---

NEW INITIATIVE

Diocese starts distance learning

Those who have previously missed out on training seminars, leadership workshops or spiritual talks due to lengthy commutes or scheduling conflicts can now benefit from such presentations with the click of a mouse, thanks to a new high-tech distance learning initiative of the Albany Diocese.

"The possibilities are almost endless for the ways that this technology can assist us," said David Amico, director of the diocesan Office of Ministry Formation. "We will literally be able to reach almost every corner of the Diocese - and beyond. All someone needs is a computer and high-speed internet access, which is becoming more common, even in the more remote parts of the Diocese."

Through an application called Media Site, which can stream a presentation live in real time, the Diocese could have a keynote speaker in one location and allow Catholics elsewhere to view the presentation at the same time, according to Mr. Amico. 

"This could be true for a class, as well. Interaction with the class or speaker is also possible via email," he noted.

In the past, he said, a resident of Delaware County who wanted to attend a two-hour presentation in the Albany area would have had nearly four additional hours of travel time. "Likewise," he added, "the busy parent who lives in the Albany area and has three small children might find the time of the session inconvenient. 

Through distance learning, both will now be able to participate - either live or on demand at their convenience."

Recorded presentations will also be available through links on the diocesan website, www.rcda.org. Some presentations will be for a limited audience and thus be password protected, while others will be available for the general public, according to technical consultant Sister Deborah Timmis, CSJ, who is also director of educational technology for the diocesan Catholic Schools Office.

The Growing Leaders Committee, which sparked the distance learning project, began three years ago when staff from diocesan offices gathered to discuss ways to foster lay leadership and subsequently applied for a grant from the John, Marie and Joseph Whalen Foundation. 

A portion of that grant has been designated for distance learning, with the thought that such technology can assist in the initial and ongoing formation of leaders in diocesan parishes and agencies.

An initial $30,000 paid for equipment and technical support, but "there will be ongoing costs to maintain and replace the equipment, as well as the need to fund our technical consultant," Mr. Amico told The Evangelist. "The Growing Leaders Committee has recently received another grant from the Whalen Foundation, part of which will go towards this project. We will also be exploring other avenues for funding."

He said the most rewarding part of the initiative to date "has been the excitement that it has engendered at the Pastoral Center: for example, Catholic Charities already plans to use this for a training session at its Disabilities Services office, but this training will be stored and used for their employees throughout the agency via the internet. 

"Some of the Formation for Ministry Program classes will be delivered this way this year, and the Office of Evangelization, Catechesis and Family Life plans to use it to enhance their formation for catechetical and youth ministry leaders."

Joyce Tarantino, diocesan director of Human Resources, worked with Mr. Amico and Sister Debbie to develop protocols for the use of this technology. A committee will review applications from diocesan departments and agencies on the projects they wish to have recorded.

(10/01/09) [[In-content Ad]]

---