Essential Resources for Distance Students
As online education has expanded into the theological field, there may be lingering questions about the necessary resources to succeed in a virtual landscape. “If the student is working entirely remotely, then wouldn’t their resources look differently?” someone may ask.
It may come as a surprise to learn that very little differentiates an on-campus student from an online student. The essentials for online education are the same things required of residential education.
The key to quality online education can be found in a handful of resources. These resources can vary based on the student’s preference, so do not feel disheartened if one specific resource within these general categories does not work well for you.
These resources range from those provided by the professor at the beginning of the course to online programs.
The Course Syllabus
The course syllabus may seem like a no-brainer resource, but it is the roadmap to success for the online student. It contains the necessary information for assignments, the contact information for the professor (the contact information for the OTA will be found on the Canvas course), the required books, and the grading scale.
If there are any questions about an assignment, always check the syllabus first. If the syllabus does not answer your question, contact the OTA for clarification.
The Note-Taking System
One of the most important things students can do is keep a detailed record of notes from the professor’s lecture videos and the course readings. These notes can be utilized when preparing for a final exam or research paper.
The system of note-taking can differ based on the student’s preference. For example, options may vary from notebook paper, hard-back journals, computer- or tablet-based applications.
The beauty of theological education is found in the ability to study and learn from those who have dedicated their lives to understanding and teaching theological truths.
In this vein, the content of lectures and books from one’s time in seminary can prove invaluable many years down the line. A short note from a lecture or book taken ten years (or more) prior can answer questions from a church member or a situation in one’s ministry.
The Task Manager
An underutilized but important resource for the online student is a task manager for the course’s assignments and LiveSync dates. A task manager can be a dedicated task managing system like Things or Todoist, or it can simply be a calendar like Google Calendar or one on the refrigerator.
The task manager helps the student look beyond the day-to-day into the full scope of the course(s). Since most online courses are 8-weeks in length, the student needs to take a big-picture view of the assignments early on in the course. Large assignments like research papers or case studies cannot be completed well if they are forgotten about until the week that it’s due.
The Writing Tool
Grammatical tools like Grammarly provide students with powerful spell checking and writing assistance that can amplify the students’ natural writing abilities. As they continue with their online education, students will improve their diction and writing skills as they see how these tools examine and give suggestions.
As seminary is primarily reading and writing, it cannot be underestimated the importance of excelling in diction and grammar. These free tools can help students’ writing improve as they grow in their knowledge throughout seminary and beyond.
The Citation Tool
Citation tools like Zotero will be indispensable throughout the seminary experience as papers and case studies can include fairly extensive citation requirements. Rather than keeping a manual record of all citations in a report, citation tools enable students to electronically keep track of resources used throughout their research.
As students continue their seminary education, citation tools like Zotero can help keep track of various projects and papers through its record-keeping system.
To learn more about Zotero, please watch this helpful guide.
The Library & Writing Center
The SBTS Library & Writing Center has a wealth of information and resources for the online student beyond simply requesting books.
The SBTS Library’s databases, research guides, and library services provide online students with specialized help for any questions they might have throughout their time researching and writing in their courses. The Distance Student Services office also provides students with guidance on utilizing the SBTS Library to its fullest.
The SBTS Writing Center has many guides, templates, and workshops that can prepare students for the different writing assignments that one should expect to have throughout their seminary experience. Students can also submit papers for review and meet with the Writing Center staff to discuss their work.
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For students that may be starting online education for the first time, the unknowns 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, online education is more connected than ever before.
