See also the Program Information page for more important links.
Past courses include:
LEARNING TO TEACH & TEACHING TO LEARN
CHED 0552W
Theologian Edward Farley notes insightfully that “any movement which is to survive over time must discover means of transmitting itself to future generations.” The church must be concerned with Christian education not just for its survival, but also for its mission in the world. However, many pastors and ministry leaders fail to recognize the importance of Christian education in congregations. In addition, leaders often lack basic educational theory and are poorly equipped.
This course provides a vision for educational ministry in the church and seeks to understand some of its major challenges. Drawing from key passages in Scripture and the wider field of educational theory, learners will develop a biblical theology for Christian education, be familiar with key educational theorists, reflect on the identity of the teacher, study Jesus’ model of teaching, experiment with and evaluate different educational approaches. The goal is to build strong theological and educational foundations for effective Christian faith formation and mission in the church.
LEARNING BY DESIGN
CHED 0652
Churches often emphasize evangelism and church planting strategies without giving sufficient attention to discipleship and faith formation. Yet, strong churches are the result of discipleship education through purposeful educational strategies and curriculum design. Topics considered are curriculum design theory, learning needs, frame objectives, relevant subject matter, structure appropriate learning events, assessment, and program effectiveness. Also included are curriculum evaluation, implementing curricular change, the role of the teacher, relating curriculum theory to traditional forms of church life, and equipping educational leaders to deal with complex curricular issues in discipleship and faith formation in the church.
ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
CHED 0662
I wish I understood the people! Have you uttered this in exasperation? Can we really know people and their contexts at a deeper level? Are there tools to exegete a community or parish, a kind of cultural hermeneutic? Ethnographic research aims to equip students to read people in their contexts reliably and accurately. If contextualized ministry is being accountable to the hermeneutical obligations of the gospel, contextual analysis is fundamental to all Christian work. Skills of observation, in-depth interviewing, data analysis and the preparation of instruments for testing generalizations in larger or contrasting settings will be developed. Facilitates the ability to carry out field research in the style, form and discipline of anthropological inquiry.