Christian Education
CEWeb
Welcome
to the Christian Education page of the American Baptist Churches of
Wisconsin Website!
This online
resource will serve as a forum to share ideas, get information and
the like.
Please share the Web address for
this site with Christian Education workers in your church. I would
also invite you to offer
suggestions of things which would make the site useful to
you.
Choosing and Developing Curriculum
March 2008
Were I to make a list of frequently asked questions
about Christian Education, questions about curriculum would rank at
the top. What kind of curriculum should our church use? Is there any
curriculum which really catches the attention of children? Is there
any that is less expensive than the one we have been using? Do we
really need to use curriculum materials? The list goes on.
Judson Press has just published a book that deals
with many curriculum issues in a very practical way. It is called
Christian Educators' Guide to Evaluating and Developing Curriculum.
The author is Nancy Ferguson, an ordained Presbyterian minister with
specialization in Christian Education, and practical experience in
writing curriculum materials. If your church has been asking questions
about curriculum, I would recommend this book for your consideration.
The author uses a broad definition of curriculum
to refer to the church's entire educational program and not merely
to the printed resources. For that reason, the book begins with a
section (Part 1) on "Identifying a Congregational Purpose for
Christian Education." Ms. Ferguson suggests that there are several
options for selecting appropriate printed materials for your church.
The first step in choosing this material, however, must be a determination
of the needs of your church. She identifies six key elements of educational
programs to consider. They are:
1. Purpose or goal for Christian education in your
church
2. What the Bible is and how you use it in your educational ministry
3. Settings for educational ministry in your congregation
4. Content to be taught in your educational ministry
5. Role of teachers in your educational ministry.
6. Role of learners in your educational ministry.
All churches intending to utilize this book are asked
to use Part 1 to gather the necessary information to make good choices
in materials. The section contains two prepared workshops to assist
in accomplishing this task, and also several helpful worksheets.
Once these goals are determined, the church is ready
to follow the directions given in Part 2, 3 or 4, depending on the
choices already made. Part 2, "Evaluating and Choosing Curriculum
Resources," will be used by those who have decided to use purchased
materials. Again, workshops and worksheets are available to assist
you in understanding published materials and elements in making selections.
Appendix B will also be helpful to those who have chosen to go in
this direction. It contains a list of publishers who print curriculum
recourses, with addresses, websites and phone numbers.
Part 3, "Writing Curriculum Resources",
provides helpful materials for those who have decided to write their
own materials. Outlines of session material are printed, as well as
some completed sessions. The section also includes information on
ways people learn and age group characteristics to assist those who
will be writing materials.
Part 4, "Adapting Curriculum Resources,"
is for those who have decided to purchase material, but who recognize
that no curriculum is perfect to fit any particular church and will
adapt the resources. I would suggest that this is always a good option,
but working through both Parts 2 and 3, in addition to Part 4, would
be helpful in doing a good job of making adaptations.
As I say, this is a helpful, practical book. Good
educational principles are presented in a down-to-earth manner. It
is ready for use as a kind of workbook. If you are doing curriculum
review, it is a good place to start! The book costs $13.60 right now
on special (normally $17.00), and can be ordered from Judson Press
online at http://www.judsonpress.com
.
