Education Commons^™

Culturally Responsive Teaching: The Bible Tells Me So, Nyaradzo Mvududu

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

The US population is becoming more and more diverse. This is the reality. In light of this fact people in all walks of life – e.g. education, healthcare, religion – will inevitably interact in their day to day lives with others who are increasingly different from themselves. It follows that for these interactions to be effective, we need to become more culturally competent. We need to be aware of how culture shapes us and those around us. In order to cross boundaries that can arise from our difference we need to acknowledge and value those differences. For Christians, being culturally …

Doing More With Life: Connecting Christian Higher Education To A Call To Service (Book Review), David M. Johnstone

Publications from Student Life & Spiritual Life

No abstract provided.

Developing Comprehensive Induction Programs At Christian Schools, Joann Looney

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

The 1980s were classified as a time of “national awakening” (Goodlad, 1990, p. 1) to the complexities of restructuring our schools. Educational problems ranging from high drop out rates to low test scores could not be adequately and professionally addressed until the nation’s leaders acknowledged that “the renewal of schools, teachers and the programs that educate teachers must proceed simultaneously” (Goodlad, 1990. p. 4).

A Letter From Our New Associate Editor, Christina Belcher

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Christina Belcher is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada and an adjunct of the Education Department at Trinity Western University in Langley, BC. She is passionate about children’s literature and is interested in how narratives provoke hope, reveal cultural dispositions, and shape the soul. Her broad interests and areas of writing include literacy, worldview, and interdisciplinary study. She has previously served in teacher education in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Christina is currently a Doctoral Candidate at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

Best They Forget: Challenging Notions Of Remembering And Forgetting, Chris Baird

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

In Jeremiah 31:34 the LORD declares, “No longer will a man teach his neighbour, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest… For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (The NIV Study Bible, 1995, p.1170). It is not the intention of this paper to enter into a theological discussion as to whether or not God is capable of forgetting; however, at very least He chooses the metaphor of forgetting to display his forgiveness for his people. This seems to …

Response To José Ramón Alcántara-Mejía (From Christian Higher Education In The Global Context: Implications For Curriculum, Pedagogy, And Administration), Douglas G. Campbell

Faculty Publications-- Department of Art and Design

Excerpt: "Dr. Alcantara offers us some significant insights that deserve both careful consideration and further discussion. Of primary importance, in my view, is his observation "that the humanities have lost their relevance." He attributes this loss of relevance, in part, to several shifts in educational methodology which have taken place since the middle of the twentieth century. So, instead of being seen as culturally central the humanities have been relegated to a minor role within culture generally and academia in particular. He goes on to observe that Christian higher education can choose this path, which relegates the humanities to a …

Volume 3, Number 2: Letter From The Editor, Scot Headley

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This current issue is one that brings with it anticipation. We look forward with anticipation to our biennial conference at the end of May, this year hosted by our colleagues at Gordon College, near Boston. If you have not yet registered it is not too late, and we would love to see you there. I hope that you have been looking forward to the release of this Winter, 2008 issue of the ICCTE Journal. While we generally release the Winter issue in the winter (end of January), your editor has been tardy and for that I wish to extend my …

Christian Education And Worldview, Richard Edlin

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

What we believe as Christian educators is conveyed in many different ways to our students. The concept of worldview has been used in recent years to describe the comprehensive approach to reality that provides the foundation for how we understand the world and how we teach our students. Christians assert that worldview is a deeply religious concept, and that, particularly in education, we need to understand and critique our own worldviews to ensure that we are offering education that is faithful to our calling to celebrate the lordship of Christ over all of creation rather than an education that is …

Book Review: Roy D. Zuck. Teaching As Paul Taught, David W. Robinson

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

The church of our Lord Jesus Christ has recognized from its foundation a vital connection between spirituality and the ministry of teaching. In his Great Commission to His disciples, now being transformed into His apostles, the Lord commanded them, saying, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matt 28:19-20a, NIV; emphasis mine) Likewise, Paul explicitly noted the spiritual gift and role of the teacher or the pastor-teacher several times in the scriptures …

Integrity And Integration: An Exploration Of The Personal, Professional, And Pedagogical In The Professoriate, Laurie R. Matthias Ed.D., Ruth-Anne Wideman Ed.D.

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This paper seeks to explore the connections between the concepts of integrity and integration within the professoriate in Christian higher education. Specifically, it examines commonalities and intersections in the definitions of terms, the gaps between rhetoric and reality, and the reasons for those gaps. Implications for a professor’s inner life, scholarship, and teaching are also discussed, and suggestions for closing the gaps are offered.

Neuroscience And Education: The Importance Of A Christian Understanding Of Human Persons, Laura A. Barwegen Ed.D.

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

The increased research in the neurosciences has affected the discipline of education in numerous ways, with publications translating this research into classroom practices. A caution is given to Christian educators to carefully reflect upon how this research influences our view of human persons and what difference this view makes in the teaching and learning process. The purpose of this paper is (1) to examine some of the ways that neuroscience is speaking into the discipline of education, particularly in understanding the capabilities and processes of the learner; (2) to develop an awareness of how this affects our understanding of persons; …

Book Review: Robert W. Pazmiño. Foundational Issues In Christian Education, David W. Robinson

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

I remember quite well my earliest exemplar in Christian education, Dr. John Blanchard, commenting that the primary challenge facing the Christian teacher was to help our students develop critical thinking without creating a corrosively cynical or skeptical mindset. “All truth is God’s truth,” he would say, quoting Frank Gaebelein, so that we could be boldly confident in our teaching, while still remaining faithful shepherds of our students and of the Lord’s word. But how does one go …

The Fingerprint Of Denominational Secondary Schools - Sector Specific Features Among Graduating Students In Universities And Colleges, Gabriella Pusztai

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

Being And Becoming: The Heart Of Teacher Education, Bev Norsworthy

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Teacher education is of critical concern to a nation’s well-being. Scripture clearly identifies that the predominant narratives in a nation’s education are directly linked to its citizen’s behaviour (e.g., see Psalm 78, Judges 2). Literature which claims that teacher education has little influence on beliefs that pre-service teachers bring to their initial teacher education may unnerve Christian teacher educators who seek to equip teachers to make a difference in the lives of children and parents in a nation (Berry, 2004; Fletcher, 1997; Hatton & Smith, 1995; Lowery, 2003). For example, Berry (2004, p. 1302) observes that:

There is little doubt …

Multicultural Considerations For Building Learning Communities, Cher N. Edwards, Scott Edwards

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Educational policies call for inclusion and attention to cultural differences in our schools. Administrators, classroom educators, counselors, and other support staff attempt to attend to students through a cooperative effort of connecting with the community beyond the school building, as well as the families represented within it. As Christians, there is a higher calling to truly embrace those often underserved in our learning communities. This paper will address multicultural issues important for United States and United Kingdom school system staff to be mindful of when focusing on students and their families.

Preparing Teachers For Their Prophetic Role To Serve With Heart, Head, And Hands, Cindy Harvel, Martine Audeoud

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

As teacher preparation programs seek to diversify their pre-service teachers’ exposure to teaching situations, Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s Education Department has discovered how to maximize its freshman’s educational technology field experiences through meaningful cross-cultural community service. A plan has been implemented since the spring of 2004 where candidates taking educational technology classes are required to give 8 hours of technology tutoring as a community service to populations in cross-cultural situations. Based on the Spring 2004 successes, the cross-cultural tutoring opportunities have been expanded, leading to renewed vision in candidates’ perspectives on education and job placements. At a freshman level, this …

From The Editor: Volume 3, Issue 1, Scot Headley

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Colleagues, this issue marks the beginning of the third year of publication for the ICCTE Journal. I am pleased to inform you that in this issue we begin two new features. David Robinson, consulting editor to the Journal, provides a review of the book, Religion, Education, and Academic Success by William Jeynes. Our hope is that this review will be the first of many, as we desire to make this a regular feature of the Journal. If you have interest in submitting a review for an upcoming issue, let us know. We seek reviews of books important to Christians involved …

Book Review: William Jeynes. Religion, Education, And Academic Success, David W. Robinson

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

In this provocative work, Dr. William Jeynes of California State University at Long Beach addresses a vital educational question: is there a statistically verifiable relationship between religious belief and academic achievement? For the non- Christian, it is a question of the social utility of religion; does a demonstrable and significant correlation between a religious mindset and measurable academic outcomes exist? Or is a secular outlook equally capable of superior educational success? For the Christian thinker, it is a question of the relationship between the root of faith and the fruit of the “strong mind” (II Tim. 1:7) promised in the …

Intercultural Music Education: The Moral Ethics Of Cultural Educational Exchange, Mary Cummings

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

It is important when considering a position as a music educator within a non-Western society to examine the political, social and religious influences that are present in music in order to assist in alleviating the tensions and dangers that such an introduction may create within a culture. Once these issues are understood, it is clear to see that a system of intercultural exchange instead of Western globalization would benefit both teacher and student while still maintaining cultural integrity. The advantage of such an approach would break down cultural barriers, preserve the existing culture, and provide a Christian educator with a …

Building A Christian Worldview Through Response To Literature, Pam Adams

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Research has shown that what one reads can be an important factor in developing one’s worldview. This paper will report my thoughts about experiences I had while reading aloud-challenging texts in two Christian school classrooms. My goal for the read alouds was to have students think about issues related to justice, love, and commitment as they apply to both the family and the larger community. Various types of response methodologies (written, art, drama, discussion) were used to encourage students to build connections between what they learned, to what is the appropriate response and action.

Undergraduates’ Perceptions Of Ideal Learning Environments, June Hetzel, Keith Walters

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Four hundred and fifty three undergraduate students were surveyed at one CCCU institution regarding perceptions of what “exists” and what they “value” related to university pedagogy, learning activities, assessments, and learning relationships. Researchers ranked students’ values and examined gaps in students’ perceptions of what students say exists at the university as compared to what they value. The highest ranked values primarily related to learning relationships, including “demonstrates Christian ethics in interactions with others” and “integrates Christian worldview in the teaching of course content.” The factor that most explained satisfaction with teaching practices was the “Methods Factor” and the single item …

Head And Heart And Hands: Necessary Elements Of Inclusive Praxis, Ken Pudlas

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

When David called for the physically disabled grandson of Saul, Mephibosheth, to dine at the king’s table, he was demonstrating an extraordinary level of inclusion. This paper reports data gathered as part of a programme of inquiry into the efficacy of the Full Inclusion model of special education; discusses how educators might progress from a mere head-knowledge of what is right, to a heart conviction of what should be done; and then explores a hands-on approach of how educators might more effectively do the right thing. Additional phenomenological data are reported from practicing teachers regarding their experience with the inclusion …

"George Fox University" In Founded By Friends: A Collection Of Essays On The Quaker Colleges In America, Paul N. Anderson

Faculty Publications - George Fox School of Theology

Excerpt: "George Fox University is owned by Northwest Yearly Meeting, which appoints all its trustees. Four-sevenths of these must be Friends, and this relationship keeps the institution close to its parent religious body. This being the case, a high degree of interaction exists between Northwest Yearly Meeting and the university, and this relationship is felt to be mutually beneficial. While the number of Friends students in the traditional undergraduate program has remained between 74 and 145 over the past three decades or more (making up between 4 and 15 percent of the traditional undergraduate population), aspects of Quaker identity are …

“The Grand Experiment:” Modeling Adult Learning With Adult-Ministry Students, Laura Simmons

Faculty Publications - Portland Seminary

Adult-learning theory challenges faculty to adapt their teaching to certain characteristics of adult learners, including self-direction: if adults direct the bulk of their lives outside of school, so should they be permitted to direct their own educational experiences. To what extent is self-directed learning an optimal, or even realistic, methodology for seminary teaching? Does it matter what subjects we are teaching? This essay details an experiment with self-directed learning in a seminary ministry class: what worked; what might be altered before experimenting again with this teaching methodology; how it challenges our view of ourselves as faculty to teach in this …

Volume 2, Number 2: From The Editor: Greetings On The New Year!, Scot Headley

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

We are pleased to publish this issue of the Journal. Several key events have occurred for the ICCTE Journal over the last few months. At about the same time that our summer issue was released, our colleagues at Regent University hosted us at Virginia Beach for our biennial conference. At a business meeting at that conference, a steering committee was appointed with the task of strengthening ICCTE. That committee has been functioning, and it is our hope that a progress report will be published in next summer’s issue of the Journal. The Journal also launched a series of live webcasts …

Closing The Loop: Debriefing And The Short-Term College Missions Team, David M. Johnstone

Publications from Student Life & Spiritual Life

Colleges routinely send teams across cultural and economic lines to serve other communities. The returning from any cross-cultural experience is laced with dissonance. This article hopes to provide paradigms to assist making these trips a more significant educational experience. Using Mannoia 's description of how learning takes place, we perceive that all aspects of the educational experience can become tools for creating learning. Short-term cross-cultural trips have the potential for being one of the most formative pedagogical experiences of a student's college career. The tools presented here should assist them to transform the event into a significant l(fe experience.

Volume 1, Number 2: From The Editor: The Challenges And Joys Of Engaging In Service!, Scot Headley

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Welcome to our second issue of the Journal. We anticipated having this issue released in December, and I apologize to authors and readers alike for the delay. Two surgeries and four weeks of recovery time behind me, and we are back on track and anticipate that the next issue will be released about June 1.

Ensuring Legal Boundaries With Religiosity In Public Schools, Gillian Stewart-Wells, Malcom Patterson

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

With varying sources recognizing significant religious shifts in recent years and years to come, teachers are faced with the task of developing curricula that include religious discussions more than ever before (Banks & Banks, 2004). At the same time, in our increasingly multicultural world, we are teaching to a more religiously diverse student population than ever before.

This paper will articulate an investigation that is two-fold: first, the authors will gauge how educators employed at public K – 12 schools engage their students in discussions and activities pertaining to religion while upholding all legal and constitutional guidelines, and second, to …

Jesus Teaching Through Discovery, Heekap Lee

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

What made Jesus’ teaching effective? Jesus’ teaching was effective because it resulted in changing the hearers’ heart and having the hearer apply his message to their lives. Jesus’ teaching amazed listeners, for example, after hearing the Sermon on the Mount the crowds were amazed (Matthew 7:28). He taught ordinary, unschooled, disciples for three years and their teaching changed the entire world of their time and continues to affect our world today. The hearers of his teaching opened their “eyes and ears”. What made his teaching so successful? His teaching consisted of a set of procedures. Jesus identified the teaching moments; …

Can A True Faith-Based Education Be Delivered Online?, Kaye Shelton, George Saltsman, Jekabs Bikis

Faculty Publications - College of Business

Can a faith-based education be as effective when delivered online as when it is delivered face-to-face? An in-depth look at the early adopters of the online technology reveals that it can be if the Christian university commits itself to developing an online learning community and to interweaving faith principles into crucial areas of its online program. The three key areas of faith integration upon which hinges the success of such programs are the integration of faith into course material, faith integration in the relationships among students, and faith integration in the faculty student relationships. Consistent attention to these three areas …