Understanding Bible by Design: Create Courses with Purpose
About this ebook
seminary and religious-education instructors are expected to design and
redesign their courses more nimbly than in the past. We have to adapt our
courses to novel learning environments, for more diverse learners, toward more
diverse vocations. At the same time, institutional rewards for time invested in
course design are fewer than ever. Understanding Bible by Design
introduces the reader to Understanding by Design: an approach to course design
that is proven time-efficient and grounded in the instructor’s most
closely-held convictions about her subject matter’s “big ideas and essential
questions.” This book’s contributors (one in Old Testament, one in New
Testament, and one in Jewish Studies) demonstrate the value of Understanding Bible by Design
for the Biblical Studies
instructor, whether at seminary or university, face-to-face or online, from the
intimate seminar to the massive MOOC.
Lester’s synopsis of course design and suggested action is
followed by a collaborative dialogue with Jane S. Webster and Christopher M.
Jones. Webster and Jones provide practical commentary regarding the successful
implementation of Lester’s proposed approaches. As a group, Lester, Webster,
and Jones create a text that extends pedagogical innovation in inspiring but practical ways.
About the author
G. Brooke Lester curates and blogs for Seminarium, blogs also at his own site. He is assistant professor of Hebrew Scriptures and director for emerging pedagogies at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. He coordinates digital learning, guides faculty in recognizing and adopting sound practices, offers innovative digital pedagogy in online and face-to-face courses, and helps craft a vision for Garrett-Evangelical’s continuing approaches to digital instruction. He teaches courses in Hebrew Bible and biblical languages. Brooke enjoys backpacking, tae kwon do, and hapkido, also teaching tae kwon do to elementary school students and to youths with special needs.
