The Right Learning to the Right People at the Right Time

Welcome to the early days of online learning from LifeWay. With the launch of LifeWay.com/learning this week, LifeWay has made clear its intention to provide the right learning to the right people at the right time. Online learning can be delivered in several different ways and we are committed to providing our resources in all conceivable ways to help people and churches know Jesus Christ and seek His Kingdom. That is our stated mission at LifeWay and the improvement and availability of technology provide us another means to deliver on this mission!

Delivering courses and information in an online format provide an opportunity for the learner or participant to decide how much they will do and when they will do it. With learning that is truly interactive this empowers learners to gain the knowledge that they need and go and immediately apply that knowledge real time in real life. The sooner knowledge can be applied, the more likely it is that behavior can be evaluated and changed. Jesus portrayed this model of learning as he interacted with his disciples. He told them what they needed to know, when they needed to know it and then he watched them apply what they knew in an environment where he could provide additional instruction.

Self-paced Learning 

Online learning can take several different forms. LifeWay will provide many online opportunities. Here is a sampling of what will be available. Self-paced learning is access to a course that is always available via the Internet. This course resides on the web and as the learner progresses through it their progress is tracked via quizzes and interactions. LifeWay will launch their online learning with access to 100 courses like this that address a variety of topics including word processing, spread sheets and email tools. Also available in this format will be a series of courses that help learners perfect their teamwork and communication skills that are so vitally needed in the church today.

The Virtual Classroom

Online learning can also be delivered in a virtual classroom setting. This will allow LifeWay to bring subject matter experts right to your desktop. These experts will be heard via a teleconference line and their bullet points and interactive activities will be visible via an interactive web site. LifeWay will offer over 30 classes like this in the coming months. Participants will be able to gain access to these courses via online registration and will be able to interact with the instructor without having to travel to a specific location. This will also provide opportunities for churches to get several leaders in the room with a subject matter expert at the same time without the associated travel expenses.

The "Recorded" Virtual Classroom

A third delivery method coming this year will be the recorded virtual classroom. This will be a recorded version of the session mentioned in the previous paragraph. This will allow participants to gain access to the subject matter experts, but they will be able to do so on their own schedule. This way if a participant is unable to attend the virtual classroom session at the originally scheduled time, they will be able to get to the materials when it is more convenient for them. This also allows the information to be re-visited from time to time for the learner to refresh their knowledge.

The really exciting thing about this type of delivery is that LifeWay is also looking at opportunities to make the tools used to develop this kind of learning available to churches in an affordable package so they can create online learning for their members too. Here's the way that scenario will someday play out. A new group of leaders identified in a church are allowed to begin their leadership development by just studying what leadership is all about. They are then able to walk through Jesus on Leadership to gain a broader understanding of  a Biblical perspective on leadership. After completing those two courses, then they are able to review how Biblical leadership is being applied in their church. Now the pastor, staff and lay leaders are able to have focused conversation about the appropriate application of leadership in the body of believers where they serve together. That is a conversation we can get excited about!

If you would like additional information about online learning please email your request to learning@lifeway.com. And, watch this site for more opportunities coming every week!

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