Put it Out There: Publicly-Performed Course WorkPosted on September 30, 2013 by A+ Brooke Lester, CuratorEngaging strangers on Twitter. Teaching an adult-education session in a church. Blogging an interview with a high-profile scholar. When learners accomplish their course work by means of public performance, the common student refrain, “What will I do with this stuff?” becomes “Let’s examine what I’ve done with this stuff!”Publicly-Performed Course Work:Jennifer Shepherd writes this week about “being heard,” particularly outside the classroom…
Hospitality in the Classroom—Part II: A Legacy of HospitalityPosted on September 25, 2013 by David RhoadsAt its simplest level, the image of hospitality relates to our homes. If I imagine the classroom to be my home, how would I act if I had guests?Actually, hospitality is a lost art in our society….
The Impact of Pluralism On Professional Ministry: “Can you hear me now? Good!”Posted on September 25, 2013 by Jennifer ShepherdIn January 2002, during fierce price wars among cell phone companies, the largest mobile phone service provider in America launched its “Can You Hear Me Now?” campaign. I’m sure you remember the television spots that followed the Verizon field tester – aka “Testman” – as he traveled across the country dropping in on locations ranging from the outlandish to the mundane.In each spot he asked, “Can you hear me now?” into a mobile phone. After hearing affirmation, Testman replied, “Good!” and continued on his quest to validate the reliability of Verizon’s infrastructure into which $2-4 billion was invested annually….
Scared but Not Too Scared? Fear & the Creative ActPosted on September 16, 2013 by A+ Brooke Lester, CuratorHe turned to me, looked at my face and said sharply, “Something on your mind, son? Speak up!” “Uh—” I blurted it out. “Sir, that temporary third lieutenant—the one that got cashiered. How could I find out what happened?” “Oh. Young man, I didn’t mean to scare the daylights out of you; I simply intended to wake you up.” (dialogue from R.A. Heinlein, Starship Troopers, 1951.“I didn’t mean to scare the daylights out of you; I simply intended to wake you up.” Two of our Seminarium bloggers have raised, each in her or his own way, the observation that frightened people don’t learn…
Hospitality in the Classroom—Part I: A Key IngredientPosted on September 14, 2013 by David RhoadsI learned a teacher’s hospitality from the best-loved teacher at Carthage College, Dudley Riggle. Dudley is one of the finest human beings I have known. He has a profound theology of grace, and everything he does is informed by it. He is a quiet, unassuming person who thinks carefully through everything he says and does. He was the chaplain at the college, and he preached some of the best sermons I have ever heard….