“Assessment Long Before the First Class”
“Assessment Long Before the First Class”
April 23, 2021 4.00 PM - 4.30 PM On Demand Save the Date
Abstract
This paper will argue that best-practice assessment should begin as part of the process of a potential student applying to study (Domains 1 & 2). The paper will particularly focus on the important role a personal interview with a potential student plays in assessment.
The paper is structured into three sections. The first section seeks to make the case for an application process for theological education institutions by asking the question “what is the application process seeking to assess?” This section argues that the application process should be designed to assess two key areas: first, the alignment of the hopes and goals of the potential student with the vision of the theological education institution; and second, who the potential student is as a person, and how they have already been formed in theology, skills, character, ministry involvement, and personality.
The second section focuses on the contribution of a personal interview with the potential student to the application process. It discusses recent challenges to the perceived effectiveness of interviews, as well as exploring the use of interviews in the application process for non-theological courses and professions.
The paper aims to persuade theological educators of the benefit of beginning student assessment long before the first class by implementing an application process in their theological education institution.
This section argues that interviews are an important expression of seeking truth and love at the beginning of a student’s participation in formal theological education.
The third section of the paper focusses on the practical implementation of an application process by drawing on Bible College SA as a working example. It highlights what is done, how interviews work, as well as some of the failures and successes of the process.
The paper aims to persuade theological educators of the benefit of beginning student assessment long before the first class by implementing an application process in their theological education institution.