Kerux: a portfolio of Calvin Theological Seminary - Volume 43.5 - 27 Mar 2009

A Pedagogically Satisfying Experience

On the benefits of oral comprehensives

by Nate Van Denend, co-editor in chief

During December and January, this year’s class of potential graduates endured Calvin Seminary’s rite of passage: oral comprehensive examinations. The format is simple: one student, three professors, one hour. Condensed into that hour are three or four years of preparation, learning and studying. The student must be prepared to field questions relating to anything covered in any of the courses that student had taken. In addition, the student must be prepared to answer on-the-spot practical questions that require being able to synthesize information and apply that information to a given situation.

How does one prepare for this one hour? Is the oral comprehensive a beneficial, useful, practical pedagogical tool? What did these students learn from the experience? Kerux asked a few students to answer these questions and to discuss the process of preparing for the oral comprehensive.

The answers from students were surprisingly positive. Brian Seifert stated, "I thought working with my group was absolutely the best experience by far." Sean Baker and Dirk Van Eck offered similar sentiments. Sean Baker said, "Preparation for comps was the most enjoyable and profitable learning experience of my seminary career." Similarly, Dirk Van Eck said, "It was one of the best pedagogical experiences of my life."

But why?

Dirk Van Eck gave this reason: "I was forced to think critically about how past councils or systematized theology applies to the average person walking down the street." And Sean Baker explained, "I sensed an urgency that both my colleagues and I learn how to articulate the Christian faith clearly and cogently. " Brian Seifert responded, "I was pushed to answer over and over in a clear, intelligible way where as trying to formulate these answers on my own would have been a ripe invitation to stick my foot in my mouth."

So the process of the studying together in groups helped these students learn how to articulate their answers clearly to the average Joe. Sean Baker picked up on an additional positive effect of group study, saying, "In studying, as in our future ministries, we were in this together. This meant we were invested in each other’s competence and success."

The students not only gained some camaraderie and learned how to answer tough questions. They also learned content from their peers and on their own. Brian Seifert said, "There was so much I learned from them [my group] that I just would have never been [able] to learn on my own." Sean Baker added, "I learned a lot of Reformed Theology for the first time. It was in prep for comps that I committed much from scripture and confessions to memory...When you or your colleague gives an 85% strong answer, the group has a mandate to strengthen the other 15%."

So what did these comp groups look like?

Sean Baker described his group: "Our frequent practice comp sessions, where one student would field 45 minutes of questions, created a venue for all of us to sharpen both our knowledge of the content of our faith, but also to sharpen the winsomeness by which we communicated it." Dirk Van Eck’s group used the calm of nature to help them prepare. He said, "A bunch of us went up to a cabin north of Grand Rapids. We took turns putting each other in the ‘hot seat’ and asking that person all sorts of questions." Brian Seifert’s group got a little more creative: "I think the best story that came out of our group was putting answers to song."

For this group of students, the experience of oral comps was a positive an educational experience. It also had one final payoff. Brian Seifert concluded, "The biggest gleaner from oral comps was the incredible amount of confidence it gave each one of us for going into ministry."

For students facing the same process next year, Dirk Van Eck has the final word. "One of the most beneficial resources...was the WikiComps google site. I think that the site really brought the community together to pool resources for every students’ collective good. Future students should really check it out."