The Wabash Center's Dialogue On Teaching

Hispanic Theological Initiative (HTI) has been supporting Latinx scholarship for 25 years. Hear the story of this timely and much needed project; gain insights about ways racially particular projects strengthen all of theological education. 

Since theological education has many starting points, how do we include encounters with our grandmothers?  In what ways might theological education restructure in order to honor our ancestors and babies yet to be born?  What would student formation become with a focus on healing, holiness, wisdom and love – traditions of our grandmothers?  Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield hosts Dr. Patrick Reyes, Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE).

What does it mean to create virtual community…when you are new to teaching? Creating healthy intimacy and appropriate vulnerability in online courses takes planning. Give yourself permission to be slow. Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfields hosts Dr. Rachelle Green (Fordham University). 

What could it mean to seize this moment as a time for creativity and opportunity to rethink teaching? In what ways can data driven decisions impact design of new educational paradigms? What are the new set of skills needed by professors in this digital age? Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield hosts Dr. Frank Yamada (Association of Theological Schools).

Kwok Pui Lan (Candler School of Theology at Emory University) and Tat-siong Benny Liew (Holy Cross College) interviewed Dr. Sarah Bogue of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University . They discussed ways for building community in virtual teaching and online learning. Creative ways of using Zoom and other technologies in online learning are explored. Incentivizing student interaction both within and outside of class meeting times helped to foster a community of learning.

Kwok Pui Lan (Candler School of Theology - Emory University) and Tat-siong Benny Liew (Holy Cross College) interviewed Dr. Kristina Reardon, Director of the Writer’s Workshop at the College of the Holy Cross. They discussed the challenges of turning a class into a community while teaching remotely. Strategies for supporting and resourcing student learning needs, especially for college students, are explored in the video.

What does it mean to teach for the honoring of body? Insights on approaches which disrupt “neck-up” teaching; encouragement toward classrooms for mutual experiences of one another.  What if the scholarly production of knowledge included body, spirit and community?  Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield hosts Dr. Courtney Bryant (Manhattan College).

What does it mean to teach students with unexamined biases against immigrant faculty?What happens to faculty when “fitting in” requires loss of cultural identity? In what ways can skills of translation assist with the wounds of assimilation? Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield hosts Dr. Jin Young Choi (Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School).

Teaching to help one another become ourselves requires a different model of education.  Nurturing the curiosity of teacher and learner would need new forms and new functions.  Daring to be creative might help shift the paradigm of theological education. Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield hosts Dr. Brian Bantum (Garrett-Evangelical Theological)

Even for the seasoned scholar, understanding the digital mindset as well as navigating educational platforms is a necessity for effective teaching.  Incorporating new collaborations and resources is a key to effective classroom experiences and learner success. Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield hosts Dr. Gay L. Byron (Howard University School of Divinity).