“In the ideal college, intrinsic education would be available to anyone who wanted it . . . The college would be life-long, for learning can take place all through life.”―Abraham Maslow.*

Fifty years ago, this ideal situation was a dream. Today, with the rise and impetus of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), college-level classes are open anytime, anywhere. Lifelong learning is now accessible to anyone with a desire to continue learning, without the hindrance of prescribed class times and hefty tuition fees. As an initiative of the North American Division (NAD), the Adventist Learning Community (ALC) also seeks to contribute to fulfil this vision.

The ALC seeks to provide teachers and pastors with information, training, and resources needed to enhance professional practice throughout a lifetime. Our mission is to empower them with the skills necessary to further the kingdom of Christ with passion in the 21st century.

The Adventist Learning Community offers a wide selection of free online continuing education (CE) and ministry training courses and resources, all of which are available to Seventh-day Adventist teachers, education administrators, pastors, and chaplains. There are several courses housed on the ALC that provide the option of university academic credit. These courses list the Adventist university(ies) where credit can be obtained. The ALC provides a platform that allows teachers to work toward their professional goals with the added benefit of learning at their own pace, and the flexibility of adapting professional development to their own schedules and unique needs.

Adventist teachers and administrators employed outside of the NAD can also access the ALC. International users can report CE course completion by filling out the “Who should be notified when you complete this course” page at the beginning of every course. Notification of course completion will automatically be sent to the person(s) listed on this page. For users employed within the NAD, course completion certificates may be automatically forwarded to conference or union registrars. Here are some of the courses the ALC offers specifically designed for Adventist teachers from a distinctly Adventist perspective:

Courses

There are currently five courses valid for NAD teacher certification or re-certification available for Continuing Education Credit (CEUs). These courses can be easily identified by the Adventist Education logo and “Teacher Certification” label on the homepage of the course. These five courses include:

A number of other courses are available on ALC for Continuing Education Credit. The following list provides a few examples:

  • An Introduction to REACH: The NAD Inclusion Initiative (1 CEU)
  • Coaching Distinctively Adventist Sports (0.5 CEU)
  • Continuing Education Course: The International Conference on the Bible and Science: Affirming Creation, St. George, Utah, 2014 (2 CEUs)
  • Copyright for Teachers and Pastors (0.5 CEU)
  • Creating a Positive Digital Footprint (0.1 CEU)
  • Curriculum Mapping: Big Ideas & Essential Questions (2 CEUs)
  • Elementary Encounter Adventist [Bible] Curriculum (1 CEU)
  • Facilitator Course (1 CEU)
  • Implementing a 1 to 1 Device Program (0.5 CEU)
  • Internet Safety in the Classroom (0.2 CEU)
  • Introduction to Adventist Robotics (0.5 CEU)
  • Passport to Preparedness [Preparation for Mission Trips] (1 CEU)
  • Principals’ Instructional Leadership (0.2 CEU)
  • School Safety (0.2 CEU)
  • Secondary Encounter Adventist [Bible] Curriculum (0.5 CEU)
  • Sexual Abuse―Reclaiming Hope [Mandatory in Canada] (1 CEU)
  • Social Media 101 (0.2 CEU)

Courses for Adventist School Boards:

Some of the many courses currently being developed:

  • Stages of FaithThis course will explore spiritual aspects of the development of children and adolescents based on James Fowler’s “Stages of Faith” model.
  • Implicit BiasThis course will provide an introduction to the concept of implicit or unconscious bias and explore diversity through the eyes of grace.
  • Multigrade and Small SchoolsThis course will address the unique needs of small schools, and offer helpful tips on how to organize, manage, and teach a multigrade classroom.

Resources for Teachers

The ALC has a growing library of Adventist resources available for teachers. This collection of resources includes the following materials:

  • ByDesign interactive [science] textbook resources
  • GraceLink animated Bible stories
  • iBelieve Bible videos
  • Math resources
  • Pathways resources
  • R.A.I.N. 9th-grade art curriculum

Resources for other professionals such as pastors, chaplains, and church administrators, are also available to anyone with an ALC account. These resources include conferences, conventions, evangelistic television programs, and more.

Steps for Taking Teacher CE Courses from the ALC:

  • Go to the ALC homepage: http://www.adventistlearningcommunity.com/.
  • Create an account on ALC by clicking on “Sign Up” or, if employed by the North American Division, use your NAD teacher toolkit login information.
  • Log in.
  • Click on the “Browse Course Catalog” grey search bar on the ALC homepage.
  • In the search line, type in the first few letters of the course title.
  • Click on the course.
  • Enroll in the course.
  • If you wish for someone to be notified about your course completion, fill out the “Who should be notified when you complete this course” fillable box page.
  • Complete all the learning modules and quizzes.
  • A completion certificate will be generated upon course completion.

The ALC seeks to provide teachers and pastors with information, training, and resources needed to enhance professional practice throughout a lifetime. Our mission is to empower them with the skills necessary to further the kingdom of Christ with passion in the 21st century.

For additional information about the ALC, or to participate in authoring an ALC CE course, please contact us at https://www.adventistlearningcommunity.com/contact.

Sharon Aka

Sharon Aka, PhD, MSN, RN, is a consultant for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for virtual events and the Adventist Collective. Dr. Aka is also an adjunct faculty member in the graduate leadership department at Andrews University (Berrien Springs, Michigan, U.S.A.) and the school of nursing at Notre Dame of Maryland University (Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.). She is also a researcher and author, engaged with the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventist Center of Research and Evaluation (NADCoRE).

Paola Franco-Oudri

Paola Franco-Oudri, MAT, is Associate Director for the Adventist Learning Community (ALC) North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists in Columbia, Maryland, U.S.A.

Recommended citation:

Sharon Aka and Paola Franco-Oudri, “Continuing Education Courses and Resources Offered by the Adventist Learning Community (ALC),” The Journal of Adventist Education 80:3 (July-September 2018): 43, 45. Available at https://www.journalofadventisteducation.org/en/2018.3.8.

The ALC, an initiative of the North American Division, is an online resource designed to provide professional development and continuing education for ministerial and educational professionals within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. ALC also provides local church communities with access to Adventist-produced content and resources. For more information, visit www.adventistlearningcommunity.com/.

* Abraham Maslow, The Farther Reaches of Human Nature (New York: Penguin Group, 1993), 175.