At Auckland Park Theological Seminary, we use distance education for teaching and learning, which has many benefits. One main advantage is that students and lecturers can be in different places. This method also saves money because students don’t have to move or travel, making higher education available to more people from different backgrounds. Plus, distance learning offers flexible timetables, so students can manage their studies alongside personal and work responsibilities.
While distance education has many benefits, it also comes with some challenges. We are always working to make our teaching and learning better in this format.
Our approach combines different methods and uses the internet for support, but we mainly rely on printed materials like Reader, Study, and Assessment manuals. Online virtual classes let students and lecturers meet online, hear the lecturer’s explanation of the work, and ask questions. A few selected tests are done using online multiple-choice questions. Students must have internet access.
We enrol students twice a year, and everyone follows the same study plan.
Printed Study Material
The printed Reader and Study Manual help students with their private study by offering weekly learning outcomes, reading tasks, notes, and self-assessment activities. They also tell students about the support available from lecturers and how to get in touch with them.
The Reader provides the main materials needed for each module, so students have everything required to do well. They don’t need to buy extra textbooks, except for a few subjects. Each module also comes with a list of recommended readings for those who want to learn more. To help students explore different ideas and build their research skills, the programme encourages using libraries and other resources for extra information.
The Reader is developed to keep costs low and ensure easy access to content for students in remote or rural areas. Lecturers compile the work, which lets them include the latest and relevant research. This makes the teaching relevant to the South African context and addresses local needs, helping to create and share knowledge.
The Study Manual works alongside online classes and matches the content in the Reader. It guides students through their learning with weekly learning outcomes, reading tasks, and self-assessment activities. Reflection exercises and self-assessment questions allow students to check their understanding and track their learning progress.
Virtual Online Classes
Online classes and/or video tutoring sessions make effective learning and knowledge sharing possible. Lecturers hold virtual meetings where students can discuss learning content and clear up any learning issues. Additionally, students can arrange face-to-face tutoring sessions with academic staff.
We believe that a unique learning experience can happen through the work of the Holy Spirit, who provides guidance, insight, and wisdom to both lecturers and students. From a rationalistic or mechanistic point of view, this might seem naive, yet ATS has often felt the Holy Spirit’s presence and influence in our classes. While the online environment may feel unfamiliar, the role of the Holy Spirit remains steady and familiar. We encourage both lecturers and students to seek this divine guidance, just as they do when preparing, delivering, or understanding a sermon.
Assessments
The Study Manual includes the module outline, learning outcomes, and chapter goals, which explain what is expected for each assessment and how performance will be measured.
Formative assessments are carried out through assignments, tests, experiential tasks, and online tests, following ATS’s assessment policy. Lecturers give personalised feedback on these tasks. These assessments happen throughout the semester and play a part in the final evaluation, which is mainly a summative assessment in the form of a written examination.
Every three weeks, you receive a summary email that informs you about the tests, assignments, or examinations for the upcoming three weeks. This is just an extra pacing support, as you have access to your complete academic calendar from the day you receive your study materials.
In distance learning, it is very important to ensure the honesty of all assessments. For this, ATS depends on the support of invigilators. An invigilator is a person who supervises tests and exams. Only ordained religious practitioners who are also registered commissioners of oaths, or invigilators working for any public or state-funded South African university, can be registered as invigilators.
Library Services
Learn more about ATS’ Library Facilities.
Personal online learning support page: Make-Learning-Flow
When you register as a student with Auckland Park Theological Seminary, you gain access to your personal online learning support page. This page is created when you first register. The appearance and content of your personal online learning support page will vary depending on the year, your qualification, and the modules you have registered for.
On this page you are given access to virtual class video recordings, downloadable resources, the Open Access Online Libraries, and self-service options such as submitting assignments, registering for exams, uploading invigilator forms and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit the FAQ page to find answers to common questions that students frequently ask us.
Student feedback
You can also read about fellow students’ feedback and evaluations of their experiences with us.
