What Are They What Are They Thinking?Thinking?

Using Anonymous Using Anonymous Assessments Assessments

To Access Student Thought To Access Student Thought

Why a Class on Hell?Why a Class on Hell?

A History of Hell in the A History of Hell in the WestWest

Where did you get your ideas Where did you get your ideas about Hell?about Hell?

What is Hell like?What is Hell like? Where is Hell located?Where is Hell located? What happens in Hell?What happens in Hell? What is Satan?What is Satan? What is Satan’s relationship to What is Satan’s relationship to

Hell?Hell? How has your idea of Hell How has your idea of Hell

been complicated?been complicated?

Students were assigned an anonymous essay, asking Students were assigned an anonymous essay, asking them the same questions at the beginning and end of them the same questions at the beginning and end of

the semester:the semester:

Theory: Two or three anonymous Theory: Two or three anonymous assessment techniques per assessment techniques per semester reveal how students are semester reveal how students are interacting with material and show interacting with material and show change over time. These change over time. These techniques can illustrate how techniques can illustrate how students are thinking.students are thinking.

Angelo and Cross’s CATsAngelo and Cross’s CATs Keith & Allen, Kim & MariaKeith & Allen, Kim & Maria

DemographicsDemographics

They Said Funny ThingsThey Said Funny Things

““It is interesting to step back and It is interesting to step back and think about what is going to happen think about what is going to happen once we stop breathing. That once we stop breathing. That mystery could be up there with who mystery could be up there with who actually killed Kennedy.” [Student 2]actually killed Kennedy.” [Student 2]

Some Used the Class to Some Used the Class to Support Their Previous Support Their Previous

BeliefsBeliefs ““Much of what I already believed was Much of what I already believed was

confirmed—that Hell did not simply confirmed—that Hell did not simply originate with the Bible.” [Student 12, originate with the Bible.” [Student 12, atheist]atheist]

“ “In our readings of Edwards and others In our readings of Edwards and others I realize that it does not take much for I realize that it does not take much for our souls to belong to Satan and hell. It our souls to belong to Satan and hell. It makes me think of how I can be a better makes me think of how I can be a better person in the eyes of Jesus to kind of person in the eyes of Jesus to kind of protect my soul from belonging to protect my soul from belonging to Satan.” [Student 2, Christian]Satan.” [Student 2, Christian]

““This class challenged my idea of Hell This class challenged my idea of Hell because it presented the possibility of because it presented the possibility of alternatives, and I think that my opinion alternatives, and I think that my opinion has changed a little in that maybe I view has changed a little in that maybe I view the fire in Hell as metaphorical instead of the fire in Hell as metaphorical instead of physical.” [Student 11]physical.” [Student 11]

““Hell is a far more complicated concept Hell is a far more complicated concept than I had ever imagined. Fire and than I had ever imagined. Fire and brimstone was the hell of my past, but the brimstone was the hell of my past, but the hell I perceive now is an interesting place hell I perceive now is an interesting place that is defined as your own prison.” that is defined as your own prison.” [Student 14][Student 14]

Some Began to Challenge Their Some Began to Challenge Their AssumptionsAssumptions

““I do not feel that I am a strong believer I do not feel that I am a strong believer [because of] my lack of knowledge. [because of] my lack of knowledge. Therefore, I have every intention of Therefore, I have every intention of studying these subjects [God and Hell], so studying these subjects [God and Hell], so I can engage in discussions with people.” I can engage in discussions with people.” [Student 13][Student 13]

““The writings on modern metaphorical The writings on modern metaphorical forms of hell were disturbing to me. forms of hell were disturbing to me. Between the invasion of the New World Between the invasion of the New World and the institution of slavery, it is almost and the institution of slavery, it is almost as if Americans have additional Original as if Americans have additional Original Sins, but seemingly more real, more Sins, but seemingly more real, more grievous sins.” [Student 1]grievous sins.” [Student 1]

““After this class I am more conflicted about After this class I am more conflicted about whether or not I actually believe in hell. I whether or not I actually believe in hell. I still believe in heaven and God and that Jesus still believe in heaven and God and that Jesus died for everyone’s sins but my view of a died for everyone’s sins but my view of a punishment in the afterlife is questionable.” punishment in the afterlife is questionable.” [Student 5][Student 5]

Then wrote a paragraph on why there is Then wrote a paragraph on why there is certainly no hell.certainly no hell.

Then wrote a paragraph on why the above Then wrote a paragraph on why the above paragraph was not convincing.paragraph was not convincing.

““I think knowing where certain beliefs come I think knowing where certain beliefs come from has also strengthened my faith and from has also strengthened my faith and belief.”belief.”

Student 5Student 5

Regarding Dante’s Regarding Dante’s The Divine The Divine ComedyComedy

““I just plainly thought that hell was a I just plainly thought that hell was a downward place ran by Satan and that’s it. downward place ran by Satan and that’s it. What hasn’t changed [is] that I still believe What hasn’t changed [is] that I still believe in Hell, but now I believe that hell can have in Hell, but now I believe that hell can have different levels based on what sins we have different levels based on what sins we have committed. This idea seems in my mind committed. This idea seems in my mind pretty easy to justify and therefore one I pretty easy to justify and therefore one I now believe in.” [Student 2]now believe in.” [Student 2]

““I believe everyone has a different I believe everyone has a different punishment depending on the degree of punishment depending on the degree of wrong they committed on Earth. Dante’s wrong they committed on Earth. Dante’s Divine ComedyDivine Comedy is probably … how I is probably … how I interpret Hell.” [Student 7]interpret Hell.” [Student 7]

What Did I Learn?What Did I Learn?

Some of these texts are more persuasive Some of these texts are more persuasive than I thought and need to come with a than I thought and need to come with a warning label.warning label.

The warning label is actually historical The warning label is actually historical thinking.thinking.

Some of the texts no longer resonate with Some of the texts no longer resonate with students and could be replaced with students and could be replaced with others.others.

Focus more on helping students construct Focus more on helping students construct their own knowledge.their own knowledge.

So, what did you write on your slips of So, what did you write on your slips of paper about space and these rooms?paper about space and these rooms?

What was your experience when What was your experience when writing the anonymous responses? writing the anonymous responses?