Bible Study Training Experience

Overview

This scenario-based eLearning experience equips instructors and Bible study workers to make informed decisions that effectively engage participants during a session. It offers a solid foundation for navigating real-life Bible study situations.

Audience: Bible Instructors and Bible Workers

Responsibilities: Instructional Design, E-Learning Development, Graphic Design 

Tools Used: Google Suites, Mindmeister, AI Integration

Problem

Bible Study Workers occasionally struggle with following up with attendees when questions or issues arise, which often results in instructors stepping in to manage these situations. This lack of timely response and accountability not only places an additional burden on instructors but also creates frustration among participants, potentially leading to lower engagement and retention rates.

Effective ministry is built on honesty and nurturing positive relationships. When Bible Study Workers fail to address concerns promptly, it can undermine trust and diminish the overall experience for participants. This training course is designed to address these challenges by ensuring that Bible Study Workers are equipped to provide consistent, positive experiences. By fostering strong connections and addressing needs in a timely manner, the course aims to promote both spiritual growth and a supportive learning environment, ultimately contributing to the success of the ministry.

Solution

This scenario-based Bible Study training course offers Bible Study Workers the opportunity to practice decision-making in a controlled, risk-free environment. Each scenario is carefully crafted to reflect realistic situations that workers might encounter in their ministry, including the common challenges and pitfalls that can arise during Bible study sessions.

By guiding participants through these scenarios, the course allows them to see the tangible outcomes of both good and poor decisions. When mistakes are made, the scenarios illustrate the potential consequences—whether it's damaging a participant's trust, losing engagement, or missing a critical moment for spiritual growth. Conversely, when correct actions are taken, Bible Study Workers witness the positive effects, such as building stronger relationships, fostering deeper understanding, and creating a more supportive and engaging learning environment.

The immersive nature of these scenarios makes the lessons memorable, helping workers internalize the importance of their decisions and actions. Through repeated practice, they develop the skills and confidence needed to navigate real-life Bible study sessions successfully. This approach not only reinforces the correct behaviors but also helps workers avoid common errors, ultimately enhancing their effectiveness in ministry and ensuring that they provide meaningful, positive experiences for all participants.

Process

As the Subject Matter Expert with 22 years of ministry experience, including 16 years as a Bible Study Guide, I have conducted thorough research and drawn upon my extensive experience working with individuals, groups, and children. My background includes gathering studies through door-to-door outreach, cold calling, following leads, being approached, giving presentations, and preaching. Currently, I facilitate, teach, and mentor adults for a 6-month study on Jesus' I Am statements. 

Using this knowledge, I developed an action map and a text-based storyboard to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of this simulated project.

Action Map

Upon identifying the goal, I created an action map to outline the actions a Bible Study Worker should take prior to starting the Bible study session.

Text-based Storyboard

After completing the action map, which defined the specific actions and outcomes for the scenario-based e-learning module, I moved on to developing the text-based storyboard. This phase involved crafting the choices and consequences that the learner would encounter as they navigate through each scenario.

For each scenario, the questions presented to the learner include three possible actions: one correct choice and two incorrect choices. If the learner selects the correct action, they will experience a positive consequence and seamlessly progress to the next scenario. On the other hand, if the learner chooses an incorrect action, they will face realistic, scenario-specific consequences. To encourage further engagement and learning, a ‘try again’ button is provided, allowing the learner to revisit the question and select a different action.

Additionally, in each scenario, the learner has the option to seek guidance by clicking on a mentor icon, ensuring they have support as they work through the challenges presented. This approach ensures that the storyboard effectively maps out the learner’s journey, balancing the opportunity for success with the realism of potential setbacks.

Visual Mock-Ups

After completing the text-based storyboard, I transitioned into the visual mock-up phase for the scenario-based e-learning module. I expanded the color palette and integrated additional visual assets to enhance the overall design. To achieve this, I utilized Google Slides and Google Drawings, which allowed me to manipulate various elements and create custom visuals tailored to the project’s needs. Free images sourced from Pexels were also incorporated to enrich the visual experience.

In creating the mock-ups, I focused on producing visuals that spanned entire slides, complemented the question slides, and supported the mentor's role within the scenario. I used Bitmoji to design a mentor button, adding a personalized touch, and employed Google Slides to craft the celebration piece for the note collection feature. Google Drawings was instrumental in designing layouts for the opening slides, prompts, questions, and mentor interaction slides.

Once the designs were finalized, I carefully aligned the visuals with the corresponding slides, ensuring that they seamlessly integrated with the content. Throughout the scenario, intermittent scenes of visuals are strategically placed to reinforce the narrative and enhance learner engagement. This approach ensures that the visual elements not only support the instructional content but also contribute to a cohesive and immersive learning experience.

Interactive Prototype

To create the interactive prototype, I utilized Google Slides, building on the plans I had previously outlined in Google Docs. The prototype included several key elements: an opening screen, an introduction to the scenario where the Bible Study Worker meets their mentor, Professor Sarah, and the first question along with both correct and incorrect prompts.

A primary focus was ensuring that the content seamlessly flowed from the storyboard, maintaining coherence throughout the course. I also aimed to address potential user experience and user interface design issues early in the project. For instance, I made a critical adjustment to the URL code to disable the navigation toolbar, preventing learners from bypassing the course structure. Additionally, I created extra text boxes linked to specific slides and brought them to the foreground. This ensured that learners couldn’t advance by clicking anywhere on the slide; they had to use designated buttons programmed to lead to particular slides.

To enhance engagement, I incorporated various transition effects throughout the presentation. For the Collecting Notes reward slide, I used a fade-in transition, where each correct answer allowed the learner to collect an additional note for their Bible study session. This feature not only added an interactive layer to the course but also reinforced the learning objectives in an engaging manner.

Further Iteration 

For the next iteration of the project, I plan to deepen the engagement and effectiveness of the learning experience by incorporating a series of enhancements. These include adding both audio and visual effects, expanding their presence across more slides to create a richer sensory experience for the learner. Additionally, I intend to integrate videos that feature Professor Sarah explaining each key action in detail. These videos will serve as a visual and auditory guide, ensuring that learners fully grasp the importance and application of each concept.

To reinforce these key actions further, I plan to create large, impactful visual displays that highlight the core principles. These visuals will be designed in two formats: one for immediate, on-screen engagement, and another as a bookmark format that learners can print and keep in their Bibles for ongoing reference and reflection. This physical takeaway will serve as a constant reminder of the lessons learned.

Moreover, I will add audio narrations to select slides to provide a more immersive experience, helping learners to connect with the content on a deeper level. The inclusion of additional slides will allow for a more thorough exploration of each topic, giving space to elaborate on key points and reinforce learning objectives.

Finally, I will enhance the depiction of consequences in the scenario-based questions by using different pictures to vividly illustrate the outcomes of each choice. This will make the learning experience more realistic and engaging, as learners will see the direct impact of their decisions. Following the ADDIE process, these iterations will be tested and refined to ensure they meet the learning goals and enhance the overall educational experience.