We live in an age in which to have an education is more vital than anything, yet you would not know it given the periodical news reports that question whether the knowledge colleges’ currently provide is really a valuable enough investment. I would remind those critics that Benjamin Franklin was once quoted as saying, “an investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” He believed that in his age of uncertainty one’s best hedge for the future was in getting a quality education, and the same is true for today.
Yet for some, they understand this, but their hesitation to going back to school is that they believe they do not have the time nor capability to attend traditional classes on campus. This is a particularly important issue for those with a full-time job or parents with kids. However, modern colleges offer an extremely flexible offering with many options to students to fit their needs. One of these options I happen to be personally involved with: ‘the online initiative.’ The online initiative makes the same high quality education and discussions that happen in the classroom accessible to anyone, anytime, anywhere, in the form of online classes.
However offering online classes is not what makes universities unique. Working in the Education Technology department at Multnomah University I have a unique perspective in knowing the answer. My role in the department is to develop the course layout, assist in video production, work on online design, as well as work with faculty and online students to make our courses successful and rewarding.
The secret to making our Universities’ online classes unique, happen to be the same qualities that make programs at MU excellent. In our case that is: Responsibility to get classes finished on time and self-direction in taking the initiative to obtain source materials from the subject matter experts (SME) and transmit them to a full online course. Teamwork – planning and delegating work efficiently to the right individuals in a team in order to keep course updates, online classes, full degree programs, and general online campus support up-to-date and responsive. To accomplish this requires important skills such as detail-orientation and effective prioritization of tasks.
On a personal note, working for this University has confirmed for me that this is more than a job, it is a calling. Six years ago I believed God had called me to Japan and I lived there faithfully for nearly five years, but because of the aftermath of the 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami, and the increasingly alarming situation in Fukushima it was no longer feasible to live there. I had to come back to the United States and ponder what I was supposed to do next. Like Paul, on the road to Damascus, I prayed, “what should I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10). His answer was to lead me to meet faculty from Multnomah in my own church. I found their experiences in ministry uniquely valuable and it was not before long when I felt a call to attend seminary classes at MU. When I first showed up I noticed everyone smiled and was very accommodating like they were part of a family. Since then Multnomah has just been a place of comfort and wisdom that one is hard pressed to find anywhere else.
Joshua C. Wheeler