Lausanne World Pulse – Perspectives Articles – Viral Biblical Education: A Case Study

By Debbie Farrar
December 2010

Shared Technology, Resources, and Revenue. “…having everything in common…” (Acts 2:44)
While there are as many as one hundred commercially available software packages for online education, most are designed for use by a single organization. Instead of one thousand organizations each purchasing, installing, and supporting their own system, IBS introduced this unique shared platform. Since 2005, IBS invested over US$1 million to bring this technology at no cost to the individual ministry, church, or seminary.

 

Five breakthrough innovations have made online, biblical

education affordable.

The software platform allows organizations to create courses, manage course content, manage classes, track and retain all classroom interaction, and use other system functions to manage student enrollment, progress, teaching staff, student payments, and databases. It was designed to deliver education in some of the most adverse and poorest conditions.

Partner ministries are free to distribute courses by broadband, dial-up, CDs, downloadable files, or in print. We are no longer held hostage to the cost and technical support needed to run individual learning systems. Partner organizations utilizing the IBS Software System:

  • share and disseminate courses published by multiple publishers;
  • manage student financial transactions;
  • provide facilitator-led instruction, as well as independent study instruction;
  • receive global technical support;
  • manage student transcripts; and
  • personalize branding and marketing for their institutions.

A Bible school in Africa may subscribe to an array of courses to meet their individual curriculum requirements already published by partners, substantially reducing costs associated with the development of new courses. Individual institutions share courses with others and a small royalty is calculated into the price of each course offered. The recipient organization pays nothing for a shared course, but students pay a nominal fee to the course publisher, thus providing revenue to publishers. Shared coursework reduces costs, improves quality, and substantially increases use.

Enhanced Flexibility and Access. “…make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19) There are many places around the world that are difficult to access. However, broadband Internet access is becoming ubiquitous as one million new broadband connections are added each day. IBS and its partners currently operate in 113 countries and dozens of international time zones, all working against traditional class attendance schedules. Students are required to log in and work in their specific class three times per week. This asynchronous model of education permits students to choose their best times for class work and later link up with his or her class to review materials and post messages to fellow students and facilitators.

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Debbie Farrar has been a fund development strategist for faith-based ministries since 1998, working with nearly one hundred ministries globally, including Josh McDowell Ministries, Awana International, Trans World Radio, and Operation Mobilization. She serves on the board of directors for Global Mapping International.