Transcript Liberal Arts & Vocation

Webinar
CCCU – November 17, 2011
Dr. Jim Mannoia
CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
….EDUCATING FOR DOING AND BEING….
Copyright 2011 – Not to be printed or republished without written permission
A FRAMEWORK
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THE QUESTION
What does a student “get” from a Christian
Liberal Arts education that they could not get
elsewhere?
How is teaching at a Christian liberal arts
institution different…
 From
a secular research university?
 From a secular liberal arts college?
 From a Bible School?
 From a Seminary?
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COMMON RESPONSES
Secular PLUS… “Sprinkling Holy Water”
It is education like elsewhere….PLUS:
 Statement
of faith
 Prayer before class
 Required chapel
 Lifestyle expectations
 Christian faculty modeling Christian virtues
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REFRAMING THE PROBLEM & RESPONSE
Twin Dilemma:

Students/parents expect education to be practical
Teaches skills, helps get a job,

Christian education should be personal
Educates the whole person, teaches Christian values
Twin Responses: Christian education does both!

Instrumental Value – Gives us tools
Does something FOR the student…helps them learn to DO

Intrinsic Value – Shapes character
Does something TO the student…helps them learn to BE
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A WORKING NAME?
“Liberal Arts” misunderstood:





“Left wing” and “painting”
What you do when you don’t know what to do
Impractical….in a day of job & career focus!
The foundation: “You get it over with.”
General broad studies…& NOT sciences
“Liberating Education” may be helpful:


Liberation is Biblical (Isaiah 61, Luke 4)
Liberation is FROM something & TO something
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
Liberating Education
Twin Values:
Liberation FROM:
Liberation TO:
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
Liberating Education
Twin Values:
Liberation FROM:
#1: Instrumental Narrow Training
Liberation TO:

INTEGRATIVE THINKING
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
Liberating Education
Twin Values:
Liberation FROM:
Liberation TO:
#1: Instrumental Narrow Training

INTEGRATIVE THINKING
#2: Intrinsic

CRITICAL COMMITMENT
Narrow Attitude
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TWIN VALUE #1 – Christian Liberating Education
EDUCATING FOR DOING – INTEGRATIVE THINKING
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
Integrative Thinking is…Liberation
FROM
TO
Shallow Thinking
Dabbling
“Pre”-discipline
Narrow Depth
AND FROM
Overspecialized Thinking
Training/Skills
“Mere” discipline
Narrow Breadth
Integrative
Thinking
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
INTEGRATIVE THINKING:
WHAT?
Graduate Studies
Advanced
Integrative Thinking
(Real world problems)
Broad
Narrow
Undergraduate Major
General Education: Distribution:
General Education:
(First year seminars)
(Introduction to X)
Basic
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
INTEGRATIVE THINKING:
HOW?
Addresses:
Real World Problems
Integrative
Thinking
Theory & Praxis
Values
Multiple Disciplines
3
“LEGS”
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
Addressing Real World problems effectively always
1. Requires attention to more than one discipline.
(Called Interdisciplinary or Multidisciplinary Studies)
(NOT "pre-disciplinary!")
2.
Draws on our values…both moral and spiritual.
Our perspectives & solutions are always informed by our ethics & our
“theology.”
(Traditional "Faith/Learning integration")
3.
Attends to both theoretical & practical matters.
(Sometimes called "Faith/Learning/Living" integration)
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
Examples:

Terrorism: Religion, Poli Sci, Psychology, Sociology, History,
Economics, Biology, Chemistry, Education….

Environment: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Religion, Poli
Sci, Sociology, Communications, Literature, Math….

Violence: Sociology, Economics, Religion, Psychology,
Biology, Chemistry, Communication…

Poverty: Sociology, Economics, Literature, Religion,
Medicine…

Health Care: Poli Sci, Biology, Sociology, Economics…
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
Terrorism




How can a sociologist and a psychologist working together
shed light on why some people become terrorists? (MD)
How could a Christian and Muslim theologian working
together help reduce terrorism? (FL+TP)
How could chemists, political scientists, sociologists, &
psychologists working together improve travel safety
without violating legal rights and human dignity? (MD +
FL)
What role do media play in fomenting terrorism, quelling
terrorist risks, and nurturing freedom? (MD + TP)
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
Personal one for me…
How can a Christian theologian, historian,
political scientist, and teacher shape a
curriculum for Muslim students that shows how
the structures of western liberal democracy and
market economics reflect Christian assumptions
about the fallen nature of humanity?
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
What skills [competencies] and dispositions [character] are most important
for people to have in order to be positive forces in the workplace and
community?
I say “INTEGRATIVE SKILLS” and “CRITICAL COMMITMENT”
CONTENT
COMPETENCE
CULTURAL CORE
TRANSFERABLE
DISTRIBUTION
CHARACTER
Reading
Writing
Thinking
Speaking
Research
Collaboration
Cross Cultural
INTEGRATIVE
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PAUSE FOR QUESTIONS?
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TWIN VALUE #2 – Christian Liberating Education
EDUCATING FOR BEING – CRITICAL COMMITMENT
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
Liberating Education
Twin Values:
Liberation FROM:
Liberation TO:
Instrumental
Narrow Training

INTEGRATIVE THINKING
Intrinsic
Narrow Attitude

CRITICAL COMMITMENT
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
Cognitive Development
B & W Thinking
Grey Thinking
Dogmatic
Sceptical
Paradoxical
Thinking
Passionate &
Humble
Moral & Faith development parallels
Specific taxonomy less important than the idea of progression.
(Piaget, Perry, Kohlberg, Gilligan, Parks, Fowler….)
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
Critical commitment is…Liberation
FROM
TO
“Black & White” Thinking
“I have the truth!”
Narrow Dogmatism
AND FROM
“Grey” Thinking
“Everyone’s opinion’s equal”
Narrow Scepticism
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
FROM Narrow Attitudes…both Dogmatism & Scepticism
TO Critical Commitment
What is it?
Paradoxical
Hard to understand, explain, teach…
• Passionate
NOT wishy-washy, afraid to take a stand, relativistic, subjectivist or noncognitive in meta-ethic, making tolerance the only value.
BUT authentic, unafraid, confident, affirming of Truth as a Person
•
Humble
NOT argumentative, judgmental, arrogant, pat, self-protective…
BUT gracious, nuanced, listening, respectful, open, aware of limits
Copyright 2011 – Not to be printed or republished without written permission
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
FROM Narrow Attitudes…both Dogmatism & Scepticism
TO Critical Commitment
How do we do it?
By Balancing….
•
Nurturing – Through Community
We create environments of safety
•
Stretching – Through Diversity
We intentionally push out of comfort zones
An ANALOGY:
Athletes & Coaches..ambassadors for liberation
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
No Pain…No Gain
Nurturing…..!
Stretching…..!
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
Dualistic
Relativistic
B & W Thinking
Grey Thinking
Dogmatic
Sceptical
Egypt
Wilderness
Critical
Commitment
Passionate &
Humble
Promised
Land
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
FROM Narrow Attitudes…both Dogmatism & Scepticism
TO Critical Commitment
How do we do it?
Practical Matters….Implementing stretching + nurture
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Cross Cultural experiences (Diversity/Dissonance)
(Plus the value for instrumental value #1)
Seamless curricular/co-curricular programming
(Colloquia/Chapel) that takes students out of comfort
Cross-disciplinary courses & communication
(jargon bridging)(Plus value for instrumental value #1)
Support for students
Faculty development in developmental thinking
(“coaching” model)
Faculty incentives
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Christian Liberating Education
WHY IS LIBERATING EDUCATION CHRISTIAN?
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CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
Integrative Thinking:


It is practical…
…….the most practical education!
It is Christian…
…….Jesus served large real world needs!
Critical Commitment:


It is good…
…….a mark of mature humanity!
It is Christian…
…….Jesus is Truth but embodied humility
Copyright 2011 – Not to be printed or republished without written permission
31
CHRISTIAN LIBERATING EDUCATION
What skills [competencies] and dispositions [character] are most important
for people to have in order to be positive forces in the workplace and
community?
I say “INTEGRATIVE SKILLS” and “CRITICAL COMMITMENT”
CONTENT
COMPETENCE
CHARACTER
CULTURAL CORE
TRANSFERABLE
VIRTUES
DISTRIBUTION
Reading
Responsibility
Writing
Integrity
Thinking
Mercy
Speaking
Justice
Research
…......etc.
Collaboration
Cross Cultural
INTEGRATIVE
CRITICAL COMMITMENT
Copyright 2011 – Not to be printed or republished without written permission
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Dr. Jim Mannoia
[email protected]
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