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For Columbia Bible College, it was somewhat of a blessing in disguise. Two days before the College, located in Abbotsford, B.C., was to reopen its doors after the 1997-98 Christmas break, instructor Jurgen Schonwetter suffered a heart attack. Unable to teach his classes during his recovery period, he was able to devote time to a project that he had already begun--developing an internet course.
He began by researching various colleges and universities worldwide to determine what types of systems they used and what costs were involved. With help from academic dean Ron Penner and registrar Ian Gibson, he was able to decide which software to use.
The decision as to which course would be offered was made by Columbia Bible College's academic committee. Ethics was chosen not only because it is one of the courses Schonwetter normally teaches, but also because it is unique in its presentation of ethics from an anabaptist point of view. Hundreds of hours went into its preparation, with colour, animation and hypertext being added to enhance the presentation.
The course seeks to help students develop the skills and arguments necessary to engage in reflective moral reasoning. The most dominant contemporary philosophical moral arguments are examined in the light of Christian ethics, resulting in a Christian worldview which can be applied to issues such as abortion, birth control, celibacy, bio-ethics, euthanasia, entertainment, population control, labour-management relations, professional sports, the environment, war and violence.
Schonwetter's vision is to provide high-tech distance education that is interactive. It is not a substitute for the classroom, but it does address the shift in our culture's way of thinking and learning. It is also an opportunity for former students to complete unfinished degrees from their homes.
Schonwetter has enjoyed a full recovery from his heart attack and is back in the classroom full-time. However, he is looking forward to developing further Internet courses at Columbia.
The interactive ethics course begins in January 1999. More information is available from the registrar's office at iangibson@columbiabc.edu.
ELLY BARGEN WRITES NEWS RELEASES FOR COLUMBIA BIBLE COLLEGE.
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