Back-to-Online-School Guide

For students who may be starting school online for the first time, the unknowns of some of the essentials of online education may be daunting. The ins and outs of programs, technology, and resources can seem overwhelming, but thanks to the technological age in which we live, students are more connected than ever before. 

The keys to success include tangible and intangible items: materials to complete coursework, an environment that fosters growth and accountability, and an attitude that prepares students for complicated discussions.

1. Materials

The baseline for student success starts with the course syllabus and assigned books and readings, but other materials can help prepare students for their seminary education. 

One invaluable resource a student should possess throughout their seminary education is a copy of Kate L. Turabian’s A Manual for Writers (currently in its 9th edition). Containing more than just basic guides on citations and style guides, A Manual for Writers includes helpful tips on the whole research or writing process.

2. Structure

The environment that a student studies and works in has a correlating effect on the quality of work produced. There will certainly be exceptions to this rule, but by and large, students studying in an environment free from distractions can retain more information and produce higher-quality work.

The structure can look like developing a habit of studying in the same spot at the same time of day alongside the hum of home life, or it can look like setting aside two-to-three hours a week of studying in a closed room away from all distractions and outsiders. The structure also can look like creating relationships with other students that foster growth. But, no matter how one specifically uses their time and space, an established structure is essential to succeeding as an online student.

3. Attitude

One easy way to enjoy one’s time in seminary and make the most of its opportunities is to approach the coursework, professors, and students with a rightly attuned attitude.

Seminary is a place to learn and grow in knowledge, which can then be applied to whatever context or ministry one is involved in. There will certainly be topics students enjoy and thrive in more than others; those sorts of classes may have been what initially drew someone to seminary in the first place. But there will almost always be classes that are difficult or challenging to grasp that can spark dissatisfaction in students.

It is important to remember the reason for attending seminary in the first place (this will look different for every single student). Then, allow that fundamental reason for attending seminary to guide and shape one’s time through seminary.

Allow one’s curiosity to grow as new concepts are introduced. If a student is completing seminary to move on to earn a Ph.D., be open to new ideas or topics that can help shape one’s thoughts or passions. If a student completes seminary to help their local ministry, these new topics may prove invaluable for later ministry questions or situations.

Seminary is, by its very nature, designed to be applied. Whether a student is currently or plans to be in ministry, the subjects and questions asked throughout seminary are to be applied to life in ministry. Theology is more than asking questions and seeking answers; theology best understood according to the medieval theologian Anselm, Fides quaerens intellectum: “faith seeking understanding.”

The best way to maximize the seminary experience is to ensure that students have the proper materials at their disposal, an environment that can help them focus, and an attitude that instills curiosity and humility.