Welcome to Kar Yong Lim's personal site
Bible, Faith, Culture, Identity
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Publications
    • Following Jesus >
      • Book Launch: Following Jesus
    • Metaphors and Social Identity
    • Jesus the Storyteller
  • Courses
  • Resources

Time for Malaysian Seminaries to Adopt E-Learning?

20/3/2020

3 Comments

 
Picture
​Whenever we are confronted with a crisis, we can either succumb to it or we could rise above it, emerging stronger and more resilient than ever.

With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting all of us globally, it brings disruptions and inconveniences to our daily life. As a theological educator, all my classes in this semester are cancelled in compliance with the Movement Control Order (MCO) issued by the Malaysian government from 18-31 March. Other modular and intensive courses to be held in the coming weeks are cancelled as well. 

Many questions are now being raised: How do we complete the syllabus for our courses? Will we be able to carry out replacement classes after the MCO is lifted? How do students access library resources? What if the MCO is extended?

Although the welfare and wellbeing of our students, staff, and faculty are foremost in our mind, we also wonder about the aftermath of the pandemic. How are classes going to be held? 

This brings me back to one of the issues I raised some years ago about how brick and mortar seminaries may not be the only way for the future. What I am advocating is not to phase out traditional model of learning, such as the current full-time residential training. There is still a place for this model. What I am reflecting here is this: what else can we do to respond to the current challenges ahead of us?
Picture
​There is a need to embrace online learning. Unfortunately, seminaries in Malaysia are generally slow to adapt to changes. We have not taken full advantage of the technological advances available for us to tap into what we could possibly offer to our students in terms of e-learning experience, including revamping our instructional models and making full use of the digital resources available.

The current crisis provides us another window of opportunity to respond positively to the situation. If anything, the current crisis reinforces the fact that we have to embrace technological advances if seminaries wish to remain resilient, adaptable to forces beyond our control, and continue to provide theological education to our students in Malaysia and beyond.

What can we plan for the immediate future for seminaries in Malaysia?

1)    Upgrade our infrastructure so that our entire campus is provided with high-speed wifi/internet connection. This is no longer an option but a necessity so that we could offer a better learning experience.
2)    Revamp our instructional model. We may have to consider offering courses online, blended model (say 50% online, and 50% face to face classroom interaction) or any other suitable models such as viewing videos at the convenience of the students. If we are prepared, we could tap on adjunct lecturers that are more than willing to offer courses but without the need for them to cross geographical boundaries to be in the seminary to deliver their lectures. In this way, we could potentially expand our course offerings, tapping into expertise available globally at reduced cost.
3)    Reconsider our assessment of academic requirements. Currently, most of our academic requirements stipulates certain percentage of class attendance. This might have to be reviewed in light of online learning especially if our classes are designed to be self-paced.
4)    Move to digital resources. While physical library remains important, there is a need to consider subscription to digital resources with journals and ebook access. Any financial budget allocated for physical expansion of library might be more profitably channelled to digital subscription that students may access from anywhere as long as there is internet connection. Currently, many academic publishers are offering access to their digital resources for free at least until middle of the year. This is a great opportunity for us to familiarise ourselves with digital resources if we have not done so already.
5)    Collaborate with other seminaries. The time is now for us to work closely together. We need to collaborate with one another, not only with seminaries in Malaysia but also in the region. We could potentially share resources, participate in each other’s online learning courses, consider transfer of credits, and offer joint classes together where lecturers from different institutions could co-teach an online course in their respective geographical locations. This will enhance students' learning experience.
6)    Change our mindset. This is probably the hardest thing to do. We are often averse to changes, and more so changes to areas that we are not familiar or uncomfortable with. However, help is always available. There are educational consultants who are willing to assist seminaries migrating to e-learning.

What I have said above is nothing new. Many seminaries globally have embraced online learning and there are lessons to learn from them. 

Perhaps the current crisis is a golden opportunity for seminaries in Malaysia to reinvent themselves and thus provide greater access to theological education for many who are not geographically located near the physical location of the seminaries. Imagine the great impact where people located in East Malaysia, the East Coast states of Peninsular Malaysia, the smaller towns all over the country, and even students from the region could be further equipped for the ministry of the Gospel. 

Are we ready? Who is with me?
3 Comments

STM 4th Biblical Studies Seminar: Bible and Gender

7/2/2017

2 Comments

 
The Centre for Bible Engagement, Seminari Theoloji Malaysia, invites you to join us for our 4th Annual Biblical Studies Seminar focussing on the theme of Bible and Gender on 27 February (Monday), 9am-5pm. The central focus of our Biblical Studies Seminar is intentional interdisciplinary in nature where we gain insights and perspectives from other related disciplines. 
Picture
​Is gender a subjective reality where we are male or female because we perceive ourselves as such? Is gender socially constructed according to certain stereotypes or culture? Is there a difference in gender identity as reflected in the Bible? In the age of rapidly increasing gender fluidity, can one still hold on to the traditional roles of gender identity? Are gender roles mentioned in the Bible normative for all times? What do other fields of studies inform us of gender issues? 

This seminar aims to address these issues from an interdisciplinary approach covering biblical, gender studies, and psychological perspectives.
​
Our Team of Speakers
Picture
Rev Grace Kwan Sik Tsoi, PhD Candidate, University of Divinity (Whitley College), Melbourne.
Rev Tsoi  was born in Hong Kong and migrated to Australia with family at high school. She studied in the University of New South Wales and was awarded BSc (Med), B. Medicine, B. Surgery. Upon graduation she was called to full time ministry, so she left the medical field and entered seminary studies, and was awarded B.Th (Hons) from the Sydney College of Divinity.  She pastored the Chinese Congregation of Canberra Chinese Christian Church from 2009-2015, and was ordained in 2013.  She is currently working on her PhD, focusing on the book of Judges.

Rev Tsoi will present a paper entitled, “Gender in Old Testament Narratives: Stereotypes, Interpretations and Cultures.”


Picture
Rev Dr Leonard Wee, Lecturer in New Testament, Trinity Theological College (TTC), Singapore.
Rev Dr Wee is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church in Singapore (PCS). He worked in the banking sector for five years before obtaining his Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. After pastoring for 10 years (7 years as the lead pastor at Hope Presbyterian Church), he was sent as faculty-in-development by TTC and the PCS Synod to study at Durham University, with scholarships from the Brash Trust, the Council for World Mission and TTC. He completed his PhD studies in 2013 under the supervision of Professor Francis B. Watson.

Rev Dr Wee will present a paper entitled,  “The Ordination of Women in the Presbyterian Church in Singapore: A Biblical Evaluation”


Picture
​Dr Sharon Bong, Associate Professor of Gender Studies, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Monash University Malaysia.
Dr Bong graduated with a Ph.D. in Religious Studies (2002) and M.A. in Women and Religion (1997), University of Lancaster, UK. She has authored The Tension Between Women’s Rights and Religions: The Case of Malaysia (2006) and edited Trauma, Memory and Transformation in Southeast Asia (2014) and Re-imagining Marriage and Family in Asia: Asian Christian Women’s Perspectives (2008). She is currently consultant to and former coordinator of the Ecclesia of Women in Asia and a forum writer for the Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church.  

Dr Bong will present a paper entitled, “Feminine Genius: Revisiting Gender Complementarity Today”


Picture
Dr Hera Lukman, Registered Chartered Health Psychologist with the British Psychological Society.
Dr Lukman obtained her BA (Hons) at Simon Fraser University, Canada, her MSc at the University of Sheffield, UK, and her PhD at the University of Leeds, UK. For the past 15 years, Hera has taught Psychology at several Universities in the UK and Malaysia. Her areas of interest include appearance evaluation, eating behaviour and sexuality. As a Christian Psychologist, Hera is passionate in integrating Psychology with Biblical principles in understanding personhood and one's identity in Christ. 

Dr Lukman will present a paper entitled, “Navigating Gender Identity: Is There a ‘Redemptive Space’ in the Church?”


Date: 27 February 2017 Monday      
Time: 9am-5pm
Venue: STM Campus. See map below for directions. 
​


Admission is free but we welcome freewill donations to cover the cost of organising the seminar. Registration is required for catering purpose. Coffee breaks and lunch inclusive.
Please register by clicking here.  

Closing date for registration: 22 February 2017 (Wednesday)


A flyer for the seminar can be downloaded by clicking here.

2 Comments

Romans 14:2-4: We Didn't Fight over Food!

8/11/2016

0 Comments

 
From August to November, over a period of 10 weeks, I taught an evening course on Romans for the Bible College of Malaysia, a pentecostal college established by the Assemblies of God, Malaysia.

We ended our final class last night with a little celebration where everyone brought a dish so we could have some table fellowship. It was fitting to end the class by considering Paul's final exhortation to the Roman Christ-followers in Romans 14-15.
We lived up Romans 14:2-4 literally. We did not fight over food. But we fought for food!

I wish those in the Romans class all the best for their final exams. 
0 Comments

    Author

    Lecturer in New Testament Studies at Seminari Theoloji Malaysia. You can find out more about me by clicking here. 


    Blog

    My engagement in conversation with issues, reflections, and concerns related to my vocation as a seminary lecturer and theological education in general. Opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my personal views and do not represent the official position of the seminary


    Categories

    All
    Archaeology
    Bible Software
    Dead Sea Scrolls
    Gospels
    Greco-Roman Background
    Greece
    Jesus Christ
    New Testament
    NT Manuscripts
    Old Testament
    Online Resources
    Paul The Apostle
    Personal
    Publications
    Replicas
    SABS
    SBL
    Seminar
    Seminary
    Turkey

    Archives

    November 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    August 2021
    July 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    April 2015



    RSS Feed