Jennifer Pietz does a wonderful job of incorporating learning with images, which is a primary method of learning for many. Jennifer does a wonderful job of operating within Parker Palmer’s definition of a teacher in his book To Know As We Are Known as a ‘mediator between the knower (the readers of her contribution) and the known (the text from John 4:10 & 14).’ She creates an inclusive space for learning where it is not assumed that the audience will know the content that is being presented. This hospitality and openness would also appease Palmer’s model for an effective learning environment. It is effective that she immediately identifies who her intended audience is, every human being because we all need water and light to survive. Now, I suppose one far-reaching reason where this contribution lacks is that it does assume some information on the part of the reader. She assumes that all her readers know who Jesus Christ is, what a Samaritan is, and who Jacob is. I did enjoy how she draws from the commercial world and sort of ‘markets’ the water that Jesus gives as being “100% satisfying”. Next, she continues to apply the message to our reality and calls the reader out of the habit of using “shadowy substitutes” that our commercial society has to offer. I appreciate that Jennifer acknowledges in the last full paragraph that this is her own understanding of “God’s faithfulness” and not necessarily the same for others. Jennifer successfully uses the Wiggins/McTighe Understanding by Design. She offers an adequate explanation of the subject matter being studied, and then offers a convincing interpretation of that subject matter. She then finds a means to apply it to the readers’ context as referenced above. She offers her perspective toward the end of her contribution of what the passage means for her faith, while at the same time acknowledges others’ feelings by being empathetically inclusive in her presentation of the material. And lastly she demonstrates a deeply aware self-knowledge that is well planned out.

Jennifer Pietz does a wonderful job of incorporating learning with images, which is a primary method of learning for many. Jennifer does a wonderful job of operating within Parker Palmer’s definition of a teacher in his book To Know As We Are Known as a ‘mediator between the knower (the readers of her contribution) and the known (the text from John 4:10 & 14).’ She creates an inclusive space for learning where it is not assumed that the audience will know the content that is being presented. This hospitality and openness would also appease Palmer’s model for an effective learning environment. It is effective that she immediately identifies who her intended audience is, every human being because we all need water and light to survive. Now, I suppose one far-reaching reason where this contribution lacks is that it does assume some information on the part of the reader. She assumes that all her readers know who Jesus Christ is, what a Samaritan is, and who Jacob is. I did enjoy how she draws from the commercial world and sort of ‘markets’ the water that Jesus gives as being “100% satisfying”. Next, she continues to apply the message to our reality and calls the reader out of the habit of using “shadowy substitutes” that our commercial society has to offer. I appreciate that Jennifer acknowledges in the last full paragraph that this is her own understanding of “God’s faithfulness” and not necessarily the same for others. Jennifer successfully uses the Wiggins/McTighe Understanding by Design. She offers an adequate explanation of the subject matter being studied, and then offers a convincing interpretation of that subject matter. She then finds a means to apply it to the readers’ context as referenced above. She offers her perspective toward the end of her contribution of what the passage means for her faith, while at the same time acknowledges others’ feelings by being empathetically inclusive in her presentation of the material. And lastly she demonstrates a deeply aware self-knowledge that is well planned out.