Steep Climb
The structure for our bible college here at Silver Oak School in Mizoram, NE India is borrowed from NationsUniversity, “a school without walls that offers affordable, accessible higher education to build faith and develop culturally rooted Christian leaders around the world.” Our fall quarter of studies consists of four Old Testament subjects. Each subject (course) is arranged in 5 modules which are, in turn, subdivided into three units. Our study schedule allows for three weeks (15 class-days) per subject. If you have followed up to this point, you might also conclude that each day (3 class-time hours) is given to each unit! At the end of each module there is an examination via the internet.
On September 25, eight young men--we hope some women will join in the future--from various points in NE India embarked on a steep learning curve due to:
- No familiarity with the Old Testament
- Zero typing skills
- Strangers to computers
- Deficiencies in English
As though those were not challenges enough, their schooling to date is of another kind. I think it would not be far off the mark to state that the majority of schooling in these parts depends on the art of memorization. Teachers provide probable test questions accompanied by expected answers. Hours are spent memorizing “questions and answers.” Many teachers publish books which supply students with the “set of possible questions and required answers.” Analyzing, summarizing, discussing, questioning, exploring, interacting … are (unfortunately, in my opinion) supplanted by the “prepare-for-the-exam” syndrome. So, when faced with a subject as vast as Survey of the Old Testament, the traditional method of out-guessing the exam and memorizing answer comes up rather short!
On top of all that, a passing mark in these parts is usually around 30%. NationsU uses 70% as the passing mark!
However, I think we are all getting “in the groove.” NationsUniversity (http://www.nationsu.org/) provides a flexible structure with appropriate objectives for the making of disciple-makers here in the NE. The facilities are very adequate and the climate is ideal for those who wish to concentrate on studies.
1 comment:
I can imagine it is quite a shock for those guys... I wonder how many exam answers Uncle Pao/Chin/Shyam and the rest remember from the 60's though? I think you are right that there are some more important things than memorizing answers.
9 sounds like a great number and I'm sure the classes will be great but more importantly the life mentoring will have a great impact.
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