Education Commons^™

Conference Participation And Publishing (Chapter Eight Of Prepare, Succeed, Advance: A Guidebook For Getting A Ph.D. In Biblical Studies And Beyond), Nijay K. Gupta

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Two clear marks of a good scholar or doctoral student are published pieces of research (articles, essays, reviews, etc.) and active participation in academic conferences (presenter, chair, respondent, etc.). Especially for graduate students, the research experience can be very isolated and have a minimal impact without attention to such avenues of dialogue and interaction. Also, practically speaking, when the time comes for the job search, a demonstration of such activity often shows that the prospective professor is a real participant of and contributor to the field of biblical studies. We will begin by discussing how to get involved in conferences.

Letter From The Editor, Christina Belcher

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Welcome to the summer issue of the ICCTE Journal. Recently, your ICCTE Leadership Council met at Azusa Pacific University in preparation for the 2012 Biennial Conference. While there, we contemplated what it meant to implement ’emphatic listening’, as expressed in the book Messengers of God: The sensuous side of spirituality by Arthur Roberts as an act of worship to God and out of respect to each other. In this beneficial devotional within community, we were able to fellowship, plan, eat and laugh as a team who would return with something to share with you all. I invite you to send …

Transforming Teaching In Inclusive Settings: An Educator Looks At Vim, Robin Labarbera Ph.D.

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Inclusive classrooms are those in which students with special needs are educated alongside their non-disabled peers. This article examines the attitudes that teachers in inclusive settings may hold that are believed to be barriers to successful inclusion. Given that historically, students with special needs in inclusive classrooms have made limited academic progress through traditional whole-class instruction, it is suggested that a transformation in inclusive teaching take place. This article suggests that educators apply Dallas Willard’s (2002) concept of VIM, outlined in his book, Renovation of the Heart. Christian teachers may find the vision, intention, and means Willard advocates to be …

High-Stakes Assessment: Is A Christian Ethic Of Care Possible?, Paul Shotsberger Ph.D.

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

The No Child Left Behind Act, the 2002 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), has fundamentally changed the landscape of education in the United States. Amidst the current debate over reauthorization of ESEA, it is vital that Christian educators consider the moral implications of continuing and expanding current policies, especially as they relate to high-stakes assessment and its impact on students and teachers. The focus of the article is the challenge a high-stakes environment poses for educators who truly desire to demonstrate a Christian ethic of care in their teaching and what Christian teacher education can do …

“Is It Because I’M Black?”: Creating Space For Diversity In The Christian University, Mary Ashun Ph.D., Steve Sider Ph.D.

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This paper examines the experiences of a black female faculty member as she enters the Christian university where there is limited ethnic diversity. She experiences critical student responses to her teaching which lead her to consider the reasons why she may be experiencing such resistance. As she confronts the possibility that it’s because she’s black, she enters into an on-going dialogue with a white male faculty member. Their experiences and conversations create a space for shared learning. The paper raises the question of how Christian universities might intentionally create space for faculty of color to feel welcome and embraced in …

Peace Curriculum For Friends High Schools In Kenya, Eloise Hockett, Lon Fendall

Faculty Publications - College of Education

No abstract provided.

Teaching And Learning By Analogy: Psychological Perspectives On The Parables Of Jesus, Kevin B. Zook Ph.D.

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Christian teachers are often encouraged to use Jesus’ teaching strategies as models for their own pedagogy. Jesus frequently utilized analogical comparisons, or parables, to help his learners understand elements of his Gospel message. Although teachers can use analogical models to facilitate comprehension, such models also can sow the seeds of confusion and misconception. Recent advances in cognitive psychology have provided new theoretical frameworks to help us understand how instructional analogies function in the teaching-learning process. The goal of this paper is to analyze Jesus’ analogical teaching from these psychological perspectives, with implications for all teachers who utilize instructional analogies. In …

Letter From The Editor, Christina Belcher

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

As summer leans closer to the start of another school year, I invite you to put your feet up and read Volume 5, Issue 2 (Summer Issue) of the ICCTE e-journal. This publication includes papers from the recent ICCTE conference. The theme of the 2010 ICCTE conference in Longview, Texas was Igniting the Flames of Faith and Learning. Papers submitted probe this theme from different perspectives. In addition, this issue includes papers forthcoming since our last online publication.

Iccte 2010 Conference Review, Scot Headley

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This past May, the Ninth Biennial Conference of the ICCTE took place at LeTourneau University in Longview Texas. About 75 faculty members from a number of colleges and universities gathered to share their research, to fellowship together and to enjoy the hospitality of colleagues. Every other year our group gathers. In the spring of 2012, we will gather at Azusa Pacific University in the Los Angeles area. I am grateful to colleagues who have worked diligently for about 20 years to provide opportunity for Christian professors of education and in related fields to gather for the purpose of sharing our …

Book Review: Smith, J.K.A.: Desiring The Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, And Cultural Formation, Christina Belcher

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

What if education was not first and foremost about what we know, but about what we love? (Smith, 2009, p.18)

This is one of the driving questions that frames Smith’s book; a question worthy of educational reflection. Smith organizes his argument around the ideas of the dichotomy between thinking and doing; work and worship [liturgy]. His argument is that worldview must not be merely cognitive and intellectual, but must include a robust ‘social imaginary’ (flowing from the work of Charles Taylor) that is grounded in the practices of Christian worship. So far so good.

Building A Community Of Shalom: What The Bible Says About Multicultural Education, Heekap Lee

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Multicultural education is a highly controversial topic in which it has been the center of contentions and conflicts as it has evolved for the last couple of decades. Several concerns and problems existed in the field of multicultural education will be addressed in this article. In addition, a new framework of multicultural education, called the shalom model, which is drawn from the Bible is presented, along with the characteristics of the model. The goal of multicultural education, according to this model, is to build a community of shalom, an image that is clearly described in Isaiah 11:6. In order to …

Core Competencies And Christian Education: An Integrative Approach To Education In Marriage And Family Therapy Programs, Thomas V. Frederick Ph.D., Laura L. Steele

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

For educating marriage and family therapy (MFT) students, there has been an increasing emphasis on their ability to demonstrate a series of core competencies as identified by the American Associate for Marriage and Family (AAMFT) (Nelson et al., 2007). This type of therapist education from outcome-based education (OBE) fosters the characteristics or worldview associated with educational institutions and the profession. At the most general level, OBE is education or socialization into the professional MFT worldview. As a corrective to this, there is a need to seek this moral character in a Christian worldview which emphasizes a metanarrative informed by the …

Special Education And Spiritual Formation, David W. Anderson

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Faith-learning integration is a complex and sometimes challenging issue for university faculty, and something which our students have not likely engaged in. Rather than “integration,” emphasis will be on how Christian thought informs educational practice, and contributes to our spiritual formation, igniting flames of faith-learning and helping prepare caring and competent teachers.

Part Ii: Professional Development Activities And Professional Learning Community In The Mid-America Region Of The Association Of Christian Schools International, Linda M. Neuzil

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Current trends in the education literature currently point to school leadership as responsible for the professional growth of the faculty (Fullan, 2010; Reeves, 2006) leading to the desired academic growth of the students. The Christian school community, however, has limited resources compared to those in the public sector. Unfortunately, the literature rarely includes the 400,000 teachers or the school leaders who have chosen to work in private education and their influence on the lives of over 5 million children (Broughman & Swaim, 2006). By examining effective professional development and its relationship to the development of professional learning communities specifically for …

A Biblical Ethics For Talented And Gifted Education, Ken Badley, Amy Dee

Faculty Publications - College of Education

No abstract provided.

When The Cat’S Away, The Mice Keep Learning, Laura Simmons

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

No abstract provided.

Letter From The Editor, Christina Belcher

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Welcome to Issue 6, Volume 1 of the ICCTE Journal.

Welcome back to the ICCTE online community as we share the fruits of yet another journal publication. Some of the five articles in this issue address the work of Christian colleagues in secular institutions. Others assist us in our quest to teach and learn by sharpening our thoughts on specific disciplines of teaching and learning in an educational setting. Topics include: teacher vitality as this relates to a two country study; faculty perspectives of academic freedom; students’ perceptions on motivations to learn; learning from the parables and controversial issues in …

Faculty Perceptions Of Academic Freedom At A Private Religious University, James A. Swezey Ed.D., T. Christopher Ross Ed.S

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Academic freedom is viewed by many in higher education as an indispensible foundational principle offering protection to university faculty. University faculty working within schools of education rely on the protection of academic freedom to pursue and develop new knowledge, frameworks, and pedagogies with which they can train and equip the next generation of classroom teachers and school administrators. Private religious universities have been a part of the American education landscape since the founding of Harvard University, yet the perception exists that faculty at religious universities are de facto inhibited by the religious commitment of many of these institutions. This study …

The Role Of Controversial Issues In Moral Education: Approaches And Attitudes Of Christian School Educators, Samuel J. Smith

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This study investigated the approaches and attitudes of Christian school teachers as they addressed controversial issues in moral education. Thirteen teachers from four schools were interviewed extensively. A hermeneutic phenomenological methodology was implemented. Participants conveyed that they attempted to remain pedagogically neutral in matters relating to denominational differences among Christian churches. While acknowledging that indoctrinative techniques may alienate students, teachers chose to indoctrinate selectively, especially in matters critical to the Christian faith. Issues impacting the classrooms included abortion, sex, doctrine, homosexuality, evolution, etc. Teachers rarely chose to remain neutral on controversial issues unless by doing so they sensed that they …

Teaching Biblical Studies Online, Steve Delamarter, Sandra L. Gravett, Daniel W. Ulrich, Richard W. Nysse, Sandra Hack Polaski

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

In this edited transcript of a panel at the Society of Biblical Literature (November 23, 2009, Boston, Massachusetts), five Bible scholars give brief presentations on various challenges and opportunities encountered when teaching academic biblical studies courses online in both undergraduate and theological education contexts. Each presentation is followed by questions from the audience and discussion. Topics include: a typology of different approaches to online teaching, advantages and disadvantages of online compared to face-to-face classrooms (for both students and faculty), opportunities for imaginative exercises online, the advantages of online threaded discussions, and the joys and pitfalls of bringing your course into …

Letter From The Associate Editor, Christina Belcher

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

My how time flies! It seems like only last week since the last issue of the ICCTE Journal was posted. Since our last issue, many of you have inquired as to when the archives would be available. You will be pleased to know that the archives have not been forgotten, and that by the end of the month they will be available once again on our new ICCTE Journal site. Join me in giving thanks to the gifted Mr. Sean McKay for his accomplishments on our behalf, and our Senior Editor, Scot Headley for his wonderful leadership and labor of …

Book Review: James L. Drexler, Editor. Schools As Communities: Educational Leadership, Relationships, And The Eternal Value Of Christian Schooling., David W. Robinson

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Anyone who has engaged in the calling of Christian education knows that it can be — and usually is — one of the most exciting, delightful, fulfilling, and joyous ministries that a believer can know. Its golden days are a real “foretaste of glory divine,” its opportunities for those who truly love the possibilities of the mind and heart of Christ in the lives of our students are the very aroma of the Lord in our work. Lives are changed; parents are supportive; administrators are helpful; the board is productive. Sacrifices are engaged willingly, trials are gladly borne. We go …

Letter From The Associate Editor, Christina Belcher

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 1 of the ICCTE e-journal. Before I give you a brief synopsis of what morsels this issue contains, I would like to provide a framework for the next two issues. Volume 5, Issue 2 will reflect the material from the upcoming ICCTE conference and forthcoming papers. Volume 6, Issue 1 will focus on a new idea. We would like to start with some theme issues for 2011. The first will be the theme “Christian colleagues in secular institutions: iron sharpening iron”, so get your pencils sharpened for that. The Lord has many things in store …

An Examination Of Professional Development Activities Available To Teachers In The Mid-America Region Of The Association Of Christian Schools International, Linda M. Neuzil, Marsha Vaughn

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

The spotlight in education in recent years has been focused on the areas of professional development activities for teachers and the development of professional learning communities. However, the majority of research has omitted the Christian school community which requires its own body of research examining the unique conditions in which both private school students and educators learn and work. While the need for student achievement remains constant in both public and private schools, the social, philosophical, political, financial, and emotional contexts are quite dissimilar. The purpose of this study is to examine the availability and utilization of professional development activities …

Academic Life: Hospitality, Ethics, And Spirituality (Book Review), David M. Johnstone

Publications from Student Life & Spiritual Life

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Blomberg, Doug. (2007). Wisdom And Curriculum: Christian Schooling After Postmodernity, Dirk Windhorst

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This essay reviews Doug Blomberg’s Wisdom and Curriculum and responds to various issues raised there. It highlights the value of wisdom in terms of its relationship to embodied practical knowledge and the norms embedded in God’s creation. The concluding comments take issue with Blomberg’s interpretation of Plato.

Recalling Subject Centered Enthusiasm: The Essence Of Great Teaching, Vickie Shamp Ellis, Neal Cross

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This phenomenological study took place at a Christian liberal arts university in Missouri. Specifically, the study assesses ten undergraduate students’ perspectives regarding the characteristics of the best teacher of their academic lives. Ultimately, 17 characteristics emerged as standards for great teaching. The results indicate that the most powerful learning environment is one in which the teacher is dynamically connected to the subject. Our results strongly support Parker Palmer’s (1998) argument that the subject matter itself is “the great thing” (p. 117) that focuses the authentic teacher in the community of truth. Consideration of these characteristics in relation to how teachers …

St. Augustine's Learning For The Glory Of God: Adapting "Faith-Learning Integration" Terminology For The Modern World, Marie Valance, Jaliene Hollabaugh, Thu Truong

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

The scholastic debate about use and interpretation of the phrase “faith-learning integration” has spanned over fifty years. Glanzer (2008) proposed that this phrase be discarded and that scholars adopt the terminology “the creation and redemption of scholarship.” This concept is not new to Christian dialogue: it can be found in the writings of St. Augustine. However, there needs to be further clarification of Glanzer’s language in order to make it accessible to people of all faiths, backgrounds, and education levels. This paper will attempt to support both Glanzer’s proposal and a new direction for the discussion and encourage educators to …

Book Review: Paul D. Spears & Steven R. Loomis. Education For Human Flourishing: A Christian Perspective., David W. Robinson

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” II Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV).

Those of us who have spent many years in Christian education, presumably engaged in thinking as Christians about the issues facing each of us in our academic disciplines, are familiar with …

Bible Theory Or Biblical Living: What Are Christian Schools Providing For Families With Children With Special Needs?, A.Y. "Fred" Ramirez Ph.D.

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Private Christian elementary and secondary schools, along with Bible training and Bible exercises, have been a part of the United States and international community since the 1800s. This article examines these questions: (1) What Biblically-based principles are in evidence in Christian schools’ treatment of children with special needs; and (2) how do Christian schools work with the parents of these children. Results from the Christian schools that participated in this study indicate although that they were attending to their children with special needs, these schools may actually be missing many more students who are in need of services.