SEI held its annual tutors conference this week in Coatbridge, with 16 in attendance. The first day of the conference concentrated on teacher development. Dr. Siân Jones, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Sociology and Education at Queen Margaret University led two sessions focusing on anti-ableist education and cultivating inclusive classrooms. In the afternoon Dr Anupama Ranawana, a Postdoctoral Research Associate with Durham University (Common Awards) was invited to lead a session on decolonial thinking and decolonising (not diversifying) the curriculum. The Director of Studies, Dr Victoria Turner, led participants in an imaginative, future-seeking session to explore possibilities for SEI’s broader engagement with the SEC in the evening.
The second day looked at the theology and formation behind our educational programme. Rev Dr David Bagnall from St John’s, Edinburgh, led a session that interrogated divisions and separations between academic/pastoral context in IME training and for people in post in ministry. Director of Contextual Formation, Rev Dr Anna-Claar Thomasson-Rosingh explored formation through the book of Jonah and the theology of play. Finally, we heard from Rev Dr Sandy Forsyth, the Director of Studies in the Church of Scotland about developments in their IME training and explored what we could do to work more closely together. The day was ably wrapped up by the interim Principal, Professor David Jasper. Along with SEI’s associate tutors, the Academic Administrator, Alana Hathaway, was on hand to answer all technical questions and worship was creatively held and led by SEI’s Chaplain, Rev Canon Elaine Garman. The time together also reserved ample space for the tutors, who mostly teach online, to get to know one another and enjoy each other’s company.
The overall spirit of the twenty-four hours together was excellent and positive and bodes very well for the future work of the SEI.
– Victoria Turner.
(Pictured: Dr Anupama Ranawana during her session)
