Joy Hooker 

2009-2011 - Formal Education

 

My husband and I moved to Auckland in January 2009 in order for me to finish studying fulltime.  I not only completed a Bachelor of Applied Theology at Carey, but went on to complete a Master of Theology at Laidlaw-Carey Graduate School (graduating December 2012).

 

During this time I also helped with administration tasks at Carey – particularly with enrolments at the beginning of each semester which included setting students up on Moodle and packaging up and mailing out course books for distance students.

 

Key events

In 2009 I received the R.J. Thompson Centre for Research recognition for best undergraduate research essay in Biblical Studies. (See Other Evidence)

 

 

 

As I had a personal interest in adult education (and online learning in particular), I spoke to the Principal at Carey about the possibility of cross-crediting an adult learning paper into my Carey degree.  In 2010 I completed “Developing Distance and Flexible Learning” through AUT, gaining a Certificate of Proficiency. (See Graduate Attribute 6 for detail and a reflection on learning)

 

 

 

 

While still completing level 7 papers for my Bachelor’s degree, I was asked to help write course material for a restructured level 6/7 course on Romans.  As I had previously completed the course, then taught it myself in Hamilton, I was familiar with the subject matter.  I wrote approximately one third of the course book and this is still being utilised.  (See Other Evidence for introduction from the lecturer of the Romans course.)

 

 

 

After completing a Masters paper on Isaiah in 2010, I presented a paper at the “Isaiah and Empire” colloquium run by

Laidlaw-Carey Graduate School.  The Paper was called Zion as Theological Symbol in Isaiah: Implications for Judah

for the Nations and for Empire.  This was published in 2013.  (See Publications)

 

 

 

 

At my graduation for my Batchelor’s degree in March 2011 I received the Dean’s award for Academic Achievement –

the highest academic award at Carey Baptist College.  (See photo at right)

 

I was appointed as Student Representative on the Post-Graduate Committee for Laidlaw-Carey Graduate School for

2011.  In this role I brought student concerns to the Committee and gave feedback to the Committee from a student’s

perspective.

 

During 2011 I also began ad hoc adjunct lecturing at Elim Ministry Training College (level 4) and Lifeway College

(levels 4 and 5).  I taught on various subjects including theology, the Gospels, and leadership. I found I had actually

missed having an outlet for the learning I was acquiring while I was studying.  I realised that simply learning about

something without having the opportunity to pass it on to someone else was frustrating, and was very pleased to

have further opportunities to teach others.

 

Key influencers

George Wieland, New Testament lecturer, Carey Baptist College

George continues to be one of the most encouraging people I know.  He was my supervisor for one of my research projects (the one I got the award for), and helped me think in new ways and from different perspectives.  George has a way of asking the types of questions that enable this.  One key piece of advice he gave was to place myself “in the conversation” with other scholars, rather than viewing myself as outside their circle.  I was now part of that circle of scholarship and I needed to see myself from this perspective.  It changed the way I wrote my assignments and interacted with scholars at an academic level.

 

Key learning acquired

Studying fulltime enabled me to focus my learning on one thing – and I made the most of it.  I learnt how to do high quality research and writing in an academic environment as evidenced by awards and acknowledgement I received.

 

During my study I was able to observe a number of different teaching methods and styles of lecturing.  These observations influenced my own teaching style.  One of my major frustrations was with lecturers who assumed students knew the context for what they taught.  This was very evident in the papers Introduction to Church History, and Prophets in Context.  Neither of the lecturers for these papers gave any context to the various people studied.   While I found out about the people, I did not know why this was important as it wasn’t linked to context.  I determined I would never be guilty of the same mistake.