The scene: A group of Asian students sit on couches and chairs, most of which show damage from a recent monsoon. The group is mixed gender and the students range in age from late teens to early 50s. On one couch, two young ladies flank an American female. In the middle of the room is […]
Posts in the online teaching category:
Reflective Practice in the Biblical Language Classroom: A Personal Experience
The scene: A professor sits in front of a computer. Two textbooks are open on the desk beside the computer. A sticky note is attached to one text that says, “Student A loves this.” A sticky note is attached to the other textbook that says, “Students B, C, D, E want this.” Much discussion and […]
Losing the Lecture Guilt
The scene: A professor sits at a desk in front of a laptop, wearing headphones. A high-tech microphone sits on the desk to the left of the laptop. The laptop screen shows the time of an audio file: 18 minutes and 35 seconds. When I began teaching Hebrew online, one of my first questions concerned […]
Don’t Disconnect in the Connected Classroom: Inviting Students into Your Virtual Office
The scene: A person stands at the kitchen counter, a spoon in one hand and a cell phone in the other. A child stands at her side, pulling at her skirt. Her cell phone hand reaches to toss the phone on the floor. How many times should a professor send an email when a student […]
Connecting Digitally with Every Student
The scene: In a classroom, students at the front of the room sit up attentively. Students at the back are checked out. One plays a game on a phone. One draws on paper while the professor looks at her expectantly. The way in which professors communicate humanness to students makes the difference in whether we […]
Technology, Online Language Courses, and Discipline
I have taught biblical language courses online at Anderson University since 2015. During the first week of a first-year language course, I introduce the language writing system and sound correspondence, and I introduce enough words that the students can read a few sentences. I also teach at least as much use of technology as I […]
Teaching Exegesis Orally Via Distance Learning
I am teaching a live video series on Biblical exegesis for a seminary overseas through a partnership between the Church of God and a church fellowship in the other country. The seminary prepares new pastors to plant churches in their own country and raise their own support. Until now, most of my teaching experience has […]