Bernard Bull
Author | Applied Researcher | Futures & Innovation | University President
I’ve spent three decades studying how people learn and helping institutions prepare for what’s coming next. That work started in a K-12 classroom, where I launched one of the first ten online high school programs in the country back in the 1990s. It continued through roles in academic innovation; futures, policy and product development consulting; speaking throughout the world; launching and leading online content projects that reached around the globe; a presidency at a college on accreditation probation that reached a balanced budget within twenty months; and my current work as president of Concordia University, Nebraska. Along the way I’ve written eight books, and kept asking the same question: what does it take for an institution to be faithful to its mission while flourishing in its reach and impact?
What kind of Christian school are you called to be? What is your mission, and how do you ensure that it permeates everything your school does? Your school leadership is invited to work through soul-searching questions such as these alongside thought leader Bernard Bull. In this guide, Dr. Bull draws from decades of research and experience working in and with Christian schools to outline the steps schools must take and questions they must consider when striving for Christ-centered excellence.
Inspired by real-world events and experiences – real-world challenges – Prep Talks is a collection of fictional accounts that address critical issues in contemporary education, providing school leaders with studies they can use for professional staff development so educators can better prepare for and address the challenges of being a Christian school in the modern world.
Many Christian schools are struggling to survive and make sense of what it means to be faithful to their unchanging mission while reaching and serving a wide array of young people and families. There are a broad range of models for Christian education–from online schools to community-based homeschooling to classical schools–and looking at different models can inform and inspire fellow Christian educators.
There is no one untouched by technology in our modern culture. Pastors, teachers, and families are looking for ways to understand how technology influences our relationships, our families, our churches, and our faith lives. Digitized articulates how everyone is affected and what Christians can do in response.
How do you teach the faith at church and school—not just in religion or confirmation class—but at every opportunity throughout the day? Written by Concordia University professors who equip future church workers, The Pedagogy of Faith is a unique textbook for college and university courses.
In Adventures in Self-Directed Learning, Dr. Bernard Bull draws from over a decade of research to build a compelling case for the importance of nurturing agency, ownership, and a capacity for self-education in learners. He casts a vision for education in a connected age, offers readers a collection of practical suggestions for how to get started, and also works through common challenges and pitfalls.
What really matters in education? Amid headlines about standardized test scores, global rankings of students from different countries, technology-enhanced learning, the unreasonable costs of higher education, and preparing the workforce of tomorrow, what really matters? If we want to pursue education reform and improvements that truly benefit the lives of current and future students, where should we focus our efforts?
THE BULL PEN
In no official capacity, this is where I share my rough draft musings about life, leadership, and learning.
Faithful & Flourishing Christian Schools
A online publication & podcast devoted to seeking, celebrating, cultivating, and learning about faithful and flourishing Christian education.
I’m available for a limited number of speaking engagements, consulting projects, and board appointments each year. If you’re working on something where my experience might be useful, use the form below.