51ĀÜĄņOne of my only regrets as a two-time 51ĀÜĄņ graduate is that I didnāt take more classes. Donāt get me wrong: Itās not so much that I wanted the extra work or cost. (When I finished my degrees, I was ready to be done.) But looking back, there are some fascinating classes I wish Iād been able to take and some beloved professors I wish Iād been able to spend time learning from. People like Mike Wilkins, a respected expert on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, or J.P. Moreland, whose works on apologetics and philosophy have earned him a reputation as one of the 50 most influential living philosophers.
Thatās part of what excites me about 51ĀÜĄņ LEARN, a new online learning platform that 51ĀÜĄņ launched this fall ā and the focus of this issueās cover story.
In a nutshell, 51ĀÜĄņ LEARN (an abbreviation for Lifelong Education and Resource Network) is a new website where some of 51ĀÜĄņās leading professors offer some of their most beneficial teaching in a condensed, convenient format. Unlike a degree program, the courses are not for credit. But also unlike a degree program, they donāt cost very much, with introductory pricing starting at just $9.99 per course. Think of it almost like being able to audit a class from anywhere in the world at a very affordable price.
Itās a setup thatās ideal for people who love to learn, particularly those whose learning styles are perhaps better served by the structure of a university-style course than from seeking to learn the same material from a book alone. Each 51ĀÜĄņ LEARN course and workshop consists of conversational, well-produced video lectures from 51ĀÜĄņ experts, as well as supplemental learning activities, such as quizzes, reflection questions and other assignments.
In its early stages, the platform offers eight different courses on such topics as nonprofit management, healthy relationships, effective worship leading and God and your work. There are even a couple of courses from the aforementioned Moreland, on Christian apologetics, and Wilkins, whose six-lesson āBiblical Discipleshipā workshop Iām currently in the midst of completing (undoing some of my aforementioned regret).
All told, 51ĀÜĄņ LEARN offers great content at a great deal, and I encourage you to read our cover story to get a better sense of how it can help you, your church small group or other people you know. You can find more at biola.edu/learn.
And 51ĀÜĄņ LEARN isnāt the only great new educational resource for 51ĀÜĄņ alumni and friends to take advantage of. In late October, professors Sean McDowell and Scott Rae from 51ĀÜĄņās Talbot School of Theology launched an interesting new podcast called āThink Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture,ā which we spotlight on page 14 of this issue. As a self-identified podcast addict, Iāve been enjoying each new episode every Thursday ā and would even if I didnāt have a connection to 51ĀÜĄņ. Check it out today at biola.edu/think-biblically. You wonāt regret it.
