Building a Community of Shalom: What the Bible Says about Multicultural Education

Multicultural education is a highly controversial topic in which it has been the center of contentions and conflicts as it has evolved for the last couple of decades. Several concerns and problems existed in the field of multicultural education will be addressed in this article. In addition, a new framework of multicultural education, called the shalom model, which is drawn from the Bible is presented, along with the characteristics of the model. The goal of multicultural education, according to this model, is to build a community of shalom, an image that is clearly described in Isaiah 11:6. In order to accomplish this goal, the model suggests that all people need to be equipped with the truth that all people are the image bearers of God. This concept is expanded into four implementation interventions when relating to others: biblical perspective; cultural competence; contextualized pedagogy; and intentional praxis. Finally, regarding the application issue of this model, some points of the implementation strategies are addressed in this article

Book Review: Heart Deep Teaching

Teaching has been and continues to be “the most universal and appreciated role of the Christian ministry through the ages” (Nouwen, 1971, p. 10). However, the teaching in churches has not made a positive impact on the young. According to Ham and Hillard (2009, p. 31), over 60% of children who grow up in the church will leave it as young adults. Christian churches need to understand the Gospel’s call to develop human potential to the fullest through what Newton terms heart-deep teaching. How should Christians in vocations respond to this situation? As the author of this review and as a teacher by vocation and a pastor by calling, how should I revitalize the church’s education policies? Heart-deep Teaching: Engaging Students for Transformed Lives provides a unique way to revitalize Christian education by focusing on key theoretical and practical methods to stimulate deeper student learning in church settings

Jesus Teaching Through Discovery

What made Jesus’ teaching effective? Jesus’ teaching was effective because it resulted in changing the hearers’ heart and having the hearer apply his message to their lives. Jesus’ teaching amazed listeners, for example, after hearing the Sermon on the Mount the crowds were amazed (Matthew 7:28). He taught ordinary, unschooled, disciples for three years and their teaching changed the entire world of their time and continues to affect our world today. The hearers of his teaching opened their “eyes and ears”. What made his teaching so successful? His teaching consisted of a set of procedures. Jesus identified the teaching moments; facilitated inquiry by giving inspiring questions, enabled audiences to formulate hypothesizes through insights, and encouraged his audiences to apply their learning to practical situations. Jesus knew that learning was not simply memorizing facts or reciting the Law of Moses. Learning involved organizing new facts to existing schema and applying that new information. His teaching is typically a discovery learning process. The following article will review Jesus’ teaching method through the modern lens of discovery learning

Book Review: Creation Regained – Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview

It is my hope that most Christian educators have read Wolter’s book, Creation Regained. Since it came out two decades ago, this book has had a tremendous impact on Christians to be equipped with sound Christian worldviews, a sense of identity, and godly responsibilities. However, one may ask, “Does this book say something about the roles and functions of a Christian education?” In fact, it does. This book provides many practical ideas and applicable points regarding teaching and learning in faith-based settings. In fact, Wolter’s revisions to his original manuscript emphasize the proper role of a Christian education. I believe that education is a major concern of God and the Bible, as well as of Jesus. The first priority of Jesus’ early ministry focused on teaching. When he was arrested in Gethsemane, he clearly claimed that his earthly task was mainly teaching (e.g., “Every day I sat in the temple court teaching…”, Matthew 26:55). Clearly, education is crucial to transform the world as Jesus proclaimed. Even though this book doesn’t dictate the issue of Christian education, Wolters indirectly focuses on the purpose and method of Christian education with many practical ideas and examples. This review is divided into two parts: a brief summary of what Wolters said in this book, followed by an analysis of the purposes and processes of a Christian education based on his suggestions

Assistive Technology/Augmentative & Alternative Communication Implementation: School to Home during COVID-19

This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study sought to describe the implementation process of AT/AAC from school to home during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the extent to which AT/AAC was used, how AT/AAC was used, and what, if any, support the school systems provided. A researcher-designed survey was completed by 104 special educators and 45 parents. Seventeen follow-up interviews were conducted with educators and parent participants. Results of the study demonstrated the importance of clear communication, explicit expectations and procedures for AT/AAC use, and collaboration among stakeholders if AT/AAC implementation is to be as effective as possible