Faculty Development Days Reflections

 

At the end of each semester, EAST faculty come together to learn and grow as educators. The recent so-called Faculty Development Days was held with a dual focus on “Distance and Online Theological Education Competence” and “Nurturing a Disability-Inclusive Seminary” for the two days respectively. Below are some reflections by two of EAST faculty who were in attendance.

Reflection of day one by Rev Derek Atkins

I found the Distance and Online Theological Education Competence (D/OTEC) session very insightful. Ever since the Covid pandemic, there has been an explosion of distance and online classes of every kind, including among theological schools such as EAST. As we work toward utilizing this teaching method more effectively, it is helpful for us to consider what methods will help us deliver effective theological education in an online environment.

As part of our discussion, we watched a couple of videos on the topic that are part of the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education’s (ICETE) nano-course on D/OTEC. According to this course, there are seven key categories of competencies that need to be mastered in the delivery and execution of online theological courses. While most of us may not yet possess all of these competencies, we should be working toward growing in these areas to offer better education to our online students.

The first video highlighted being aware of the context within which distance and online theological education takes place, which includes not only an appreciation for the theological context but also an awareness of the online environment in which this type of learning takes place. The second video focused on discovering which teaching methods work best in an online teaching model. I especially appreciated the video’s emphasis on the holistic nature of theological education, for theological education is far more than mere acquisition of academic knowledge about theology, but also involves learning ministerial and pastoral skills, as well as spiritual formation. This video’s emphasis on a holistic approach to theological education mirrors EAST’s own emphasis on Head, Hands, and Heart to educate the whole student so that he or she will be better equipped to serve Christ.

Day two reflections by Dr Edmond Chua

I very much appreciate the workshop sessions adroitly and scintillatingly led by the Rev Leow Wen Pin of Koinonia Inclusion Network (KIN) broaching the vital and timely topic of organisational inclusion of neurodiverse individuals in its outreach and equipping. The full-day sessions signalled the importance of empathising with and actively embracing people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), going beyond toleration to a recognition that they are a people with a right to a dignified existence. As a church they are considered as an unreached minority to be evangelised, discipled, and equipped as disciple-makers just like anyone else.

Persons with ASD and ADHD have the same sense of fairness and injustice that all other human persons have, yet infrastructure and societal expectation often do not take adequate account of their non-negotiable needs; indeed, many members of public continue to be undereducated in this regard, creating an environment of significant stress and even suffering for these members of a minority.

Fortunately, there is hope for organisations that desire to include neurodiverse individuals and model responsible and ethical behaviour in wider society: Wen Pin highlighted and invited conversation on how Christian organisations may take gradual steps to eventually become places of “Access, Belonging, and Contribution” for neurodiverse individuals, acknowledging that these persons do not need to be perceived to be a potential or current institutional liability but an invaluable opportunity for members of an organisation, such as seminarians, to practise and be habituated in the self-giving truth of the gospel and follow in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Rev Derek Atkins is an EAST Resident Faculty in Theological Studies and Dr Edmond Chua is an EAST Adjunct Faculty in Systematic Theology.