BJU Press Blog

Distance Learning tour

What Roles Are Assigned for BJU Press Distance Learning?

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Last week we listed the different teams involved in creating a Distance Learning course. We also introduced a scene shop team member and the head drama associate, who shared in their own words about the roles they play. Today, you will meet three more people—a teacher, a video specialist, and a production manager.

image of BJU Press Distance Learning reading teacher in the studio.

What roles are assigned?

Mrs. Walker—Teacher

How would you describe your role?

I’m one of the content teachers. I’ve been here since we started in 1996. My first love is teaching reading, but I have taught math and heritage studies when needed. I use the BJU Press teacher’s editions and curriculum to teach in a one-on-one style.

What excites you about including biblical worldview, sound education, and joy of learning in your lessons?

I try to include something in each lesson that will pique the interest of students. (I call it the “dinner nugget,” something that they care enough about to mention at the family dinner table.) If I can get them to enjoy learning—to really love learning—then they will pay attention long enough to get a sound education that’s God-centered. Each reading, history, and even math lesson can present situations that encourage the student to think about what he would do; then I give him Scripture and point him to what he should do. Daily exposure to this biblical integration will help him develop his own biblical worldview! The Bible is not just for Bible class!

image of BJU Press Distance Learning studio behind the scenes.

 

Mary—Video Specialist

How would you describe your role?

I run cameras, sound, and a switcher while recording live video for lessons and special segments. Depending on the day, I may go to a brainstorming meeting for one of the classes, edit segments, and record lessons.

How much time does it take to record a lesson?

It may take around an hour to record a lesson with the need to start and stop in parts of the lesson, but [many] hours may have already gone into the recording and editing of segments for that lesson.

image of BJU Press Distance Learning studio behind the scenes of Reading 6

Juanita—Production Manager

How would you describe your role?

As the senior manager of video production, I get to oversee a very talented group of writers, producers, artists, and video specialists as well as a dedicated crew that helps distribute video content to our customers.

What impact do you hope BJU Press Distance Learning courses have on students?

I hope we are making an eternal impact, helping to train disciples for Christ who are well educated and able to think critically, who can go out into this world and make an impact in their own generation for the Lord. For example, we recently heard about a Distance Learning student who came to faith in Christ. The Lord used the teaching in his Bible class and the testimony of his teacher to stir his heart. A report like that reminds us why we do what we do.

Check back next week to see where everything comes together. We’ve created a special video tour just for you!

Who Is Involved in BJU Press Distance Learning?

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Every one of our Distance Learning courses is tailor-made with your student in mind. As we create these courses, each step is planned out, prayed over, and pieced together by a skilled team of people who are committed to the task of providing a quality Christian education to the next generation. Over the next few weeks, we would like to share with you how we develop our Distance Learning courses. We will focus this “virtual tour” on answering three specific questions—who is involved, what roles are assigned, and where does everything come together?

Who is involved?

  • Scene Shop Team—develops the sets for the courses and segments
  • Writer Associates—write scripts for special segments
  • Drama Associates—produce special segments needed to communicate certain concepts
  • Teachers—design the daily lessons and present them
  • Assistants—create PowerPoint® visuals, procure media, and design handouts
  • Make-Up Associates—prepare actors and teachers for filming
  • Video Specialists—record and edit segments and lessons
  • Quality Control Team—checks each video file for various issues ranging from spelling mistakes to technical errors
  • Product Support Team—creates master DVDs and master Hard Drives for distribution
  • Support Material Team—compiles Video Lesson Guides and Student Handouts materials
  • Online Team—uploads lessons, materials, and instructions to BJU Press Online

image of behind the scenes at the BJU Press Distance Learning set design studio.

What roles are assigned?

To best answer this question, we asked several people to talk about their roles.

Phil—Scene Shop Team Member

How would you describe your role?

My main job is to find or make whatever props are needed for any given lesson. I do primarily 3-D construction of props, so on any given day I might be carving or sculpting something from foam and then painting it. I also help with the design and construction of the teaching/special segment sets.

What do you think is the best part of Distance Learning, and why?

The variety that we are able to offer these students—not just quality, individualized teaching, but the educational and yet entertaining special segments that are produced. That’s something that no classroom teacher and certainly no homeschool parent using just textbooks can offer.

image of BJU Press Distance Learning math prop.

Melissa—Head Drama Associate

How would you describe your role?

I’m responsible for coordinating all the individuals and departments involved in creating the special video clips that go into our lessons—as well as training other drama associates to do the same.

What excites you about including biblical worldview, sound education, and joy of learning into your projects?

What other distance learning product [that has this level of] academic excellence [presented from] a biblical worldview also provides such incredible resources to the student? We bring in guest experts; we dramatize complex concepts to maximize understanding for all types of learners. There are no other teachers that I’m aware of that could possibly put as many hours into teaching one lesson, as many resources into teaching one concept, as our teachers do.

 

Collage of BJU Press Distance Learning warehouse storage and clothing

Check back next week and meet a Distance Learning teacher, a video specialist, and a production manager!