Where to go for a Christian Research Degree [Part 1] by Maria T. Northcote, Peter W. Kilgour, and Carolyn Rickett
“In this mixed methods research project questionnaires and interviews were used to determine what is valued by current and past [higher degree research] candidates of Avondale and which areas of our [higher degree research] programs need further development. This is the first of two papers that report the findings of this project.”
The Attrition from Christian Faith of our Graduates while at University: Why does it happen, and what can be done about it? by John Collier
“Academic literature, supported by empirical evidence indicates there is a huge drop out from Christian faith amongst those who begin university ostensibly as Christians. While this may be seen as a manifestation of the Parable of the Sower, it nonetheless represents an existential problem for the broader church in so far as much potential future membership and leadership within Christian circles has evaporated within a few short years. Questions arise as to whether the Christian community is sufficiently alert to the issue and is attempting possible mitigation strategies. Approaches to stemming the tide include avoiding cocooning young people in a Christian bubble without the skills to navigate the intellectual and ethical challenges of campus life, the importance of developing a strong Christian worldview underlaid by effective apologetics, the need for focussed mentoring supported by strong biblical teaching, and the critical nature of experiencing lived Christian community.”
An Evaluation of Teacher Stressors in an era of COVID-19: An Initial Analysis by Peter W. Kilgour, Maria T. Northcote, Jason K. Morton, and Kirsty Pearce
“School lockdowns prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic has required teachers to work in a climate of rapid and significant adaptation. In this paper, which is part of a larger study, we provide a summary of the effects the COVID-19 school lockdowns in 2020 had on teacher stress.”
Epistemological Implications of a ‘Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods’ Research Design by Malcolm Buchanan and Robert Herschell
“The philosophy of an educational research project is important to reflect upon and declare, but can often be left unexplained. In order to address this area of thought, this study discusses the implications of the epistemological paradigm of a ‘convergent parallel mixed methods’ research design. An actual research piece was chosen to assist in bringing focus to the study.”
Evaluating Evidence for the Historical Resurrection: A Content-Centered Approach to the Resurrection by John Grant, Jeffrey M. Byford, and Satomi Izumi-Taylor
“The purpose of this article was to investigate the use of deliberative decision-making lessons, such as the rank-order format, for evaluating historical events. In this lesson, students act as an ancient historian by evaluating historical pieces of evidence for the early Christian’s claim that Jesus was raised bodily from the dead. Students evaluated eight separate pieces of evidence discussed in historical scholarship by rank-ordering the evidences from strong to weak.”
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CIRCLE Editor
The Curriculum and Instruction Resource Center Linking Educators (CIRCLE) helps Seventh-day Adventist educators locate the ever-expanding array of resources for the ministry of teaching. Visit CIRCLE.adventistlearningcommunity.com to find and share Adventist educational resources anytime, anywhere.