The Consortium Podcast

Ep 38 - Karen Elliott and Rafiki Foundation

This is Episode 38 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog sponsored by Kepler Education.

In this episode, Scott Postma talks with the executive director of the Rafiki Foundation, Karen Elliott. Rafiki means "friend" in Swahili and depicts the purpose of the Foundation - to help people know God and raise their standard of living with excellence and integrity. Since 1985, the Foundation has been building Rafiki Villages throughout Africa that seek to cultivate human flourishing through Bible study and classical Christian education.

Karen has served with Rafiki since 1990, including twelve years on the mission field, primarily in Nigeria. She is now Rafiki's executive director. She holds a BBA in finance/accounting and music minor from Southern Methodist University, Masters degree in Education from UTA and is currently pursuing doctoral studies at Faulkner University. 

 

Ep. 37 - Dr. Chris Swanson and Learning for Life

This is Episode 37 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog sponsored by Kepler Education.

In this episode, Scott Postma interviews Dr. Chris Swanson, president of Gutenberg College in Eugene, Oregon. Dr. Swanson shares his own unique education journey, Gutenberg's innovative (but not new) approach to a liberal arts education, and why educators should consider attending the Learning for Life Education Conference hosted by Gutenberg College in September each year. This year the conference is September 8-10, 2022.

 

Learning for Life Education Conference speakers and topics include:

• Amanda Butler of Classical Conversations “Reclaiming the Art of Conversation”
• Scott Postma Kepler Education “Preparing Students for a Life Worth Living”
• Andrew Pudewa Institute for Excellence in Writing “However Imperfectly: Lessons Learned from Three Decades of Teaching”
• Kathryn Smith Templeton Honors College “A Fairy Tale Education”
• Andrew Zwerneman Cana Academy “History: Seeing the Whole”
• Eliot Grasso Gutenberg College “Learning for an Integrated Life”
• Chris Swanson Gutenberg College “An Inquiry Approach to Mathematics and the Sciences”

Ep. 36 - Why New England Needs Classical Education

This is Episode 36 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog sponsored by Kepler Education.

In this episode, Sarah Abbott and Tim Knotts of the Classical Learning Consortium for New England join Scott Postma to discuss the need for classical education in New England. Given the number of Ivy League schools in New England, it is only obvious that it once was the epicenter for liberal education in the United States; In the 19th century, however, it became a leader in the push for the modern education of Horace Mann and John Dewey.  Learn why, like never before, New England needs Classical Christian Education.

Listen in to a fascinating discussion about what classical education is, what the Classical Learning Consortium for New England is doing, and why Kepler Education is joining the CLCNE to host the New England Consortium of Classical Educators on July 15-16, 2022.

 

Learn more about or get tickets for the New England Consortium of Classical Educators.

Andrew Kern: What Happened to Classical Education?

This is Episode 35 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education.

In this episode, Scott Postma talks with Andrew Kern of the CiRCE Institute about Classical Education and Andrew's 3-part article, What Happened to Classical Education? Listen in as Andrew brilliantly answers some of the big questions educators should be (and are) asking: What is classical education? What forms or variations does it offer? Is it an identifiable method? Is it a formula or even a form? Is it a creed, a value system, a set of skills? What do we mean when we claim to be classical educators?

• Read all three parts of What Happened to Classical Education? Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
• Learn more about CiRCE and Andrew Kern here.
• Learn more about Kepler and classical Christian Education here.

The Growing Spotlight on Classical Christian Education

This is Episode 34 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education.

In this episode, Scott Postma sits down with Joffre Swait to discuss Fox Nation's recent 5-part documentary on classical Christian education and what the growing spotlight means for Classical Christian Education. First, we discussed the various themes and implications treated by each episode and then we looked at the larger consideration of how to reclaim the Christian Paideia in the 21st-Century.

You can find the Fox Nation documentary here and use code: classroom to watch it free.

You can also watch the short film Kepler produced last year, We've Been Schooled.

Learn more about classical Christian Education here.

Jake Litwin on Apologetics and Integrated Humanities

This is Episode 33 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education.

In this episode, Scott Postma sits down with Jake Litwin to discuss the Integrated Humanities and Apologetics, and why the various concepts studied in these subjects are essential to a well-rounded high school education.

Jake is a teacher at Kepler Education, teaching Ancient and Classical Humanities and Apologetics. He is also part of The Doane Creative Agency team, a brand building and content communication company. Jake earned a B.A. in Christian Studies with an emphasis in Christian Education. He lives in Idaho with this wife and two children and enjoys reading, watching and discussing movies, playing guitar, hiking and traveling.

You can find Jake's courses at here at Kepler Education.

Dr. Chris Schlect on the History and Meaning of the Liberal Arts

This is Episode 32 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education.

In this episode, Scott Postma sits down with Dr. Chris Schlect to discuss the Liberal Arts, its history in classical thought, what the liberal arts are, and what they are not.

Dr. Schlect is the Senior Fellow of History at New Saint Andrews College, where he teaches courses in ancient and medieval civilizations, US history, the history of American Christianity, medieval education, and Classical Rhetoric, among other subjects. Dr. Schlect is also the Director of New Saint Andrews College’s graduate program in Classical and Christian Studies.

He has taught courses in US history and Ancient Rome at Washington State University and has authored, as well as contributed to, numerous books and articles, appearing in several classical Christian publications as well as the National Park Service’s “Getaway” series. Dr. Schlect is also a teaching elder at Trinity Reformed Church (CREC) in Moscow, Idaho. He and his wife, Brenda, have five children and five grandchildren.

 

New Podcasts Coming from the Consortium and Kepler Education

This is Episode 31 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education.

In this episode, we announce the new lineup of podcasts for the upcoming year.

The Consortium Podcast is where listeners can listen into engaging academic conversations with teachers, authors, and professors engaged in Classical Christian Education. 

The Everlasting Education podcast will continue in same vein as the earlier episodes of the Consortium podcast with Scott Postma and Joffre Swait taking a cue from Chesterton's view of "having a gentle contempt for education" and engaging the day-to-day questions and concerns that affect parents and educators who are engaged in the trenches of Classical Christian Education. 

The Eccentric Podcast is the podcast for students and eavesdropping parents of Kepler Education. Taking its name from our student magazine, The Kepler Eccentric, Joffre Swait (Kepler's Academic Advisor) will tackle student issues, feature Kepler students, and bring Kepler student life to the streaming airwaves.

All three podcasts can be found wherever you listen to you podcasts

How to Have a Successful Academic Year

This is Episode 30 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education.

 

Classes at Kepler Education have begun and in this episode, Scott Postma and Joffre Swait discuss some of the important ways students can have a successful academic year. Education is a student's vocation. It's a real calling for a specific time of a young person's life and there is much to be gained by a thankful and thoughtful student. Student listening in will gain some real valuable help and encouragement in this episode.

 

Learn more about Online Classical Christian Education at https://kepler.education.

 

Interview with Dr. Mitch Stokes on Calculus and Teaching Math Classically

This is Episode 29 of the Consortium Podcast, an academic audio blog of Kepler Education.

In this episode, Scott Postma and Joffre Swait interview Dr. Mitch Stokes to talk about his new Calculus textbook., Calculus for Everyone, and what it means to teach math classically.

Mitch Stokes (Ph.D., Notre Dame) is a senior fellow of philosophy at New St. Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho. In addition to studying philosophy under world-renowned philosopher Alvin Plantinga, Stokes holds degrees in philosophy, religion, & mechanical engineering. He is the author of Calculus for Everyone, books on apologetics, and biographies of Newton and Galileo.

 

To learn more about classical education and browse courses, visit us at http://kepler.education.