Examples of how instructors can provide students the opportunity to demonstrate their learning while at the same time practicing a digital literacy.

ABOUT ASSIGNMENTS

Psychologist Jon Mueller defines authentic assessment as “a form of assessment in which students are asked to perform real-world tasks that demonstrate meaningful application of essential knowledge and skills.” This practice is not new to theological education. Our students write sermons, prepare Sunday school classes, lead public worship, and participate in various forms of supervised pastoral experience.

Nevertheless, we believe ministry training programs over-value academically oriented assignments and under-value professionally oriented assignments. Like the best of experiential theological learning, digital media assignments have the potential both to prepare students directly for future ministry tasks and to extend the impact of students’ effort beyond the boundaries of the classroom. If students choose, or if we specifically require it, their digital assignments—say, a 90 Second Sermon—can have a life of their own via the many networked publics that connect our students, the people they serve, and potentially others.

The benefits of such an experience are substantial—our students gain insight into how their projects resonate (or not) and how their approach might be revised in the future. The online reflection that often follows the posting of a project can be as the experience of creating it.

EXPLORE THE ASSIGNMENTS

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