Online courses

Although the average WMA student will probably participate in his or her studies through a group setting based in his or her local church, we also offer the possibility of studying some of our courses through the internet.

Role

Our online courses play a unique and very important role in the WMA. Not only do they allow students to study a course when that particular course is not offered by a regular WMA study group in their area, but they also allow us to branch out into new territory, where no WMA study groups currently exist, and train future facilitators in these areas. Thus, our online courses help plant the seeds of new WMA study groups, especially in areas where none exist. As such, although anyone may enroll in and study our online courses (as long as they have met any prerequisites the course may have), we look especially to include those who would desire to be future facilitators.

Format

The format of our online courses basically parallels the format that a student will find in a regular WMA study group. There will be assigned readings from the textbook, time to reflect upon and consider those readings, assignments to complete and turn in (based upon the same learning objectives and learning activities used in the regular study group), and a trained facilitator to evaluate these assignments and provide important feedback to the student. The difference is that all of this will occur over the internet. One obvious factor lacking in the list of class activities above is classroom discussion. In our online courses, the element of classroom discussion is accomplished through participating in special forum assignments. These allow the participant to log into the forum, read the comments already posted by other participants, compose his or her personal comments or interaction, and then post them to the forum, where they will be visible to all the other participants, who may then reply back. Although discussion develops more slowly through forums, they have two distinct advantages: they allow the participant to carefully compose his or her comments or interaction prior to posting (thus allowing for greater precision in the interactions), and they allow the participant to interact with a wide variety of individuals from very diverse backgrounds and settings (thus allowing for a broader and richer cross-fertilization of ideas).

Types of class

Our online courses will generally be offered in a normal class format, where the student receives the assigned reading, studies and reflects upon that reading, participates in class assignments (homework) and forums (discussion), receives feedback from his or her facilitator or (in the case of forums) from the other class participants, and then may respond back to this feedback. However, due to the nature and possibilities of the internet, our online courses occasionally will offer a second format, paralleling more the format of a conference. In this second format, the student will receive the assigned reading plus audio files and video files. The student then plays the audio files, watches the video portion, and follows along in the assigned reading. Then he or she studies and reflects upon the information they have received, participates in class assignments (homework) and forums (discussion), receives feedback from a facilitator and from the other participants, and then may respond back.

Enrollment

You may participate in our online courses in one of two different ways. First, you may enter the course as a guest (by selecting "guest" when you log into the online course module). This option will allow you to see the course, the readings, and the assignments. However, as a guest, you will not be able to turn in any assignments nor correspond with any other participants in the course. Secondly, you may enter the course as a registered student (by logging into the online course module with the student ID and password given you at the time of enrollment). As a registered student you will be able to not only see the course, its readings, and its assignments, but you also will be able to turn in those assignments, participate in the forums, and officially complete the course. To enroll in a course, please see when that course is scheduled to be offered (click on "Calendar of activities" above), contact us at least several weeks prior to the beginning of the course (click on "Contact the WMA" above), and request enrollment in the course.