Comments on: Lessons Learned about Online Learning http://seminarysurvivalguide.com/2008/04/21/lessons-learned-about-online-learning/ practical wisdom to help seminary students avoid burnout and finish well Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:49:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Gary http://seminarysurvivalguide.com/2008/04/21/lessons-learned-about-online-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-555 Gary Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:05:51 +0000 http://seminarysurvivalguide.com/?p=166#comment-555 I response to the entry above by Mark back in 2008, I have to say that my experience has been very different from his. I have my MA in Communication from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, but decided to go back and get the MDiv also. I chose Rockbridge for two reasons: I've known Dr. Eldridge for 20+ years now and I had to have an online seminary experience, since I am in full time ministry. My online interaction has been intense, deep and fulfilling. In some ways more transparent than in the physical seminary. Its much like gathering in the student union after class to discuss what the prof had just talked about. Some of my best learning experiences at SWBTS came in that way. If you're considering online seminary education, I suggest you take the intro course (called the touchstone course at Rockbridge) and see for yourself. I have found it incredibly rewarding and highly conducive to learning, growing and interacting. Gary I response to the entry above by Mark back in 2008, I have to say that my experience has been very different from his.

I have my MA in Communication from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, but decided to go back and get the MDiv also. I chose Rockbridge for two reasons: I’ve known Dr. Eldridge for 20+ years now and I had to have an online seminary experience, since I am in full time ministry.

My online interaction has been intense, deep and fulfilling. In some ways more transparent than in the physical seminary. Its much like gathering in the student union after class to discuss what the prof had just talked about. Some of my best learning experiences at SWBTS came in that way.

If you’re considering online seminary education, I suggest you take the intro course (called the touchstone course at Rockbridge) and see for yourself. I have found it incredibly rewarding and highly conducive to learning, growing and interacting.

Gary

]]> By: Mark http://seminarysurvivalguide.com/2008/04/21/lessons-learned-about-online-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-190 Mark Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:07:33 +0000 http://seminarysurvivalguide.com/?p=166#comment-190 I have been a student of online seminary, including RS, for a couple of years now. I have read several studies on the ever increasing quality of online studies and agree for the most part. It is, in many ways, still a work in progress. Dr. Eldredge points out that online learning is highly interactive. While this is true, students are required to post "X" times per week, I found the quality of the interaction to be mostly poor. It appeared some of the posts were nothing more than people getting in their weekly "quota." I went as far to contact my professors/mentors on 2 occasions because the posts were not thought provoking or engaging - most were just agreements with a prior post and didn't benefit the learning community whatsoever. Some were even completely off the subject and included political views. Personally, I gained very little from the online interaction. Obviously I cannot speak to all online studies but QUALITY interaction is an area I believe needs improvement and more closely monitored by the professors. Mark I have been a student of online seminary, including RS, for a couple of years now. I have read several studies on the ever increasing quality of online studies and agree for the most part. It is, in many ways, still a work in progress.

Dr. Eldredge points out that online learning is highly interactive. While this is true, students are required to post “X” times per week, I found the quality of the interaction to be mostly poor. It appeared some of the posts were nothing more than people getting in their weekly “quota.”

I went as far to contact my professors/mentors on 2 occasions because the posts were not thought provoking or engaging – most were just agreements with a prior post and didn’t benefit the learning community whatsoever. Some were even completely off the subject and included political views.

Personally, I gained very little from the online interaction. Obviously I cannot speak to all online studies but QUALITY interaction is an area I believe needs improvement and more closely monitored by the professors.

Mark

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