Online learning helps equip the saints for service
Online learning helps equip the saints for service
A mother works to raise her three children; a man volunteers to teach Sunday school at his church; an older couple looks for spiritual nourishment. What do these people have in common? They can be equipped in their walks of faith through online courses on WELS.net University.
WELS.net University is a Web site devoted to both instructor-led distance learning classes and independent study. WELS originally developed this site to supplement the training for employees at the Synod Administration Building in Milwaukee, Wis.; however, several areas of ministry soon saw the potential for reaching congregations through this online learning platform.
“In many ways it’s the same as traditional training material, but it also allows for online discussions that help students learn from each other over a period of time,” says Martin Spriggs, WELS chief technology officer. “Essentially the course content ‘evolves’ and becomes more useful as people use it and contribute to it.”
WELS Technology Trainer Sallie Draper says several of the online courses, such as the Shepherd’s Staff church management software training, make use of all of the capabilities of the WELS.net university platform. “We’ll have online discussion boards, video tutorials, and hands-on exercises that students can complete,” she says. “And then we’ll recap and explore further in a weekly Web conference to review the concepts that we’re going through.”
Although many courses are still in development, a variety of topics are currently available on WELS.net University. WELS Commission on Evangelism, for example, is offering a Bible study on John. WELS Technology is providing support for congregations using WELS Web Hosting. And WELS Youth Discipleship has added four parenting classes and 13 Sunday school mini-courses to the online curriculum.
To date, more than 12,000 people have visited WELS.net University. After completing an online Sunday school course, one user shares, “As someone who is not a teacher, I found the course ‘Teaching the Way Children Actually Learn’ most helpful. I’m sure the material in this course is old hat for professional teachers, but most church members who volunteer to teach Sunday school are not trained educators. The course was eye-opening for me, and it got me to see the value of Sunday school in a child’s spiritual growth.”
Say Spriggs, “Whether it’s Sunday school teacher training, elder training, or continuing education for called workers, WELS.net University is another tool that can be used by men and women of God to become thoroughly equipped to share God’s Word with others.”
To learn more about WELS.net University, or to browse the online courses, visit archive.wels.net/university. Before enrolling, some courses may require you to create a WELS.net University account.
WELS.net University is a Web site devoted to both instructor-led distance learning classes and independent study. WELS originally developed this site to supplement the training for employees at the Synod Administration Building in Milwaukee, Wis.; however, several areas of ministry soon saw the potential for reaching congregations through this online learning platform.
“In many ways it’s the same as traditional training material, but it also allows for online discussions that help students learn from each other over a period of time,” says Martin Spriggs, WELS chief technology officer. “Essentially the course content ‘evolves’ and becomes more useful as people use it and contribute to it.”
WELS Technology Trainer Sallie Draper says several of the online courses, such as the Shepherd’s Staff church management software training, make use of all of the capabilities of the WELS.net university platform. “We’ll have online discussion boards, video tutorials, and hands-on exercises that students can complete,” she says. “And then we’ll recap and explore further in a weekly Web conference to review the concepts that we’re going through.”
Although many courses are still in development, a variety of topics are currently available on WELS.net University. WELS Commission on Evangelism, for example, is offering a Bible study on John. WELS Technology is providing support for congregations using WELS Web Hosting. And WELS Youth Discipleship has added four parenting classes and 13 Sunday school mini-courses to the online curriculum.
To date, more than 12,000 people have visited WELS.net University. After completing an online Sunday school course, one user shares, “As someone who is not a teacher, I found the course ‘Teaching the Way Children Actually Learn’ most helpful. I’m sure the material in this course is old hat for professional teachers, but most church members who volunteer to teach Sunday school are not trained educators. The course was eye-opening for me, and it got me to see the value of Sunday school in a child’s spiritual growth.”
Say Spriggs, “Whether it’s Sunday school teacher training, elder training, or continuing education for called workers, WELS.net University is another tool that can be used by men and women of God to become thoroughly equipped to share God’s Word with others.”
To learn more about WELS.net University, or to browse the online courses, visit archive.wels.net/university. Before enrolling, some courses may require you to create a WELS.net University account.
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