Wilmore, Ky. (April 15, 2013) Asbury Theological Seminary faculty members, Dr. Leslie Andrews and Mr. Paul Tippey, will be facilitators and keynote speakers at The Asia Theological Association (ATA) workshop, Learning in the Twenty-First Century, in the Philippines on April 22-26.

ATA represents 270 institutions in 32 countries.  Both Andrews and Tippey will be assisting ATA in developing a vision for online education.

The workshop will look at what online education has to offer, how it influences pedagogy, and how culture influences distance learning.  Attendees will explore different technologies that can be used to enhance distance learning including social media, e-libraries and online journal databases, as well as audio-conferencing and podcasting.  They will discuss how to manage the delivery of distance learning programs so that students get both academic and pastoral support, and advice in managing the course development process.

Provost Doug Matthews sees tremendous value in the opportunity to collaborate with ATA.  “Asbury Theological Seminary is extremely grateful for the opportunity to facilitate dialog, dream together, and to contribute very experienced leadership to the upcoming Asia Theological Association Seminar on Theological Education. This is a very significant event as it addresses distance learning (including on-line learning), which comprises one of the major mega-trends impacting theological education around the globe. Our hopes and prayers certainly will be with this great event and two of our faculty who will serve as keynote speakers and facilitators for this important gathering of international leaders,” he said.

Dr. Mark Royster, Asbury Seminary’s Director of Global Partnerships, “This may be one of the most important developments in our global initiatives so far.  For Asbury to be in on the ground floor of this is very significant.”

For more information on the workshop, visit www.ataasia.com.  For more information on Asbury Seminary, contact jo.brosius@asburyseminary.edu or visit the website at www.asburyseminary.edu.