Week Two : February 17

Learning objectives

By the end of this unit you should be able to:

Distinguish between instrumental and constructivist understandings of pedagogy.

Describe your own vision for congregational education.

Define "epistemology" and describe some differences between the basic epistemologies operating within education in general, and religious or Christian education in particular.

Provide concrete examples of the ways in which the trio of triads operate in your own context.

Identify ways in which your own understanding of "knowing" shapes your religious commitments.

Small group work

This week we'll continue the process of getting to know each other in the small groups. We're still working out some bugs in the online environment, so use this time to raise questions the readings provoked for you. For Friday, post to the larger discussion 2 or 3 insights from the readings that you as a group agree are important and 2 or 3 pieces with which you as a group disagree. If you can't come to consensus on that, then at least list 2 or 3 things that you find confusing and would like your colleagues' help in thinking about.

Then, as you read what the other groups are posting, join in -- individually is fine! -- by responding.

Mary's presentation

As I struggled to think about how to shape this presentation this week, I realized that I still don't know enough about each of you (or the small groups) to weave together your insights with this presentation.

I've decided, therefore, to post here a more "stand alone" kind of lecture. I actually gave this lecture in January of 2002 for Luther Seminary's convocation. It touched on most of the themes that we will engage this week, and was well recorded. I am posting it here in two formats. You choose how you'd like to engage it. First, you can go to the web and simply read the text of the lecture (click here). Or, if you're a more aural learner, you can click here, which will download an audio recording in mp3 format. It will take a few minutes to download, and the entire lecture is about 55 minutes long, so you might not want to "click" until you've got the time to do so. Most computers have some kind of media player that can play mp3 (if on a Mac, it's Quicktime, if you're on a Windows machine, it's the Windows media player).

The lecture was accompanied by a powerpoint presentation with a number of images, but there are copyright issues involved in making that presentation available again, so I'm afraid I can't post it here. I will, however, add these two images (found in the right column) that are drawn from another of Parker Palmer's books (The Courage to Teach). I think they are an important illustration of his theorizing. The top image is of an instrumental definition of learning, the bottom image is a relational, constructivist definition.

Required reading

Integrative questions

How would you describe what it means "to know"? How have you encountered "knowing" in your own life? How do decide that you know something or that you don't? Are there people, institutions, communities, places that help you in this discernment?

How have you experienced "curriculum" in the church? Maria Harris outlines five different "modes" or forms of curriculum. Which appeals the most to you? Which has shaped most of your own learning within communities of faith?

Add some pieces to your learning autobiography this week, and try to find ways to compare or contrast your own experiences with the theories presented in these books. Do they align? Are they totally out of synch with your own experiences?

Prayer requests

This week we ask prayers, in particular, for healing and comfort for Lisa's father-in-law and extended family.

We also ask for peace in the world, but particularly for the peoples of the Middle East.