Larry Borst

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Re: Transforming instruction by transforming classrooms I am in one of the test classrooms too and so far I have been impressed with two things. Before saying what they are I should note that my wife has pointed out that I can walk into any store and what I like there is usually the most expensive thing in the store. The same seems to be true of the test classroom. I did not expect to be impressed. Still, I remain most impressed by what a wise teacher once said, "teaching is not telling." I would update this but adding that the danger of technology is that it is little better than "telling." Yet there were two things that did impress me about the new classroom. First, three screens of information did seem to engage the students more than I expected. How you set up and work with the screens remains more important than the screens...still three of them was helpful. It surrounded students with information but from what I hear it is also expensive. The second thing that impressed me what how much better students worked together when the seating was flexible. The steelcase swivel "nodes" really fostered small group discussion and work. I did not expect this at all. Now these desks are also the most expensive and may not be worth it but I was impressed with the flexibility it gave the room. Posted on March 13, 2012 at 8:48 AM
Re: Reveal Spiritual Life Survey Findings Dr. Cooper, I wish I could have seen your first posting because I really like what Bob Dekker and Kevin den Dulk have said in response to it. I think Bob is right on in thinking that we need to think about what end we have in mind. I wanted to add something to the four statements that captured this but could not think of a way to word it, but it is worth keeping before our minds. One thing the Reveal study did affirm is the idea that we need to keep some of the classic vitues in mind as proper ends. In the study students who had higher "Spiritual Growth" scores (that terminology still makes me a little nervous) also tended to see virtues (humility, kindness, and hope came out in the study) as integral and important parts of thier lives. This ties in with Kevin den Dulk's ideas very well. His vision seems to parallel Jamie Smith and others who point out that we acquire the virtues through the examples of others (I am amazed at how often people will say how important it was to meet a philosopher who beleived or who displayed some virtue...more than what that philosopher said the example was important to them...and to me) and through "re-forming our habits" which is similar to how a "good citizen" is formed. Any way you sparked good discussion. Posted on November 21, 2011 at 9:57 AM
re:reveal Morris, I think you bring up a good point and as it stands now the Reveal Survey does not have a very wide view of the Kingdom. This will be for us to think about as we look at the results. The Reveal people have shown some signs that they are willing to allow us to have our own questions or sections of the test in the future though all of us are unsure what that might be. Still if you have some question you would like to ask email them to me (lborst@grcs.org) and I will keep a running file on them. In terms of Chapel and blurred lines I really like Jamie Smith's section(near the end of "Desiring the Kingdom")on the role of Chapel in a school where the towering wall between chapel and the classroom needs in some ways to come down and become more connected. I see much of the force of his book as saying Church and School have to reinforce each other rather than maintain utterly seperate spheres. I do not know what that might look like but I like the idea. If you have any ideas on this too I would be most interested. Posted on November 09, 2011 at 12:08 PM
Re: REVEAL Spiritual Life Student Survey Gwen, I once found a copy of the Reveal survey for churches online but I think it is closed down now (the one for churches is similar to the one we took). There is much written about it online from Willow Creek and others who are a little more critical. I would not say we thought it was perfect but still a good tool we can use. Posted on November 07, 2011 at 12:30 PM

Viewing 1 to 4 (4 Total)

Re: Transforming instruction by transforming classrooms

I am in one of the test classrooms too and so far I have been impressed with two things. Before saying what they are I should note that my wife has pointed out that I can walk into any store and what I like there is usually the most expensive thing in the store. The same seems to be true of the test classroom.

I did not expect to be impressed. Still, I remain most impressed by what a wise teacher once said, "teaching is not telling." I would update this but adding that the danger of technology is that it is little better than "telling."

Yet there were two things that did impress me about the new classroom. First, three screens of information did seem to engage the students more than I expected. How you set up and work with the screens remains more important than the screens...still three of them was helpful. It surrounded students with information but from what I hear it is also expensive.

The second thing that impressed me what how much better students worked together when the seating was flexible. The steelcase swivel "nodes" really fostered small group discussion and work. I did not expect this at all. Now these desks are also the most expensive and may not be worth it but I was impressed with the flexibility it gave the room.

Posted on March 13, 2012 at 8:48 AM

Re: Reveal Spiritual Life Survey Findings

Dr. Cooper, I wish I could have seen your first posting because I really like what Bob Dekker and Kevin den Dulk have said in response to it.

I think Bob is right on in thinking that we need to think about what end we have in mind. I wanted to add something to the four statements that captured this but could not think of a way to word it, but it is worth keeping before our minds. One thing the Reveal study did affirm is the idea that we need to keep some of the classic vitues in mind as proper ends. In the study students who had higher "Spiritual Growth" scores (that terminology still makes me a little nervous) also tended to see virtues (humility, kindness, and hope came out in the study) as integral and important parts of thier lives.

This ties in with Kevin den Dulk's ideas very well. His vision seems to parallel Jamie Smith and others who point out that we acquire the virtues through the examples of others (I am amazed at how often people will say how important it was to meet a philosopher who beleived or who displayed some virtue...more than what that philosopher said the example was important to them...and to me) and through "re-forming our habits" which is similar to how a "good citizen" is formed.

Any way you sparked good discussion.

Posted on November 21, 2011 at 9:57 AM

re:reveal

Morris, I think you bring up a good point and as it stands now the Reveal Survey does not have a very wide view of the Kingdom. This will be for us to think about as we look at the results. The Reveal people have shown some signs that they are willing to allow us to have our own questions or sections of the test in the future though all of us are unsure what that might be. Still if you have some question you would like to ask email them to me (lborst@grcs.org) and I will keep a running file on them.
In terms of Chapel and blurred lines I really like Jamie Smith's section(near the end of "Desiring the Kingdom")on the role of Chapel in a school where the towering wall between chapel and the classroom needs in some ways to come down and become more connected. I see much of the force of his book as saying Church and School have to reinforce each other rather than maintain utterly seperate spheres. I do not know what that might look like but I like the idea. If you have any ideas on this too I would be most interested.

Posted on November 09, 2011 at 12:08 PM

Re: REVEAL Spiritual Life Student Survey

Gwen, I once found a copy of the Reveal survey for churches online but I think it is closed down now (the one for churches is similar to the one we took). There is much written about it online from Willow Creek and others who are a little more critical. I would not say we thought it was perfect but still a good tool we can use.

Posted on November 07, 2011 at 12:30 PM

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