Our theme this year, 20/20 Vision: Challenges and opportunities for Christian online education, addresses some important issues as we look at the future of education. One of the trends looming larger is the blurring of some of that vision - but in a good way. Traditionally, we have bifurcated education and its outcomes, spiritual formation, learning, mastery, and application, to name a few. Many of us continue to encounter questions related to superiority, relevance, and sustainability. Those models of residential vs. online or embodied vs. virtual are becoming less of an issue as we begin to think more about the student experience. The conversation we'll be addressing at ACCESS 2020 deals with crafting a vision and future of Christian education that allows for newer models of learning and application that benefits the student in her or his context.

For some, the myopia has to shift to focus more clearly on the intersection of the physical and digital. This reminds me of some retail companies or brands that have made a move in this direction. Recently, I saw a major online home products company unveil a new storefront. In keeping with our theme, a well-known online eyeglasses company has opened a storefront in some larger cities. The move from online to physical, while maintaining relevance in both worlds signals an important trend for the consumer. We actively live, minister, and learn in both elements. The language of embodied vs. virtual suggests that somehow, virtual engagement lacks the embodied person. This couldn’t be further from the truth. We bring our minds, our bodies, and our emotions to the online classroom just as we do to our places of worship and teaching (or buying frames for our glasses!). For many, the virtual and the real are false dichotomies  - we live in both worlds and we need a goodness of fit that reflects how we engage one another.

Our role as leaders in online Christian education is to adjust our sights so that we can see more clearly, the need for action in how we maximize the student experience. This may require greater consortial opportunities, blended learning venues, spaces that integrate online technologies, and lifelong education that allows students multiple entry points into the life of the academy. Blurring the lines between church-based education and the seminary is another way that we adjust our sights. Companies are demanding more access to just-in-time training and education for the workforce as is the military, industry, and education. As we seek to capitalize on the market share of education, we have to address the challenges and opportunities that lie in our direct field of vision. Come join us in this very important conversation.

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