Most classes include a mix of formats, such as (but not limited to) the following:
- Online classroom discussion lists with some combination of directive questions and free-form discussions, not in real-time; you can read and post to the discussions whenever you have an internet connection.
- Discussion posts may be required or optional; you may be given homework to post to a particular discussion in a particular format. Discussion posts can be read by the whole class.
- Some classes may require students to upload files of homework assignments.
- Live Zoom calls occur at a regularly-scheduled time with all participants present, in real-time from wherever they are; for example, a student in New York meets at 8 pm Eastern time with a student in California who is meeting at 5 pm Pacific time. Please note that you may not enroll in two classes that meet during overlapping scheduled times, unless you have discussed and made some arrangement with the instructors (not advised).
- Written assignments such as personal writing, a research paper, or an assignment to undertake some practical exercise or experiment and then write a report. These assignments will be uploaded to the class site, and may be seen only by the instructor or shared with classmates.
- Exams or quizzes, available only to the instructor.
- Field experiences of one kind or another, followed by discussion or a written report.
- Assigned reading or research, either in textbooks purchased by the student or in material posted or linked from the classroom, or through independent work or the use of our online library resources (in Moodle).
- Downloading other audio or audio-visual components and responding to them.
- Research papers, which may require the student to cite published sources, to conduct personal interviews, to do independent research, to engage in personal reflection, or to work with other students as a team. Often research papers are required to be presented in a prescribed format such as APA, Chicago Manual of Style, or another professional or scholarly format (instructors are usually willing to offer guidance to students unfamiliar with their specific requirements).
- Creative, interactive or inventive projects, e.g., designing a workshop, producing art, music, dance, poetry, creating a ritual, etc.
- Some classes may require particular response formats, may have upper or lower limits for word count, or require that the student become familiar with specific types of tools, such as genograms, psychological tests, or professional databases for various disciplines.
- Our main student system is called Populi. Everyone has a profile in Populi, and most of our classrooms are in there. We have a second online classroom platform called Moodle. The Library, Chaplain’s Office, and a Moodle tutorial are in there. Spiritual Direction and Community Ministry certificate students’ classrooms are in Moodle. Both Populi and Moodle classrooms work in generally the same way.
