Pacific Islands Evangelical Seminary
Pacific Islands University
CFOR 502 -- Introduction to Christian Education and Formation
Spring 2019 Semester
CFOR 502 -- Introduction to Christian Education and Formation
Spring 2019 Semester
Professor: Brad Boydston, DMin
CONTACT INFORMATION
Brad Boydston, DMin
9215 W Broward Blvd Ste 100
Plantation FL 33324 USA
Email: bboydston@piu.edu
Phone: 1-602-903-5085
To find me for a Google+ hangout use my gmail address -- boydston@gmail.com.
Florida is in the Eastern Time Zone of the United States. This is GMT -4. For example, if it is 9 a.m., Friday on Guam, it is 6 p.m., Thursday in Florida.
Brad Boydston, DMin
9215 W Broward Blvd Ste 100
Plantation FL 33324 USA
Email: bboydston@piu.edu
Phone: 1-602-903-5085
To find me for a Google+ hangout use my gmail address -- boydston@gmail.com.
Florida is in the Eastern Time Zone of the United States. This is GMT -4. For example, if it is 9 a.m., Friday on Guam, it is 6 p.m., Thursday in Florida.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Introduction to the history, philosophy, and practice of Christian education. Includes an evaluation of past and contemporary theories of education and enables students to develop their own biblically based theory of education. Emphasis on educational ministry and the formation of Christian faith in individuals. (from the PIU catalog)
This is the first time that I've led this course and it is the first time that it has been offered at PIU/PIES. So expect that we will be making lots of mid-course adjustments. However, the basic pattern is that you'll be expected to participate in certain learning activities --
1. INPUT -- often reading from an assigned text (or an article), watching a video, or interviewing someone in the community. (You will find instructions and links for each week on the class blog.)
2. WRITING REFLECTION -- send an email to me with your responses to the input. I may occasionally ask you to leave written comments on a blog page. (70% of course grade)
3. VERBAL REFLECTION -- every two weeks we will get everyone taking the course together for an online video chat to discuss what we're learning. (15% of course grade)
4. FINAL PROJECT -- a practical project that the student can use outside the class. (15%)
Students will accumulate "grade points" by completing the assignments.
All writing will be submitted by email to me. Assignments should be embedded in the email itself (no attachments). The instructor will embed comments and assign a score to the assignment. If students want to raise their score they can rewrite and resubmit the assignment.
TOOLS FOR SUCCESS
In order to succeed in this class you will need
Introduction to the history, philosophy, and practice of Christian education. Includes an evaluation of past and contemporary theories of education and enables students to develop their own biblically based theory of education. Emphasis on educational ministry and the formation of Christian faith in individuals. (from the PIU catalog)
RATIONALE
In keeping with PIU's mission, this course will help students develop a personal faith in the Triune God, as well as a deeper knowledge of the Christian scriptures and the evangelical faith. It will help prepare students to do ministry through local churches -- as lay leaders or teachers, pastors, missionaries, or as ministers with specialized assignments. In addition, it will equip students to communicate theological ideas, whether through informal conversations or through more formal channels such as preaching, teaching, or counseling.
In keeping with PIU's mission, this course will help students develop a personal faith in the Triune God, as well as a deeper knowledge of the Christian scriptures and the evangelical faith. It will help prepare students to do ministry through local churches -- as lay leaders or teachers, pastors, missionaries, or as ministers with specialized assignments. In addition, it will equip students to communicate theological ideas, whether through informal conversations or through more formal channels such as preaching, teaching, or counseling.
OBJECTIVES & OUTCOMES:
- The successful student will examine his or her own experience as a learner and decide what if anything needs to change in his or her's default approach to teaching.
- The successful student will be able to explain what constitutes full and authentic learning.
- The successful student will have developed a personal definition for the following concepts: discipleship, Christian (spiritual) formation, Christian education.
- The successful student will gain experience in writing objectives and outcomes and will be able to create such statements.
- The successful student will be able to explain how his or her own approach to teaching fits in historically with what others have done in the past.
- The successful student will have practice in creating lesson plans for a series of teaching events.
METHOD
1. INPUT -- often reading from an assigned text (or an article), watching a video, or interviewing someone in the community. (You will find instructions and links for each week on the class blog.)
2. WRITING REFLECTION -- send an email to me with your responses to the input. I may occasionally ask you to leave written comments on a blog page. (70% of course grade)
3. VERBAL REFLECTION -- every two weeks we will get everyone taking the course together for an online video chat to discuss what we're learning. (15% of course grade)
4. FINAL PROJECT -- a practical project that the student can use outside the class. (15%)
Students will accumulate "grade points" by completing the assignments.
All writing will be submitted by email to me. Assignments should be embedded in the email itself (no attachments). The instructor will embed comments and assign a score to the assignment. If students want to raise their score they can rewrite and resubmit the assignment.
In order to succeed in this class you will need
- Access to a computer. You will be typing your assignments. It will NOT be possible to write out your assignments in handwriting because all of your assignments will be sent to the instructor embedded in an email (no attachments allowed!).
- Your own personal email account. If you have not yet been assigned a free piu.edu email account, please check with the school office so they can do that for you. Otherwise you can create one at gmail.com, yahoomail.com, or hotmail.com.
- Google Plus -- The ability to get onto a Google Plus hang-out either through your own gmail account or your PIU email account.
- Self-discipline to read and write a lot without someone reminding you to do your work. This is not the kind of class where you can do all of the work at the very end of the semester and expect to pass. And the instructor is not going to be meeting weekly with you in a classroom -- constantly reminding you to turn in work. In this class the teacher is a mostly distant guide and encourager. Ultimately, you, the student, are responsible for learning what is presented. If there is something that you do not understand do not feel embarrassed to send the instructor an email and ask for help. While you have to take responsibility for your success in this class he is there to help you.
- 8-10 hours per week. This course is designed so that it takes most people about 8-10 hours per week to do the work right. Some sections in this class involve more work -- some a little less. Please plan to spend 8-10 hours each week working on Spiritual Foundations for Ministry assignments.
- The textbooks -- Relevant sections of:
To Know As We Are Known, Education as a Spiritual Journey by Parker J. Palmer (HarperSanFrancisco, San Francisco, 1983) [Paperback available from Amazon for $12.68 new. Used from $1.99. Kindle is $14.99.]
The Complete Book of Discipleship, On Being and Making Followers of Christ by Bill Hull (NavPress, Colorado Springs, 2006) [Those who have taken some of my classes in the past might already have this book since I've used sections of it elsewhere. Check your libraries before ordering. Paperback available from Amazon for $13.85 new. Used from $8. Kindle is $9.]
GRADING
Grading will be based on the accumulation of points.
Once you reach:
The instructor reserves the right to assign bonus points if an assignment is exceptionally well done -- far exceeding the expected outcomes and objectives.
Grading will be based on the accumulation of points.
Once you reach:
- 600 points you have earned enough to get a D- grade for the course.
- 650 points you have earned enough to get a D grade for the course.
- 690 points you have earned enough to get a D+ grade for the course.
- 700 points you have earned enough to get a C- grade for the course.
- 750 points you have earned enough to get a C grade for the course.
- 790 points you have earned enough to get a C+ grade for the course.
- 800 points you have earned enough to get a B- grade for the course.
- 850 points you have earned enough to get a B grade for the course.
- 890 points you have earned enough to get a B+ grade for the course.
- 900 points you have earned enough to get an A- grade for the course.
- 950 points you have earned enough to get an A grade for the course.
- 990 points you have earned enough to get an A+ grade for the course.
The instructor reserves the right to assign bonus points if an assignment is exceptionally well done -- far exceeding the expected outcomes and objectives.
In a class on spiritual depth and integrity I am not expecting that plagiarism will be a problem. However, I am required to note the school's policy. PIU does not tolerate any form of plagiarism. Not only is it dishonest and unethical but plagiarism is also an impediment to real learning. Note the statement from page 8 of the 2015-2016 PIU catalog:
Plagiarism is defined as using someone else’s words or ideas without using quotations marks or citing (identifying) the author, source, and page number of the source. Plagiarism is a form of cheating and is not allowed at PIU. When students use information from a speaker/teacher, books, articles, or the Internet, even if they put the information in their own words, students need to tell where the ideas came from. Plagiarizing any other person’s words or ideas carries serious consequences. In English classes, students will learn how to cite quotes and summarize information correctly. They are expected to use these skills in their writing assignments for all classes. Students who willingly allow other students to copy their work are also guilty of plagiarism because they aided in the process.WARNINGS
- You must have at least one interaction (email, face-to-face, Google+ hang-out) with the instructor each week to remain enrolled in this class. If the instructor does do not hear from you for a week, you will be dropped from the class. If it is early enough in the semester you will then receive a "W" (withdrawal) on your transcript. If you withdraw through inactivity after the tenth week of the class you will receive a grade based on the total number of points you have earned. See pages 16-17 in the current PIU catalog for more information. If for some reason there is a crisis and you cannot send email to the instructor, you should call him or send him a note in the regular mail. Please explain what is going on and how he can help you.
- The number of points and assignments can change at any time in response to the needs of the class. Changes will always be to the advantage of the student.
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