ERIC Number: EJ1314122
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2159-0281
EISSN: N/A
"Honest Answers to Honest Questions": The Francis and Edith Schaeffer Approach to the Education of Adults
Rasmussen, Adam J.
Journal of Instructional Research, v10 p74-84 2021
The teaching strategies of Francis and Edith Schaeffer helped young adults construct meaning in their lives. During several seasons of tumultuous social unrest, the Schaeffers consistently gave shelter to many confused, searching, and hurting adults. Their educational motto was "honest answers to honest questions." For nearly thirty years, from 1955 to 1984, Francis and Edith taught at L'Abri, a unique living-learning community they founded in the Swiss Alps. Until now no formal study has researched the educational aspect of Francis Schaeffer at L'Abri. This recent mixed-methods study has defined the educational emphases and methods of the Schaeffer approach at L'Abri. All the participants in the study (n = 30) were students of Francis Schaeffer at L'Abri. Their interviews yielded rich and deeply nuanced descriptions of the teaching-learning process there. In summary, they identified three vital components and five valuable expressions of the L'Abri phenomenon. Significantly, every participant (100%) indicated that Francis Schaeffer's use of questions was helpful to their overall learning experience. The article concludes with several iterative teaching strategies from the Schaeffer approach to apply in 21st century educational settings.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Teaching Methods, Young Adults, Learning Processes, Inquiry, Nontraditional Education, Educational History, Living Learning Centers, Group Discussion, World Views, Christianity, Religious Factors
Center for Innovation in Research and Teaching at Grand Canyon University. 3300 West Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85017. Tel: 602-639-6729; e-mail: cirt@gcu.edu; Web site: http://www.instructionalresearch.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Switzerland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A