The Use of Visuals in Seminary Education

This session was based on the digital visuals found in my The Visual Word blogsite. Two sets of resources were focused on in this session: a) Collections of visual representations of the Bible story and b) Comic creation and comic character creation (what I often call web generators) sites.

Some who attended this session requested for the list of applications that the collection of visuals can be used for.

These include:
1. Illustrate parts of scripture
2. (Re)Discover biblical narrative in pre/post-literate society
3. Clarify artist’s interpretation of story
4. Create awareness of the global nature of Christianity
5. Promote awareness of other cultures
6. Communicate visually/help visual learners
7. Design variety of learning experiences
8. Promote congregational learning
9. Understand communicative processes (including preaching and reading texts) better
10. Dialogue about copyright issues

Some critical questions arising from the use of these resources include:
1. When does contextualization end and syncretism, blasphemy, or idolatry begin?
2. Is it legitimate to use Jesus visuals during worship?
3. Is it legitimate to use Jesus visuals for teaching? Under which circumstances?
4. Why is it ok to use pictures to teach children the bible by getting them to color pictures from Bible scenes but not visuals to teach a visually oriented, biblically illiterate audience using Bible Manga or Powerpoint visuals?
4. If in scripture, God is revealed through his Word and not through visual representation (i.e. an idol), should we be using visuals to transmit understanding of God?
5. How is the representation of God distorted or limited by the use of visuals?

We then went on to explore some of the comic and comic character creation sites on the blog. This is Rev Peter Soh's contribution to the world of visual art.

Remember, the impetus for being familiar with these resources is because we have a new generation of learners and users for whom these visuals are a part of their DNA. If we are not familiar with the issues of living in an increasingly global visually driven culture, or if we don't know how to manage and pose the correct questions to those who function in that world, we have not provided leadership nor are we preparing our students to be leaders in those arenas!

A picture paints a thousand words - which thousand?

The 4th ATA Deans Seminar (Day Five 23 May 2008)

The day started with worship led by Dr Theresa Lua, followed by Dr Fritz Deininger's final meditation on the Pastoral Support of the Dean.

Dr Calvin Chong then led a session on The Use of Powerpoint in Seminary Classrooms during which he shared imaginative ways in which Powerpoint (or any other presentation software) can be effective deployed in classroom. On the other hand, common criticisms about Powerpoint use were also highlighted. The advice which was shared was that seminary educators should move away from dichotomous and polarizing technophile vv technophobe positions and to ask how the technology can be effectively used if it is appropriate technology for your school - bearing in mind that if the technological advances in our countries are where they are today, it is a matter of missional imperative and pastoral duty to be familiar with the technologies and for schools to be providing leadership in this area! Remember, technology is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master!

Some very interesting questions raised about the value as well as the problem of images to represent what is found in the Word were raised for thought and reflection. The questions are important and part of the leadership development process that needs to be found in our schools.

The session on Powerpoint use was followed by the final session of the 4th Deans' Seminar. Questions were raised for the panel comprising of Drs Calvin Chong, Fritz Deininger, Theresa Lua, Peter Theiron and Ron Watters. Kind words of appreciation were conveyed to the resources persons as well as questions of the heart posed to the panel members. A final evaluation session and closing prayer by Bernard Costa ended the week's proceedings.

The 4th ATA Deans Seminar (Day Four 22 May 2008)

The day started with breakfast - especially important for those in their sub-human, pre-coffee state...

...and was followed by worship by Dr Varghese and the session by Fritz Deinenger on the "Pastoral concerns of the Dean."

The first morning session was Workshop A and Workshop B taken by Dr Sukwant Bhatia and Dr Calvin Chong respectively.

Here we have Dr Bhatia's session which covered....

Dr Chong's session covered collaborative techniques based on Barkley, Cross and Major's book Collaborative Learning Techniques.

Here's a quote for you to think about:

Just as learning can take place without teaching happening, so teaching can take place without learning happening

The second session was Workshop C and Workshop D. Dr Bhatia facilitated Workshop C


Workshop D was a simulation game on implementing change in schools. That was a very powerful learning experience because simulations get you to play out your deepest unconscious values and to see consequences of actions in a safe environment.




So its true - the ritual behavior in this class is...well, let's just say different!



After lunch, Workshops C and D were repeated again, followed by a debrief of the simulation.

The afternoon workshops were followed by Dr Theron's session on Learning Communities.

The final evening session featured Ben Pwee's presentation on Sustaining Capacity Building.

The 4th ATA Deans Seminar (Day Three 21 May 2008)

The day started with Puje leading us in worship. Dr Fritz Deninger then went on to share continuing thoughts on the "Pastoral Care of the Dean for Faculty."

This session was followed by Dr Sukwant Bhatia sharing with the group on "Assessment of Learning in Seminaries."

Following Dr Bhatia's session, the group was divided into two workshops. Dr Bhatia ran Workshop A which dealt with issues of Faculty Development. (more information and a picture or two hopefully can be posted later)

Dr Calvin Chong facilitated Workshop B which was designed to introduce participants to Barkley, Cross and Majors' book Collaborative Learning Techniques as well as to provide the deans with experiences of how some of the techniques can be applied in seminary classes.

Participants in Dr Chong's workshop were invited to group themselves by their disciplines and then asked the following questions after provided with a selection of readings from the book to interact with:

1. My summary of how CoLT # _____ is supposed to work.
2. Questions and clarifications from other members of the group about how the CoLT is suppose to work.
3. My example(s) of how the CoLT can be applied in a seminary class to promote learning.
4. Others' examples of how the CoLT can be applied in a seminary class to promote learning.

Before lunch we had opportunity to take a group picture.

After lunch, it was free time for all - which is the reason why there was time to update this blog today!

In the evening, the group traveled by taxi....

to a place where we boarded a boat for a dinner cruise down the river.

On the boat, there was opportunity for fellow deans to fellowship...

...at our different tables...

...especially while we were waiting for our food!


...well, the fellowship continued after the food was consumed too!

The 4th ATA Deans Seminar (Day Two 20th May 2008)

Day Two was started with worship led by Dr Varghese from Jubilee Light Bible College. This was followed by the meditation on "Pastoral Leadership of the Dean to the Faculty" by Dr Fritz Deininger.


Dr Peter Theron lead a session entitled "External Environmental Trends" where he brought attention to some of these changes as well as provided us with a framework within which to view changes. Peter, your godzilla slide must be the best one so far!

This was followed by Dr Theresa Lua's interactive session on "Forces affecting the Church: Implications for Theological Education."

In the afternoon, we had Dr Sukwant Bhatia present to us a talk on Faculty Building. I found the information in this session very helpful even if the session was a little long with those in the front having to cope with a dimly lit situation (Ah - the trade-off that comes with dimming the lights (and the prof at the same time) in order to see what's on screen a little better!) Makes me wonder who or what we value more?

The final session was one presented by Dr Calvin Chong who provided us with reasons why academic deans need to pay attention to the teaching learning processes found seminaries. For most part, there is a default stance and posture which does not take into consideration effectiveness of learning and the experiences of students who are at the receiving end of this teaching posture. The encouragement in the session was thus for deans to help faculty to develop a great repertoire of teaching strategies to achieve the educational goals in their classes and for their institutions. Below is a quote from Dr Phillip's Koh PhD dissertation "Active Learning and Intellectual Excellence in Theological Education in Southeast Asia” where he tried to describe teaching learning practices in South East Asian seminaries:

In general, the educational practice in Southeast Asian seminaries has been deeply influenced by cultural beliefs and values. These influences originate from two cultural streams. The first one is the Confucian ethical system which has enculturated Asian countries with a substantial Chinese population, and also countries such as Korea and Japan. The other cultural stream is the British educational system which has left an enduring legacy in Asian countries which were former British colonies. While the Confucian ethical system elevates the position of the teacher above the students, the British educational system elevates the lecture as the primary mode of instruction. The consequences of a cultural understanding of the position of the teacher, for example, is it affects not only the attitudes of teachers toward students, but also toward the teaching and learning process in theological education in Southeast Asia. (Koh 1998, 223-224)

I think most of us were very grateful for the evening off. The day was very intense and wearying to the mind!

The 4th ATA Deans' Seminar (Day One 19th May 2008)

The 4th ATA Deans Seminar was held in Bangkok from 19-24 May 2008. This is an attempt to document a selection of events over the week.

Day One meeting were opened by Dr Theresa Lua who led us in the welcome and opening session.


After dinner, Dr Ron Watters lead us in a session on Capacity Building. Ben Pwee also chipped in with his great insights on functional and dysfunctional teams as well as qualities of successful leaders.


There were several from our midst who were still making their way to the seminar, delayed by a storm, a delayed flight, etc. One was also no allowed to leave the country for some reason. All reasons for pray for each other.