HOMI 601

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

REFLECTIVE COMMENTARY

JEROME D. SCHMIDT

(ID# 25513126)

HOMI 601 B02

October 14, 2015

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………1

INTENTION….…………..……………………………………………………………………..1

THE ROLE AND FUNCTION OF ASSESSMENT ..………………………………………….1

KEY STRATEGIES IN SELF EVALUATION .……………………………………………….4

ASSESSMENT OF ASSESSMENT ..………………………………………………………….5

CONCLUSION …………………………………………………………………………………5

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Introduction.

The intention of this paper is to address the role and function of evaluations in the

training process. As leaders for Christ, we must be able to take an honest look at our teaching

and performance. First Timothy 4:13-16 tells us to devote ourselves to the Word of God and

teach others His Word. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to

preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic

message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give

yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and

doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your

hearers. (NIV)

However, James warns us, Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers,

because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1, NIV) When we

are called to teach the Word of God, we have a great responsibility to continually improve our

teaching in order to transform lives to the glory of God. Evaluating our lessons effectiveness and

our skill disseminating His Word is imperative.

Intention

The intention of this paper is to address the role and function of evaluations in the

training process and objective self-assessment by the trainer. Additionally, I will reexamine my

self-assessment from my Teaching Lesson and Synopsis paper.

The role and function of assessment

Evaluation is a sometimes neglected tool in developing lessons and curriculum. Richards

suggests that when evaluating the teacher-learner process, one must take into consideration four

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variables: “the learner, the teacher, the curriculum, and the environment.”1 Taking these

variables into account during the planning stage will streamline the final evaluation process.

Evaluation must take place at every stage of the teacher-learner process. Richards tells us, “We

must look at what comes before we teach, what happens during our teaching, and what happens

in the lives of students after we teach.2

However, in order to evaluate your lesson, training, or curriculum, there must be in place a

standard. The standard is what how we judge the outcome. The standard is communicated. Once

training is complete, the results are evaluated.

Coming from a military background, we employed an “After-Action-Review” to assess

the training outcome. Robert Stakes model for evaluating teaching and education is very similar

to the Army’s AAR. “The after action review is a structured review process that allows

participants to discover how and why certain events actually happened and how to improve

future task performance.”3 An AAR seeks to answer four questions:

1. What was supposed to take place?

2. What did take place?
3. Why it happened?
4. How to improve.

In Proverbs 27:12, “The prudent see danger and take refuge.” A good teacher will always

be looking for trouble on the horizon and evaluating the past. When trouble or problems are just

a blip on the radar, a good teacher takes action and does something. “But the simple keep going

and suffer for it.” The small group dies, church membership drops, the church doors close, etc.

1
Richards, Lawrence O.; Bredfeldt, Gary J. (1998-03-01). Creative Bible Teaching
(Kindle Locations 5857-5858). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.
2
Richards, Lawrence O.; Bredfeldt, Gary J. (1998-03-01). Creative Bible Teaching
(Kindle Locations 6048-6049). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.
3
United States Army, Army Regulation 350-1, Army Training and Leader Development.
(Headquarters Department of the Army Washington, DC 19 August 2014) 109.
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Andy Stanley tells us, “The point is, no matter how good the system, a consistent time of

evaluation can produce tremendous benefits.4

Key strategies in self evaluation

Assessment of assessment

4
Stanley, Andy; Jones, Lane; Joiner, Reggie (2008-08-19). Seven Practices of Effective
Ministry (North Point Resources) (Kindle Locations 2202-2203). The Crown Publishing Group.
Kindle Edition.

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Conclusion