how to integrate faith and learning: a practical model

Faculty Development WebinarMid-Continent UniversitySila Tuju, Ph.D.December 14th, 2013

How to Integrate Faith and Learning: A Practical Model

Agenda

Biblical basis What integrating faith and learning

means Opportunities for integrating faith in

the classroom A model for integrating faith in the

classroom Putting it together: Model +

Opportunities Concluding remarks

Biblical Basis for Integration

Psalms 24: 1 says, “The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

Col. 2:2-3 says, “…in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

What Does Integrating Faith Mean?

What it is not• Devotion at the beginning of class

• Prayer at the beginning or at the end of class

• Casual reference to God or to a Christian principle

What Does Integrating Faith Mean?What it is

• Intentional interweaving of biblical truth into the content of the course

Robert Harris says, “Christian faith in relation to learning must be understood not as just an "added bonus" or appended item to standard scholarship from a secular worldview, …

…Christianity should be an anchor and a touchstone for the analysis of culture and political structures rather than merely a point of view or another source of commentary on morals and manners.” http://www.virtualsalt.com/integrat.htm

A Word on Hermeneutics

O Hermeneutics is to integration what statistics is to quantitative research.

- N. A. Beadles

Opportunities for Integration

How then shall we integrate?

The Proposed

OSM Model

The OSM ModelApproach DescriptionOverarching Themes and Principles

Applying overarching themes and principles found in scripture to issues in the academic discipline.

Subject-Specific Applying scripture that speaks to specific subjects in the academic discipline.

Mixed Using overarching themes and principles, and subject-specific application concurrently.

What are some overarching themes and Principles?

• Stewardship• The earth is the Lords,

Psalms. 24:1• Parable of the talents,

Matthew 25-14-28•Justice, Mercy, and Humility • Micah 6:8

•Love• Matthew 7:12

Overarching Themes and Strategic Management

Low-Cost Provider

Broad Differentiation

Focused low cost

Focused

differentiation

Best cost.

Overarching Themes and Marketing

Overarching Themes and Human Resource Management

Subject Specific – Psychology

Are humans just like rats in a Skinner Box?

Imago Dei (Gen 1:26)

Free Will and Responsibility (Gen 3:15-18)

How then shall we integrate? Mixed

How different would your quality control be if you applied Matthew 5:14-16 versus if you ignored this passage of scripture?

What is the most important challenge that managers face when managing control?

How might you tackle the challenge differently when you apply Christian (Bible) principles versus when you ignore those principles?

Mixed Integration: Nehemiah 4

Concluding Remarks

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5).

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6).

Further Reading Making connections:

Integrating Christianity and economics

Faith learning integration in economics

Teaching strategic management from a Christian perspective

References

Beadles, N. A. (1998). Biblical integration in business: A trip through the looking glass? Journal of Biblical Integration in Business, 109-123. Retrieved from http://www.cbfa.org/jbib_98.pdf