Winter 2019/Fuller Online

MD543

Scott

MD543: MISSION WITH CHILDREN AT RISK (4 Units: 160 Hours). David H. Scott.

DESCRIPTION: This course is a broad-based survey of missional responses to children and youth who are at-risk. The course makes use of insights and approaches from across a wide variety of disciplines and is focused on helping Christians address the needs of children and youth, both within our own communities and around the world, in ways that respect and appreciate them as whole persons. This course is not merely intended as an opportunity to learn about the neglect, abuse and/or exploitation that some children and youth face around the world, but will rather extend beyond this goal to put students on a path towards developing new, contextualized, and theoretically-grounded approaches to work with children and youth for the sake of Christ’s Kingdom.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) Research and objectively describe some of the challenges that children face around the world and the resources for change that they represent; (2) acquire a theoretical framework for thinking missiologically about ministry with children at risk and how this connects with personal spirituality; and (3) articulate how a range of principles of best practice can be applied in a ministry context of the student’s choice, and their missiological implications.

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours, which is outlined below in the assignment and assessment section. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING: 938 pp. required.

Bowsher, Kersten and Glenn Miles, eds., Celebrating Children Workbooks. Vol. 1-8. Viva, 2013. Available in eReader [approx. 250 pp.].

McConnell, Doug, Paul Stockley, and Jennifer Orona, eds. Understanding God’s Heart for Children. World Vision Publishing, 2007. ISBN: 978-1934068472, Pub. Price $29.99. Available by January as an eBook [338 pp.].

Course Reader [350 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

Online presentations (includes both written and video presentations of material). [20 hours].
An approximate total of 500 words of forum interactions each week (20% of grade) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-3]. This includes completion of the course evaluation [20 hours].
938 pp. of required reading [47 hours].
An Initial Risk Focus Paper (500-750 words) that reports on your initial research into a risk factor affecting the children and/or youth in a community of your choice, 500-750 words (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 1] [8 hours].
A Theological Reflection Paper (1300-1700 words) that demonstrates an exploration of one of the affirmations of the Understanding God’s Heart for Children framework as it relates to your chosen risk focus (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 2] [18 hours].
A final paper that demonstrates independent research the student has pursued in relation to a best practice linked with their chosen risk focus, and which demonstrates an integration of course content and missiological implications (3,300-3,700 words) (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-3] [42 hours].
An annotated bibliography of the additional research you completed in pursuit of your papers in this course. (15%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes 1-3] [5 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets globalization (GLBL) requirement for SOT MA programs.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.