A ship of curious workmanship
Many things in the Book of Mormon are described as a 鈥渃urious workmanship鈥� 鈥� the Liahona, tools and buildings, the gold plates. Each time, ancient prophets attributed these creations to the Lord. But perhaps one of the most impactful creations in the Book of Mormon is the ship the Lord commanded Nephi to build to cross the ocean to the promised land.
鈥淸W]e did work timbers of curious workmanship. And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship.
鈥淣ow I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me.鈥�BYU-Pathway Worldwide, guided by the Spirit, began the creation of its own ship of 鈥渃urious workmanship鈥� in 2018 by redesigning the curriculum for its PathwayConnect program. The new curriculum, which is currently being piloted and launches in April, has been refocused to help students gain meaningful life, professional, and university skills while better transitioning them into an after PathwayConnect.
The Journey to a New Curriculum
The idea for designing a new curriculum began when BYU-Pathway President Clark G. Gilbert presented to Jon Linford, then BYU-Pathway vice president of curriculum, the idea of students starting their degree program while still enrolled in PathwayConnect. He suggested that during the final semester of PathwayConnect, students would take the first course of their first online certificate, thereby bridging the gap between PathwayConnect and their degree program.
鈥淵ou could ask, 鈥榃hy mess with something that鈥檚 working?鈥� This program has served tens of thousands of students marvelously. It鈥檚 changed lives,鈥� said Bryan Pope, curriculum director for PathwayConnect. 鈥淏ut as good as this model was, it鈥檚 not the model that can take education to wherever the Church is organized. We needed a curriculum that would deliver core skills to every Church member and help them be the most successful. The new curriculum meets students where they are and moves them along their path and helps them serve in their path.鈥�
Pope, the only curriculum writer at the time, began the process of building the new curriculum. But, quickly realizing that this work would require more hands on deck, BYU-Pathway brought on two additional writers, Curriculum Manager James Findlay and Curriculum Specialist Sarah Jackson. The team also began collaborating with 17 other employees located throughout the country.
鈥淭he Lord has brought people in at just the right time to make this happen,鈥� Pope said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been faith promoting just to watch.鈥�
Commenting on the rewriting and redesigning of the curriculum, Findlay said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a curious process. We鈥檝e needed to up our spiritual game. It鈥檚 less of an academic process and more of a spiritual process. If I don鈥檛 have the Spirit with me, I can鈥檛 write anymore.鈥�
The new curriculum uses integrated and applied learning models to teach students basic math and English skills, while also preparing them to earn a certificate and degree and apply what they鈥檙e learning in their lives. In fact, math and writing skills are woven into the course outcomes, which focus on practical application: for example, students learn math by creating a budget or learn writing by composing a cover letter.
鈥淚magine if you could only take two or three courses your entire life,鈥� Pope said. 鈥淲hat skills would you put in those classes? That鈥檚 what we鈥檝e done. The new courses cover all the foundational skills you need in your life 鈥� including math, writing, and professional skills 鈥� and teach you how to learn. It鈥檚 going to change people鈥檚 lives because it鈥檚 very applied and practical and it also integrates with our new certificate and degree structure.鈥�
Preparing 麻豆精品在线播放 for College and Life
BYU-Pathway Worldwide鈥檚 mission is to provide access to higher education wherever the Church is organized. A worldwide organization means a broad spectrum of students with varied backgrounds, cultures, ages, languages, and so on. With such an unconventional audience, BYU-Pathway needed an unconventional approach to its curriculum.
Jackson, describing the unique approach, said, 鈥淚t is a purpose-driven curriculum rather than an audience-driven curriculum, since our audience is so broad. BYU-Pathway has such strong core purposes. We knew these also needed to be our objectives when writing the courses.鈥�
The curriculum outcomes mirror BYU-Pathway鈥檚 three purposes: (1) help students get the gospel down into their hearts, (2) help them become capable learners, and (3) prepare students to lead and support families. These foundational purposes stretch beyond just helping students learn basic skills 鈥� they prepare students to become what they need to be in order to be successful in life.
Commenting on the applied-learning focus of the new curriculum, Findlay said, 鈥淓ducation is becoming less about academia and more about creating students who are prepared. We鈥檙e helping students learn how to learn. As a result, they will be prepared for college and life. Life and education, it鈥檚 the same thing.鈥�
BYU-Pathway seeks to do just that 鈥� to help students become who God wants them to be by preparing students for life and, ultimately, to build Zion.
Jackson, who worked as an instructor for 11 years prior to her role with curriculum, shared how she believes the curriculum will help students grow into their role in Zion. 鈥淚鈥檝e come across hundreds of students in my courses, many who come from broken homes with no one to believe in them,鈥� she said. 鈥淎fter PathwayConnect, these students are going on to earn degrees, becoming temple recommend holders and, for the men, priesthood holders. So, who is the curriculum for? It鈥檚 for those students, so they can see their potential and actually become what Heavenly Father wants them to become.鈥�
Bridging the Gap to a Degree Program
In order to help students truly become something, PathwayConnect鈥檚 new curriculum needed to enter uncharted territory in online education. While most online curricula follow a 鈥淟ife Skills-Math-English鈥� format, as the previous curriculum did, the new curriculum follows an integrated format that bridges the gap between PathwayConnect and
PathwayConnect is comprised of one year (three semesters). In the first two semesters, math and writing skills are woven into courses focused on developing life and professional skills.
In their third semester, students take a university skills course and the first course of a 12-15 credit job-ready certificate they choose. This certificate leads to employable skills and counts toward an associate and bachelor鈥檚 degree, accredited by BYU-Idaho. Through this integration of PathwayConnect and 麻豆精品在线播放 program, students will have already begun their certificate while still in PathwayConnect. 麻豆精品在线播放 will have all the academic support they need to chart their course through the different stages of their education.
The innovative courses are built around seven objectives that embody valuable skills: follow Christ, lead with integrity, manage career, collaborate, solve problems, use quantitative reasoning, and communicate effectively. These skills gained during PathwayConnect combined with the skills earned through certificates will greatly increase a student鈥檚 employability.
鈥溌槎咕吩谙卟シ� who complete a certificate first are more likely to persist in earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree,鈥� Findlay said. 鈥淧art of PathwayConnect鈥檚 job is to prepare students to start and complete that certificate.鈥�
The curriculum isn鈥檛 meant to provide students with every skill they need in a particular area, but rather to provide them with the tools they need to tackle future responsibilities and situations in life. In their courses, students will learn study, time-management, goal-setting, financial-management skills, and more.
鈥淲e鈥檝e thought about students鈥� futures,鈥� Pope said. 鈥淎fter PathwayConnect, they鈥檒l remember they did something hard, and they鈥檒l know they can make it. They鈥檙e going to persist longer because they have achieved success.鈥�
Creating Disciple Learners
Application is key to personal growth 鈥� spiritually, personally, academically, and professionally. That is why the new curriculum helps students apply what they are learning so they can develop as disciples of Jesus Christ who are leaders in their homes, the Church, and their communities.
鈥淭he curriculum is groundbreaking,鈥� said Jackson. 鈥淲hat the students are learning is more true to life experience for them. It enables them to transfer the knowledge they鈥檙e learning into their daily lives.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 a ship of curious workmanship, guided by the Holy Ghost,鈥� Findlay said, describing the curriculum. 鈥淲hat we鈥檙e handing students is an applied-religion program and asking them to push the boundaries of their comfort zones. When you reach your boundary and can鈥檛 do it on your own, you begin relying on divine power.鈥�
Pope added, 鈥淭o effect the change, you have to sacrifice. It has to be hard, and these courses are hard. It鈥檚 not hard because the content鈥檚 super hard 鈥� it鈥檚 hard because you have to change your life to do it.鈥�
As Nephi鈥檚 family obeyed the Lord, He instructed them how to build a ship, which guided them safely to the promised land. BYU-Pathway鈥檚 curriculum is being carefully rewritten, redesigned, and thoroughly tested to guide its students along their educational journeys to brighter futures.