New PIU module

I am super pleased to be teaching the World Religions class online for PIU this semester. In the past I've taught the classroom version. And I've also led a few students through the content using individualized instruction. This time, however, I am formatting it as an online individualized instruction module.

This means that I am developing the content in such a way that even if there is only one student interested in doing the work he or she can take the class. PIU is small and course offerings each semester are limited. Often there are students who need a particular class but it isn't offered because there aren't enough students on campus who need it (or there is no one on campus available to teach it).

I've been teaching the spiritual formation class (a freshman level class) this way for a couple of years. World Religions is a fourth year class. I'm hoping to develop an ongoing series on new online modules that individual students can take as needed. They can even be offered every semester.

Most of the PIU students are Micronesians. Micronesians are highly group oriented people. This means that on a whole they would much prefer to sit in a classroom with each other. That is the experience they most enjoy. Ironically, though, in my experience of teaching both in the classroom and online, students seem to master the material better in an individualized online system. I think it has to do with the fact that they don't have to live up to the strong social expectations of the group. That is, they are freer to express what they think without worrying that they are offending someone. And they are less able to hide in the group.

It is a struggle for some to develop the discipline to work alone -- and to have to write so much. But most will rise to the occasion.