Agenda Volume 3 - Methodist Conference

57. The Fruitful Field Project
so that material can be adapted and
developed within local contexts.
136 Modular material will also be shaped
for flexible delivery, so that modules
can be used, for example, in local
small groups, at District or regional
study days, as weekend blocks
delivered within centres, or at Local
Preachers’ Meetings. As well as being
available in printed form, it will be a
goal to make all modular material
available within the Network’s virtual
learning environment (see paragraphs
194-196 below), both as material
which supports module delivery
in groups or one-to-one sessions,
and as material which is directly
accessible to individual learners. As
part of creating the virtual learning
environment, the potential support
offered through virtual networks
(as currently seen at work in the
“Faith & Worship (UK Methodists)”
Facebook group) will be explored
and developed. Flexibility of delivery
will enable learners to access the
mode of study that best fits with their
practical and educational needs. If
personal circumstances change (for
example, a new job makes it difficult
to attend study days) learners will not
be locked in to a particular mode of
study.
137 Developing this emphasis on the
accessibility of modules further,
the majority of modules will be of
wider interest, and shaped so that
they are suitable for the continuing
development of existing Local
Preachers and Worship Leaders,
relevant for a range of other
ministries and roles. They will also
be shaped so that they can be
used as resources for discipleship
development. Within such a
framework, it will also be possible
to explore a formal bringing together
of some of the core aspects of
Local Preacher and Worship Leader
formation and training, so that
common elements can be studied
together.
138 A redevelopment which emphasises
accessibility in these ways has the
potential to encourage a culture
of learning in Circuits and Local
Churches, including among those who
are not intending to become Local
Preachers and Worship Leaders.
Participation by increased numbers
of people has the potential to make
viable study groups both locally and
at District or regional level, increasing
the options for everyone. Mixed
study groups (including, for example,
preachers, Worship Leaders, small
group leaders, children and youth
leaders, and those participating to
deepen their discipleship) encourage
a sharing of different perspectives, as
well as collaborative working.
139 Another key element will be the
development of a new form of
assessment. Contemporary education
practice increasingly acknowledges
that it is important for forms of
assessment to be appropriate to the
sort of knowledge, skills and attitudes
being acquired, and to recognise
the way in which the learning will be
698 Conference Agenda 2012