While asynchronous learning was well underway before the pandemic, the necessity of transitioning to online learning helped accelerate both our timeline and innovation among our faculty members. With no other choice but to teach online, our professors rose to the challenge in remarkable ways to deliver not only engaging but truly unique classroom experiences to students.

Incoming students who choose to pursue graduate school through our low-residency programs can expect to be engaged no less than those learning in person. Core to our mission is transforming relationships and we believe, particularly for those who want to pursue their calling in their current location, the ability to learn while rooted in your community is vital.

But what does innovative online learning look like in practice? Transitioning to teaching online was not without its challenges, but the ability to increase accessibility across formats and locations proved invaluable. We had the privilege of speaking with three faculty who shared with us how they were able to adapt their teaching styles to best engage students online.

Read how a few of our courses were taught in unique and collaborative approaches over this past year.

Lauren Sawyer, MA: Philosophy

鈥淚 find that philosophy is a subject that requires at least some teaching in the form of lectures. Especially for those who have not read philosophical texts recently鈥攐r at all鈥攊t鈥檚 hard to pick up a chapter from Immanuel Kant鈥檚 Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals and understand what the hell is going on, even with some engaging secondary sources.

I decided to record my lectures as podcast episodes for a few reasons. Some were practical: so that my students could listen聽to the lecture on their own time and so that I didn鈥檛 have to stress about creating slides or looking bright-eyed on camera every week. But it also allowed me to present the content in more creative and different ways than I would have had I lectured synchronously, in-person, or on Zoom.

I rely on some of the strategies of my favorite podcasts: storytelling; intentional聽pauses and slow-downs; clips, music, and sound effects; voice acting, and conversational interviews. In one episode, I give a 鈥淧eople鈥檚 History of the Enlightenment鈥� by telling a (mostly) historically accurate account of a witch-hunt in light of the major cultural and intellectual shifts of the 17th century.

In almost all the episodes, I interview content experts or include voice work done by my friends. This way I can include a diversity of voices and ideas that are not represented in the philosophers we鈥檙e studying (especially as we are reading mostly male Continental thinkers). I decided to use the podcasting platform, Anchor.fm, to enhance my students鈥� experience鈥攖hey can subscribe and access the podcast on their phones. Anchor provides me with data on how many students are listening and at what point in the episodes they tune out. I鈥檓 a bit of a data nerd; having this extra bit of information helps me fine tune the podcast for future courses. It has shown me, too, that I have an audience beyond the 16 students in my class! The podcast is called 鈥�,鈥� a borrowed line from Tertullian鈥檚 infamous text that asks, 鈥榳hat has Athens (philosophy) to do with Jerusalem (theology)?鈥欌��

Dr. Ron Ruthruff: Engaging Global Partnerships

Dr. Ron Ruthruff faced a unique challenge in needing to adapt a course that typically takes place on the ground in Guatemala to students’ homes. How does one replicate the sights, interactions, and in the moment learnings of being in a different country?

鈥淭he thought of going online with a class usually held in Guatemala seemed ridiculous, until I began to plot and plan with my Guatemalan Colleague. Dr, Joel Aguilar. Making this pivot to an online format intentionally grew us in at least three areas of the course: The uses of film study and required readings, student engagement and application, and faculty collaboration.

We folded the readings and film study that were part of pre-trip preparation into the course to serve as an asynchronous way to establish a solid understanding of the socio-political and religious history of Guatemala. Conversation via Zoom and online discussion boards were tethered more directly to the film study and required readings instead of being frontloaded on the trip, which helped us dissect and digest the material more effectively.

Students who wanted to engage with the material but had barriers to international travel have welcomed the opportunity to take an international course without needing to leave home. Moving the course online also afforded us the opportunity to bring the course 鈥榟ome鈥� as we were able to invite a panel of Pacific Northwest activists to talk about how they are serving local Latinx communities, allowing students to connect global wounds of colonialism to [events?] in their own backyards.

Perhaps most importantly, this format allowed me the opportunity to work more closely and collaboratively with my dear friend and colleague, Joel Aguilar, rather than me front-loading theoretical information to students and Joel planning a 7-day vision trip. We met every Friday via Zoom to plan for the following week. Needless to say the pandemic, quarantine, and the demand to pivot to online modalities was not easy, but we are learning and growing, and while I long to be back with my friends around the world, we are allowing what has been an incredible challenge to also be our teacher.鈥�

You can learn more about low-residency learning opportunities in our Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Theology & Culture, and Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology programs.

The post Adapting & Innovating: How Faculty at 天美视频 are Changing Online Learning appeared first on 天美视频 of Theology & Psychology.

As this academic year has progressed, the faculty and staff at 天美视频 have been in a season of preparation regarding how learning in graduate programs will be delivered post-pandemic. Over the next few months, we will be publishing updates regarding changes to the graduate programs as we move into the future. Two important updates at this stage are:

1. Formation is one of our core values. Much of the relational and formative experience of our students is inherent in on-campus student life and academic study. We have also come to value our learning being accessible and have been energized by new students who reside outside of the Seattle area able to access education at 天美视频 for the first time. Among the work that we have been doing is reviewing options for our graduate programs that align with our commitments to both formation and accessibility.
2. We will be filing a petition by April 1 with ATS (Association of Theological Schools), our national accrediting body, for approval to provide distance education post-pandemic and will hear word on their approval of our application by mid-to-late June. Approval of this petition will give us the opportunity to offer education to those who do not live within commuting distance in the Seattle area. We have received approval from NWCCU (Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities), our regional accreditors, to provide distance education post-pandemic. While we have not yet finalized how our programs will be offered to students learning at a distance, filing this petition to ATS is an important step in the process.

鈥淎t the core of our pedagogy, our practice, and our hope is a G-d that is with us. I believe we have been called to such a time as this, even as we face change and unknown. As we make space for gratitude in the midst of our grief, we focus in on our calling and resist losing our mission to the despair of our times. I believe there is still work for us to do鈥攅specially in this time of polarizing energies鈥攍oving G-d and neighbor through transforming relationships.鈥� said President J. Derek McNeil in a communication to students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Departments from across the institution have worked diligently this year to make distance education and student life accessible for all. The Library staff is ensuring students are able to access resources necessary for coursework, and the IT department is available via an online help desk for students in need of technical support. Members of the Office of Students & Alumni continue providing a variety of opportunities for students and alumni to connect virtually, maintaining the school鈥檚 emphasis on building relationships and vocational formation.

鈥淚 have been grateful and inspired by the courage of our faculty and our students as we shifted to online learning out of necessity due to COVID-19. It has confirmed for us that we’re able to provide good, quality remote learning that aligns with our mission. Our values for relationships and for the integration of psychology and theology remain at the heart of this endeavor.鈥� said Dr. Misty Anne Winzenried, Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning.

The school continues to follow guidance from Washington State and King County, which has not yet provided a clear date to be able to re-open campus.

The post Update on Learning at 天美视频 Post-Pandemic appeared first on 天美视频 of Theology & Psychology.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school had been exploring ways to build infrastructure and capacity to offer online and hybrid offerings to learners not able to be physically present at its Seattle campus. This grant enables the school to move more rapidly into this space and toward becoming not only a local and regional graduate institution but a national one.

鈥淚 am pleased and excited that the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust has agreed to fund our proposal. As you all know, we have been building towards developing our capacity to be online even before the pandemic. By receiving this grant we have the opportunity to increase the personnel we need to be effective and expand our capacity to offer a quality learning experience online,鈥� said , President of 天美视频.

How the school will continue to offer its graduate programs and additional training opportunities will continue to evolve in the coming year, both out of necessity due to the global impact of COVID-19 as seen during its rapid transition to a fully online campus this past March, but also due to the changing needs of learners across the country. A larger number of students enrolled in the school鈥檚 2020 cohort are from out of state, or in some cases out of the country. This necessitates a new way of making courses and content accessible for learners unable to move to the Greater Seattle Area for the time when higher education institutions are able to gather on-campus.

鈥淭he crisis of the pandemic has presented us with unique opportunities to reimagine our how. The what鈥搊ur mission鈥搑emains a steadfast guide as we navigate changes with perseverance and, as these grants demonstrate, with a vote of confidence from others,鈥� said Dr. McNeil.

Over a three-year period, the grant will enable the school to support its faculty and staff as they consciously create hybrid learning spaces that meet the needs of all learners. The grant aims to build the long-term sustainability of the school by increasing student accessibility and developing low-residency graduate, certificate, and other programs.

Reimagining theological education for online spaces is no small feat for a highly-relational institution, but 天美视频 has proven itself able to pivot and adapt with great success, as shown by its record enrollment for Fall 2020. The school is also committed to continuing to build partnerships, both locally and nationally, to foster collaboration as it steps into a new realm of learning.

The post Competitive Grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Awarded to 天美视频 appeared first on 天美视频 of Theology & Psychology.

鈥淚n this season, we are all grieving our ability to be together, and we are anxious to return to campus. This is a season of much uncertainty, and even when we are able to re-open our campus, not all of our returning students, incoming students, and participants may be comfortable traveling to school or be physically and financially able to relocate to Seattle. We are first committed to your safety and also with providing a rich and quality education that reduces the barriers to access the learning experience,鈥� said President J. Derek McNeil in communication to staff and faculty.

In addition to moving all classes online for Fall Term, there will also be the option for incoming students in all three graduate degree programs to complete their entire first year online. The Certificate in Resilient Service, in addition to The Allender Center鈥檚 and II, , and , will also be offered online this academic year.

鈥淲e do not come to this decision lightly. While we grieve not being together, we know that students needed clarity in this season. Having Fall term classes online allows students to make good choices on behalf of their education and allows us to focus on developing a robust virtual campus to support the community, connection, and belonging that are at the core of who we are as a learning community,鈥� said Dr. Misty Anne Winzenried, Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning.

The school continues to follow guidance from the Governor鈥檚 office regarding Washington State鈥檚 , which has not yet provided a clear date to be able to re-open campus. In the meantime, the school is actively preparing for community events and gatherings that can be held remotely, while also creating opportunities for some small group in-person engagement with social distancing when we are able to do so safely.

鈥淲e have a commitment to welcoming our students, faculty, and staff back on campus as soon as we are safely able to do so. We are important to each other, and I recognize there is a sense of loss in these decisions. In this season, we are surviving to thrive. I have deep trust in our ability to do this together,鈥� said President McNeil.

The post 天美视频 to Deliver Classes Online for Fall 2020 Term appeared first on 天美视频 of Theology & Psychology.

Faculty had already begun teaching online March 16, moving a fully in-person school to a fully online learning institution in under ten days to finish out the Winter Term. Prior to this transition, the school had offered a few online courses but had yet to take any major steps toward expanding course offerings online.

鈥淲e believe this is the best way forward to reduce uncertainty and anxiety and establish a reliable, high-quality method of instruction and academic progress for students at 天美视频 through the spring,鈥� said in a recent communication to the school community. 鈥淭he support, collaboration, and grace for each other under stressful and uncertain circumstances is to be applauded.鈥�

鈥淎s an institution, we are working hard to balance the wide range of needs that different students have. To strike a balance, we have encouraged all of our faculty to reduce the length of synchronous Zoom class sessions, post some learning activities online asynchronously, record and post Zoom sessions for students afterward, and maintain flexible attendance policies,鈥� stated . Along with moving her own course online, Dr. Winzenried worked with Academic Services, IT, and the Library to support faculty in their move to online learning.

鈥淥ur faculty have been working incredibly hard to shift their face-to-face courses to an online format. I am proud of their creativity, courage, and commitment to provide quality instruction online even in the midst of this global pandemic. We are all learners here鈥攆aculty and staff are learning alongside students what it means to be a learning community together, even when we can’t be face to face.鈥�

, echoed Dr. Winzenried鈥檚 sentiments. 鈥淚 am proud of the tenacity and resilience our community has shown in this pivot to remote learning in such a short period of time. Students have shown us such grace and patience in this season. I have been so impressed by the thoughtful questions and comments from students and alumni, which shows a commitment to learning together.鈥�

Departments from across the institution came together to make online learning not only available for students, but accessible for all. The Library staff is ensuring students are able to access resources necessary for coursework, and the IT department is available via an online help desk for students in need of technical support.

鈥淲e know that is a big concern for our students. In addition to posted reading, links to available digital versions of required books, recommended texts, and other useful resources have been added to class pages on MyCampus,鈥� explained .

Members of the Office of Students and Alumni are providing a number of opportunities for students to connect virtually, maintaining the school鈥檚 emphasis on building relationships during this period of remote learning. There is also a dedicated Online Learning Support page for students to reference as they continue to navigate the transition to gathering for classes online.

For the time being, any decision to reopen the building will be determined in the days ahead in accordance with state policy.

鈥淒uring this strange season, may we be in prayer for our students, our school community, our Seattle community, and our world. May we offer grace and compassion to one another as we continue to jump with two feet into the enterprise of online learning, and may we welcome the unexpected opportunities that emerge.鈥� Dr. J. Derek McNeil

The post Spring Term Moves Online at 天美视频 appeared first on 天美视频 of Theology & Psychology.