lbc-echo-spring-2022 - 36

dding upwards of two dozen online programs
in less than a year is virtually unheard of in
the educational world. This huge
undertaking-to increase the number of online
programs at Lancaster Bible College | Capital
Seminary & Graduate School from 10 to 35 by the
end of 2022-was a concerted effort by the entire
college team that was committed to the task, with
various academic departments embracing this
important goal in different ways.
Dr. Stacey Martin, Chair of LBC | Capital's Education
Department, and her team worked on a significant
project to move six programs-four Master of
Education programs, one doctoral program and one
post-baccalaureate certificate-to an online learning
environment. True to the teacher's heart in each one
of these educators, the department turned the task
into a learning experience for themselves as well.
LANCASTER BIBLE COLLEGE | CAPITAL SEMINARY
& GRADUATE SCHOOL: Why is LBC | Capital's
global initiative-sharing our mission with students
in our region, across the country and around the
world-important to the health of the college and
to our kingdom work?
DR. STACEY MARTIN: LBC | Capital's global initiative
expands the reach of our mission beyond the
geographical limits of 901 Eden Road and makes
solid biblical teaching accessible to students around
the world.
LBC | CAPITAL: In what ways has the Education
Department embraced digital learning?
SM: In the Education Department, we first dipped
our toes into the digital space by converting
our two existing graduate programs-MEd in
Special Education and MEd in English as a Second
Language-from a blended format to a completely
online format. This was followed quickly by the
design and launch of four brand-new online graduate
programs-MEd in Early Childhood Education,
post-baccalaureate certification in Early Childhood
Education, MEd in Curriculum and Instruction and
EdD in Educational Leadership. While the design of
these programs in a very short timeline presented a
daunting goal, the Education Department team rallied
to embrace this exciting opportunity to expand our
50 ECHO 32 ECHO
programming significantly. We posted a timeline
on the wall in our suite, marking the milestones in
the process, and we celebrated each step along
the way. While the bulk of the design work was
completed by our Director of Graduate Programs,
Dr. Robin Bronkema, each member of the Education
Department team buoyed the effort. We're humbled
to play a role in this initiative, and we're excited to see
the results of this work. It has been a privilege to lead
the Education Department through this process. All
glory to God!
LBC | CAPITAL: How is LBC | Capital, and your
department specifically, working to make sure
online students feel engaged when they may never
meet their professors and classmates face to face?
SM: Student engagement in online courses
presents a significant challenge, but it is one that
LBC | Capital, and the Education Department in
particular, is uniquely positioned to address. Our
student-focused approach and emphasis on spiritual
formation requires intentional focus on the building
of relationships, both between professor and student
and between students and other students, regardless
of the modality. The built-in weekly synchronous
sessions will provide opportunities to connect, to
grow, to answer questions and to sharpen each other
through discussion and feedback. Instructors in LBC |
Capital online courses have been specifically chosen
not only for their expertise in the field but also for
their desire to invest in students.
LBC | CAPITAL: Why is it important for a Bible
college to keep up with an ever-changing
educational landscape?
SM: It is crucial that a Bible college keeps up with
the ever-changing educational landscape in order
to remain viable in the educational marketplace.
LBC | Capital is making the intentional choice to
embrace the online modality, and this initiative offers
a sustainable model to continue equipping Christian
students to proclaim Christ throughout the world.
Now more than ever, the world needs the good
news of Christ!
To learn more about the new online degrees within
the LBC | Capital Education Department, visit
lbc.edu/education.
http://www.lbc.edu/education
lbc-echo-spring-2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of lbc-echo-spring-2022
