INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN EDUCATION New Brunswick Theological Seminary CE00301B1 Spring Term A & B 2014 Hybrid course Meeting Time Thursdays, 6:40pm 10:00pm Instructor: Annie A. Lockhart-Gilroy, Ph.D (ABD) Email: alockhart@nbts.edu ***This syllabus is subject to revision*** Course Description Year after year congregations kick off their Christian Education programs with rallies, picnics, and great festivities. Before or after corporate worship, youth and adult attend Bible studies, thematic studies, and book discussions (to name a few). But why? What are the purposes of these programs? Why do congregations put them on and why do people attend? This introductory course is meant to introduce you to several responses to these questions. Through readings, discussions, and assignments, you will begin to explore the multiple purposes that the teaching ministry of the church serves. You will also learn to articulate and challenge your own purpose for Christian education within the congregation. Course Goals 1) To examine and make explicit your own goals as Christian educators and your current understanding of the Church s whole educational/formational ministry and further develop that understanding. 2) To examine a survey of approaches to Christian Education in congregations. 3) To increase your knowledge of and ability to use a variety of educational methodologies. 4) To understand the necessity of critical theological and practical evaluation of curricular resources and realties. 5) To strengthen your identity, gifts and skill as one who provides educational leadership for the church and teaches in, with and through the Holy Spirit.
Course Texts Required Texts: Baker, Dori (editor). Greenhouses of Hope: Congregations Growing Young Leaders Who Will Change the World. Bracke, John & Tye, Karen. Teaching the Bible in the Church Fowler, James. Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning Hawkins: Loving God with All Your Mind: Equipping the Community of Faith for Theological Thinking Seymour, Jack L. Seymour (editor). Mapping Christian Education: Approaches to Congregational Learning Course Assignments 1) Regular attendance, informed thoughtful participation in class discussions. Since one of the keys to good teaching is the ability to listen carefully and deeply, I ask each of you to pay attention to how much time you spend talking and listening in class. As part of my evaluation of your work in the course, I may give you some feedback on what I have observed in this regard. (10% of grade) 2) Participation in on-line discussions. Each week that we do not meet, questions will be posted on Canvas. (These questions will be posted at least a week before they are due). You are expected to post a response to the question by Tuesday of that week and post a response to three of your classmates by Friday of that week. (30% of grade) Group 3) Group Teaching: In a partnership or group of three, you will complete two class teaching sessions (one micro-teaching and the other a regular 50 minute class session) using one of the four concentrations we are studying in this course. The groups and themes for these sessions will be developed in consultation with the instructor. a. For each of the two sessions, students are to complete the following: i. A teaching plan is to be developed ii. Each group is to meet with an instructor before the class session. b. For the second session (the full session), a written educational and theological evaluation of the session (3-5 pages) is due one week after presentation (the written evaluation is of primary importance in determining the grade).
4) Final paper (due April 24 th for seniors and May 8 for everyone else): What is the purpose of Christian education? In this paper you will identify with one of the four models of Christian education (or a combination). More information will be given within the first few weeks of class. (30% of grade) GRADING The following interpretations of the meaning of each grade have been developed to help class members identify the strengths and problems in their written work. You will be provided detailed information on each assignment to limit the amount of guess work by students about what needs to be included and addressed in the assignment. An A means the assignment is well crafted, reveals considerable insight, and moves beyond the range of the student s knowledge to begin to construct new perspectives and meanings for the subject. An A- means that the assignment is well crafted and probes the issues with considerable insight. A B+ means that the assignment is also well crafted. A B means that the elements of the assignment are in place. A B- means that the assignment lacks clarity or focus. It tends to explore issues superficially. A C+ means that the assignment lacks clarity and focus, tends to be superficial, and lacks personal insight into the issues being discussed. A C means that the assignment does not move beyond the reporting of information from readings and class discussions to engaging them with the issues being discussed. A C- means that despite some moments of focused discussion and insight, major gaps exist in the development of the argument or discussion. A D is a grade of grace. An F indicates that the assignment has not been fulfilled at any point.
ON- LINE ASSIGNMENTS This is a hybrid course. Therefore, for six of the fourteen weeks we will be meeting online through canvas. Each week that we do not meet questions will be posted on Canvas. (These questions will be posted at least a week before they are due). You are expected to post a response to the question by Tuesday of that week. And post a response to three of your classmates by Friday of that week. The following are a few rules: 1) Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant. 2) Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other s ideas. 3) Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks. 4) Be positive and constructive in group discussions. 5) Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner ETC. Late Policy: Late assignments will be accepted. However, you will lose 5% of the grade each calendar day it is late. Therefore, if you hand in your work a day late, you cannot earn an A+. If you hand in your work two days late, the highest grade you can get is an A-, etc. So, if you have written a B paper and hand it in two days late, you will receive a C+. Communication: Office hours are available before and after class by appointment only. Send me an e-mail to make an appointment. Please be sure to send me an email from your NBTS email address.
Course Organization and Schedule ***This schedule is subject to revision*** January 23 (In class) What is the Purpose of Christian Education? January 30 (In class) Christian Education for Religious Instruction Readings: Mapping Christian Education, Chapters 1 & 5; The Purpose, Office, and Goals of Congregational Education: A Mission-Oriented Framework by Delores H. Causion Carpenter. February 6 (Online) Christian Education for Social Transformation Reading: Mapping Christian Education, Chapter 2 February 13 (Online) Christian Education for Building a Faith Community Reading: Mapping Christian Education, Chapter 3 February 20 (In class) Christian Education for Spiritual Growth and Formation Reading: Mapping Christian Education, Chapters 4, 7, and 8. February 27 (Online) Christian Education in Context Reading: Greenhouses of Hope, pgs. 1 33; 191 212; and two additional chapters of your choice March 6 (In class) Christian Education in Development Reading: Stages of Faith, Part I, II, and III. March 13 READING WEEK NO CLASS
March 20 (Online) Christian Education in Development Reading: Stages of Faith, Part IV and Chapter 22 March 27 (Online) Teaching the Bible Reading: Teaching the Bible in the Church, entire book April 3 (In class) Teaching for Theological Teaching Reading: Loving God with All Your Mind, entire book April 10 (In class) Group Teaching Practice April 17 HOLY WEEK NO CLASS April 24 (In class) Group Teaching May 1 (Online) Analyzing Curriculum Reading: Look through your denomination s curriculum or curriculum that your congregation uses. Read at least 10 lessons across an age spectrum. May 8 (In class) Group Teaching So, What is the Purpose of Christian Education?