ASSIGNMENTS
ABOUT ASSIGNMENTS
Psychologist Jon Mueller defines authentic assessment as “a form of assessment in which students are asked to perform real-world tasks that demonstrate meaningful application of essential knowledge and skills.” This practice is not new to theological education. Our students write sermons, prepare Sunday school classes, lead public worship, and participate in various forms of supervised pastoral experience.Nevertheless, we believe ministry training programs over-value academically oriented assignments and under-value professionally oriented assignments. Like the best of experiential theological learning, digital media assignments have the potential both to prepare students directly for future ministry tasks and to extend the impact of students’ effort beyond the boundaries of the classroom. If students choose, or if we specifically require it, their digital assignments—say, a 90 Second Sermon—can have a life of their own via the many networked publics that connect our students, the people they serve, and potentially others.
The benefits of such an experience are substantial—our students gain insight into how their projects resonate (or not) and how their approach might be revised in the future. The online reflection that often follows the posting of a project can be as the experience of creating it.
EXPLORE THE ASSIGNMENTS

Why Ministry? Meme Assignment
Lisa Kimball, professor of Christian Education at VTSMargie Baker Memes are funny, memorable, and
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Using Online Reviews to Share Resources
Lisa Kimball, professor of Christian Education at VTSMargie Baker, Digital Coach This activity
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Ketubah Remix Assignment
Judy Fentress-WilliamsSarah Stonesifer This assignment, from the Bad Girls of the Bible online
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Biblical Meme Assignment
Judy Fentress-WilliamsSarah Stonesifer This assignment is part of the Bad Girls of the Bible
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First Person Video Assignment
Sarah StonesiferJudy Fentress-Williams This first-person video assignment, from the Bad Girls of
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Bad Girls of the Bible: Jigsaw Activity
Judy Fentress-WilliamsSarah Stonesifer This assignment is part of the Bad Girls of the Bible
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Case Study & Toolkit Assignment: Parish Administration
Kathryn GloverMargie Baker This is a two-part assignment for a one-week intensive course on
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Bad Girls of the Bible: Online Course
Are you curious about how to design and facilitate an entirely online course? This guide offers a
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Technology Rule of Life
Several of our favorite books on technology and faith, including Tweet If You ♥ Jesus and The
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