An Adventist Curriculum Needs Assessment: A Global Survey of Secondary School Teachers

Building redemption-oriented schools of excellence (Dulan, 2003), “demands the most devoted, faithful workers and the very best methods of labor, in order that a strong influence for Christ and the truth may be constantly exerted” (White, 1948, p. 721). Although Seventh-day Adventist higher education has long been the focus of the General Conference, Adventist secondary education has received relatively little attention and support. However, recently the General Conference has taken steps to focus on Seventh-day Adventist secondary education. In 2005 the General Conference Office of Education funded a global needs assessment study as the first step towards better resourcing of information, integration of faith in learning training, and technology for the improvement of Adventist secondary education. The Curriculum and Instruction Resource Center Linking Educators (CIRCLE) was invited to conduct this evaluative study. CIRCLE is coordinated from the School of Education on the campus of Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan. CIRCLE seeks to build awareness of what resources are available and provides a clearinghouse where resources developed from an Adventist worldview can be accessed, and continually added by Adventist educators. CIRCLE has the potential to link Adventist educators who have resources with those who need them, anytime, anywhere