Carl Shoenbeck was the speaker and his comments on the education system at large and the personal educations system as teachers was quite insightful. For me as a student I gained much from listening to a great educator give his advice on what works and doesn't work when learning and how people learn. I attached my notes from the lecture. Hopefully one of the quotes or one of his points will resontate with you as well.
Teaching the children well:
Learning is a continuing process that is not bounded by the end of formal education
Children continue to be taught and continue to learn.
Integrating Faith and Learning in the Bible:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Education Today:
Learning Outcomes--Rubrics to Identify Outcomes--Multiple teaching strategies--Gather assessment data on learning--Analyze data
"The pig doesn't get any heavier just by weighing it more." Carl Schoenbeck
New Courses
New Cirriculem
Extra Work
"For every complex problem there is a simple solution which is always wrong."
Recipe for passion for learning
Connections---Application---Questions
Connections of Individual Aspects of Human Development
Social-Intellectual-Spiritual-Emotional-Physical
-This looks like the IOMA Model of learning
-Carl doesn't see any hierarchy in each separate discipline
-They are all necessary and equal
The strongest
learning comes from when all the variables are interacting and engaged.
Leonard Bernstein
"Education is a process form living, and not a preparation for future living." John Dewey
Value of Questions:
-Education is not about having the complete set of answers
-Questions are tools to guide knowledge
-Teachers must guide the students
-They make us inclusive, not exclusive
-Students must develop a comfort for ambiguity
From his perspective: What this means for Concordia
-Concordia was founded on connections and faith is the core, it is not compartmentalized.
-Integrate the study of disciplines
-Makes connections to real life
Advice for the future:
Don't rely on the past
Look to the future
Powerful education integrates the past with the needs of the future
Keep internships to make learning applicable
Keep Lutheran tradition to avoid closed minded thinking
"An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup." H.L. Menken
"Only a life loved form others is a life worthwhile." A. Einstein
4 Points that were key in his opinion:
Passion is Key
Questions result in more results
Faith gives strengths and flexibility
Faith prepares for the application in life
How does Concordia give education to a changing student body that is increasingly non-Christian?
A. It's an opportunity. Use the things in the past. The passion for learning comes from the faculty.
How do you teach non-Lutheran ideas at a Lutheran school?
-Get back to saying what really Lutheran is is questioning the question. Engage in the same mentality that Martin Luther raised questions. There are not many strategies that are conflict free.
"Learning is not getting ready for life, it is life!" Carl Schoenbeck
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