
Investigation – this includes:
Asking relevant questions
Knowing how to gather information from a variety of sources
Knowing what may constitute evidence for justifying beliefs in religion
Interpretation – this includes:
Drawing meaning from artefacts, works of art, music, poetry and symbolism
Interpreting religious language
Suggesting meanings of religious texts
Evaluation – this includes:
Debating issues of religious significance with reference to evidence and argument
Analysis – this includes:
Distinguishing between opinion and fact
Distinguishing between the features of different religions
Synthesis – this includes:
Linking significant features of religion together in a coherent pattern
Connecting different aspects of life into a meaningful whole
Application – this includes:
Making the association between religion and individual, community, national and international life
Expression – this includes:
Explaining concepts, rituals and practices
Expressing religious views, and responding to religious questions through a variety of media
