The study reported in this paper investigated sense of community and perceived learning in on-campus and online courses at both a Christian university and a state university using a population of graduate students (N = 350). Results suggest that the Christian ethos, with its influence on all facets of university life, manifests itself in stronger online as well as on-campus sense of community among students at the Christian university. However, this added community capital does not result in greater perceived learning among students at the Christian university in either on-campus or online courses. Additionally, participants in on-campus courses felt stronger sense of community and greater perceived learning than their online peers at both universities, exposing both a community gap and a perceived learning gap in courses delivered at a distance. The community gap manifests itself mostly in the social dimension of community, which consists of feelings pertaining to community spirit, cohesion, trust, safety, interactivity, interdependence, and sense of belonging. Significant differences were not observed in the learning dimension of community, which concerns the degree to which learning community members share group norms and values and the extent to which their educational goals and expectations are satisfied by group membership. (2005) define distance education as "planned learning that normally occurs in a different place from teaching, requiring special course design and instruction techniques, communication through various technologies, and special organizational and administrative arrangements" (p. 2). From the earliest days of correspondence courses, a primary purpose of such education is to deliver formal instruction to students who cannot otherwise attend campus-based courses. Looking at distance education conference themes since 1938, Bunker (2003 notes "an unremitting allegiance to the belief in the value of providing access to education for all learners, no matter how dispersed or disadvantaged by economic, personal, or political situations" (p. 60). More
Moore and Kearsley
From an initial sample of fifteen Christian character development curricula, ten were selected for more in-depth analysis. Three were eventually chosen as exemplary models of curricula that promote Sermon on the Mount qualities, considered as the ultimate expression of holy nation citizenship expectations.
To be true to its name-sake, the academic focus of Christian education should be in service to discipleship, not vice versa. Only discipleship formation equips for the eternal transcendent issue of life. Christian discipleship expectations for home, church, and school settings are elaborated under seven biblical mandates: Dominion Mandate, populate the earth, self-governance, the First Greatest Commandment, the two parts of the Second Greatest Commandment (love self and love others), and the Great Commission.
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