Towards an Internet-based Distance Education (IDE) Framework for Religious-based Higher Education Organizations: A Case of the Alliance for Assemblies of God Higher Education

• Main Author: Harris, Jeremy William
• Format: Others
• Published: NSUWorks 2012
• Subjects: Assemblies of God; Discovery Framework; Distance Education; Online Learning; Religious Higher Education; Spiritual Formation; Computer Sciences
• Online Access: http://nsuworks.nova.edu/gscis_etd/173; http://nsuworks.nova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1172&context=gscis_etd

Internet-based distance education (IDE) continues to grow in popularity and ubiquity. Acceptance of IDE among Christian higher education institutions has also increased. However, these institutions seek assistance. Such was the case with the nineteen institutions endorsed by the Assemblies of God (AG). The AG's oversight organization (The Alliance for Assemblies of God Higher Education, Alliance) was asked by member institutions for IDE aid, resources, and direction. To understand the current environment of IDE within AG higher education, an organizational discovery case study reviewed the historical IDE trends within AG higher education, surveyed institutional faculty members and administrators as to their IDE beliefs and situations, and analyzed the data collected. From the research findings, the Alliance gained a better understanding of the needs and intentions of its member institutions. It also realized the aid and resources to offer its endorsed institutions, what endorsement requirements were needed for spiritual development in an online distance education setting, and an overall IDE direction that the organization could provide or facilitate. To aid the organizational discovery, a research framework was created that the Alliance could reuse and share with similar organizations for their own internal discovery.