The test consisted of basic fac tual knowledge ques tions . The questions were based on the Sun day school curriculum that these students had used. The range of scores on the test was a low of 7 to a high of 94. The over-all aver age for the entire group of students who took this test was 50.42. The scores of students that had at tended Sunday school regularly two years or less were compared with the scores of the students who had attended Sunday school reguarly 8 years or more. The first group aver aged 45 on the test and the other group that had more than eight years of training averaged 53. Eight points difference for many more years of training! This was a concern at the time of the analysis of the results and it still seems alarming. Knowledge is not all teachers are attempting to impart but behavior, attitudes and deci sions also must be based on a knowledge and understanding of the Word of God. The students who came from homes where the entire family was involved in the church and all were Christians had scores slightly above the others. But even this did not seem significant! Listed here are just a few of the questions with a statement show ing how many of the students chose a significant incorect response: 6. Lot was a (an) .................... of Abraham. (1) enemy (2) son (3) visitor (4) nephew (5) brother 377 believed Lot was the son of Abraham. 10. Joseph was sold into Egypt. That was: (1) out of God’s plan. (2) an accident God used. (3) something God meant for good. (4) only an accident. 415 believed that Joseph being sold into Egypt was not in the plan of God. 16. The Ten Commandments are: (1) necessary for salvation.
(2) about our relationship with God. (3) about our relationship with people. (4) 1, 2, and 3. (5) 2 and 3. 514 believed the 10 command ments are necessary for salvation. 73. Christ grew up in the city of:
Innovations in Learning by H . Norman Wright T here are several elements in volved in the process of a com plete Christian education. One of the most neglected element is that of evaluation. This is the process that assists one in determining whether or not he has reached the goal or objective. It lets him know how much knowledge a person has gained or if attitudes have changed. Unless evaluation is an integral part of the on-going program of Christian Education, the education al process in incomplete and even ineffective! But why is this area so overlooked and even avoided? In some instances it is lacking be cause the teachers or sponsors lack adequate means of eva lua tion . There is no device or test available that would be suitable for measur ing the results of teaching. In other instances where tools are available teachers do not understand how to understand, interpret and use the results gleaned from the evalua tion device. There are even some who refuse to evaluate because of fear— a fear that the results would show how very little the students have been learning! Unfortunately the fact that very little learning has occurred with some students is too often true! Last year an evaluation device was constructed by a g radua te class at Talbot Theological Semi nary. A one-hundred question test spanning the entire Bible was de veloped to be used with Junior high students. The test was adminis tered to 1264 students from 23 churches in 10 different states. Ten different denominations participat ed in the program. The results of the tests were analyzed and stand ardization norms were developed using the 1264 students as a sam pling group. A computer at Biola College was employed in the scor ing and research process. JULY/AUGUST, 1970
(1) Jerusalem. (2) Bethlehem. (3) Capernaum. (4) Nazareth. (5) Jericho.
400 believed Christ grew up in the city of Jerusalem. 333 believed Christ grew up in the city of Beth lehem. 78. The prince of the power of the air refers to:
(1) Christ. (2) Satan. (3) The Holy Spirit. (4) Baal.
271 believed the Prince of the Pow er of air refers to Christ. 543 be lieved the Prince of the Power of air refers to the Holy Spirit. 91. The WRITER of the book of Acts was:
(1) Mark. (2) Luke. (3) Paul. (4) Timothy.
572 believed Paul wrote the book of Acts. 163 believed Timothy wrote the book of Acts. A teacher having this evaluation material has a better idea of the knowledge level of his students and also realizes that perhaps some sig nificant review is needed. It may lead one to consider his means of teaching and student involvement. It may also suggest more frequent testing or evaluation. Teachers may want to consider some of the following suggestions: 1. Cover less Biblical material and concentrate on an in-depth study so that there is comprehen sion, not just of factual knowledge, but also understanding, compre hension and application. 2. Use a wider variety of meth ods that involve the student in the Cont. on Page SU 15
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