LATT Conference Papers

Assessment is an element of Theological Education that touches upon each of the seven domains of the Higher Education Standards 2015. Papers presented at the 2021 LATT Conference Assessment in Theological Education covered the below domains

Student Participation & Attainment (Domain 1)
Learning Environment (Domain 2)
Student Participation & Attainment & Learning Environment (Domain 1 & 2)
Teaching & Learning (Domain 3)
Institutional Quality Assurance (Domain 5)

The presentations, including plenary sessions by Prof Royce Sadler and Dr Andrew Shead, are available for viewing at a nominal cost per video. SUBMIT A RENT REQUEST FORM or contact SCD at scd@scd.edu.au if you want to rent any of the videos either for personal viewing or as a group.

Plenary Sessions

Assessing Change, Changing Assessment: The Elements

Dr Andrew Shead

The paper discusses obstacles to effective assessment; building the graduate through learning tasks; learning responsibility of the learning community; and expanding the learning community.

Assessing Change, Changing Assessment: The System

Dr Andrew Shead

“...basic knowledge & understanding concerns God’s revelation in Scripture, the basic skill must be that of a good pastor able to assist others in their knowledge of God...”

Assessment for Improving Learning: Students as Insiders

Prof Royce Sadler

The focus of this presentation is the question, what do you want students in your course unit to achieve?

Marking and Grading with Integrity

Prof Royce Sadler

The paper looks at what ‘attribute’ of the student are assessors trying to mark? Achievement? Effort?

Domain 1

Analysis and Exhortation in Grading Student Papers

Dr Andrew Stewart

The aim of this paper is to set out a series of aims and methods for providing constructive critical feedback, via a marking rubric, which is part of the teaching and learning process.

Competency-Based Assessment for Supervised Pastoral Ministry

Dr John Collins

The presentation is to examine insights from the training programs for Social Workers that may be of use for a rethinking of the assessment profile for SCD Supervised Ministry units.

Leveling the Assessment Playing Field

Dr Rob Fringer & Dr Dean Smith

The paper introduces the NTC chart and guidelines used to address the shift in the student body through a re-evaluation of student assessment tasks.

Oral Examinations of Ministry Scenarios: A Case Study

Dr Simon Gillham and Ms Tara Stenhouse

The case study is drawn from recent practice in Moore College’s Ministry and Mission 3 course.

Domain 1 & 2

A Tale of Two Villages: Writing a Medieval Chronicle

Dr Yvette Debergue

The learning activity engages students in the creation and construction of their own learning through reflecting and changing their understanding of the ways history is still relevant today.

Assessment Long Before the First Class

Dr David Wright

The paper argues that best-practice assessment should begin as part of the process of a potential student applying to study.

Roles of Self-Reflection & Religious Coping in Strengthening Resilience

Mrs Kirsten Bucknell

The presentation provides an introduction to the Systematic Self-Reflection (SSR) model of resilience strengthening.

Domain 2

Leveraging Wesleyan Connectionalism to Nurture Partnerships in Learning

Dr Bruce Allder

The paper seeks to reflect on the application of the Emmaus Model (Allder & Ackerman 2019) in ministry preparation conducted through NTC.

Theological Resources for Markers: the Impartiality of God

Assoc Prof Peter Bolt

After exploring the biblical portrayal of divine impartiality & its implications for human life, the paper seeks to align this resource with marking best practice.

Domain 3

Assessing the Quality of Online Learning in Theological Education

Dr Andrew Spalding

The paper argues that traditional assessments used in online learning do not meaningfully promote or record the process of spiritual formation.

Assessment Strategies for Online Transformative Learning

Assoc Prof Peter Laughlin

This paper explores the concept of transformative assessment ‘on the way’.

Can "Performative Assessment" Corrupt Transformative Learning

Prof James Dalziel

The paper reflects on the challenges for assessment in theological education, particularly for SF units, including concerns about the gap between the heart & actions.

Creative Assessment in Theological Education

Dr Neil Holm

The paper explores the idea that creative approaches to assessment are both theologically sound and intrinsically motivating to students and lecturers.

Curriculum Design and Pedagogical Analysis of Bible Units

Ms Edwina Blair

The paper reports the findings of a critical review of curriculum design and pedagogical principles at ACOM.

Educating for Virtue: New Covenant Foundations

Dr Peter Carblis

The paper is built upon five premises relating to the promise of the New Covenant as declared in Hebrews 8: 10.

Engaging all Learners to Engage with God: UDL and Theological Education

Dr Louise Gosbell

The paper will outline the aims and methodology of UDL and consider its application for HEd in general, and more specifically, to the area of Christian higher education.

Relearning Research in the Information Age

Ms Emily Southwell

The paper discusses the need to build research skills so that students can effectively learn without being swept away by the seemingly endless data of the Information Age.

Rummaging, Stretching and Searching for Fragments

Dr Peter Mudge

The paper employs metaphors to argue that some aspects of SF can be assessed formally and informally, while others are more elusive and require a different modus operandi.