Foundations of Media to Movements

The next course dates are to be determined. The early registration discount ends two weeks before the course.  Register for the course here.
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Why Consider Media to Movements?

The Church has decades of history in traditional media campaigns using a broadcast approach, ‘pushing’ content out to large audiences.

The game has changed with the advent of new media paradigms, especially social media. Social media is the primary way most people on earth engage with media content. It is no longer enough to tell the story you want to tell over traditional media or social media channels, and hope that you will connect with an audience.

We must learn to shape our strategies and our content to 'pull' people into conversations. We need to learn how to connect with audiences that filter and search for the stories they want to hear, based on their interests and desires. This requires a radical re-thinking on our part! We need an approach that can foster deeper connections and make "disciples who make disciples" to saturate a culture.

What Others Have Said

"This class was a game changer. It helped me to think at a much higher level about how media could be used strategically in what we are doing. I can't wait to tell my colleagues about it! (Middle East field staff)

 

What You'll Get From This Course 

  • A foundational overview of a field-driven media strategy philosophy.
  • Join the groundswell of field workers using this new approach to accelerate their mission. Check out these stories from field teams.
  • Tools and encouragement to develop an intentional outreach strategy using new media so you and your team are more effective in evangelism.
  • Training on how to wrap content around your strategy instead of wrapping strategy around your content in order to best reach your target audience.
  • Insights on reaching “least-reached” peoples.
  • Access to current "best practice" resources from thought leaders around the world.
  • Connections with expert instructors and like minded peers around the world.
  • Be prayed for each week by a dedicated prayer partner.
  • Qualifying students are eligible for a one-third (33%) tuition discount in a Masters or PhD program at Biola University’s Cook School of Intercultural Studies.

 

Who is this Course For?

  • Mission practitioners who want to sharpen their skills, get inspired by new ideas, make new connections, find collaborative opportunities and mentoring.
  • Leaders in mission organizations, churches and ministries seeking to be more effective at reaching and teaching people for Christ.
  • Creatives with a missional heart seeking to better understand how to use media in mission.

    Course Outcomes (By Module)

    1. Movements and New Media

    • Understand and begin to use concepts of Disciple Making Movements and how you relate to principles of new media as a ministry tool and high-level conversion.
    • Evaluate your ministry context and opportunities with relation to these social media principles.

    2. Strategy is King (not content)

    • Understand the priority and principles of strategic planning for new media.
    • Begin to develop your own strategic plan for social media ministry in your local context.

    3. Pathways to Conversion (Three-Ws)

    • Understand and begin to apply concepts of high-level conversion and personas/pathways.
    • Begin to evaluate your ministry audiences with relation to these social media principles.
    • Build detailed personas for use in your strategies.

    4. Measuring & Engagement

    • Understand the value and principles of response evaluation, follow-up and how target personas may move through spiritual pathways to discipleship.
    • Continue to develop your own follow-up plan for social media ministry.

    5. Wrap Content Around Your Strategy

    • Understand the most important principles for creating effective media content based on strategic planning for different social media channels, audiences, and pathways.
    • Continue to develop content ideas for social media ministry in your context, including a first-phase launch of content, with feedback.

     

    Course Logistics

    • A five-week, mentored experience: The course dates are to be determined. Each live session will be on Thursday at 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time (UTC -7.00, use this time zone converter). Live sessions are recorded and made available for further review.
    • One hour weekly live classroom: After registration, you will receive a link for our Zoom video conferencing service that will require a plug-in for your computer. You may also download the Zoom app from the iTunes store or Google Play for a mobile device, but we strongly recommend using a computer for the best learning experience.
      • In this course, we provide new content material for each week in advance. Students should read new content articles, watch videos, etc. before our live class meeting. This gives us a chance to highlight and interact with the new content and apply it to our ministries.
        A typical live session will look like this. (All times are Pacific Time.)
        0650 - 0700 (optional pre-class chat)
        0700 - 0720 Pray. Review of previous week's assignments, questions, student examples, and discussion.
        0720 - 0755 Highlights from current week's material, discussion of new content, and case studies
        0755 - 0800 Wrap up and initial Q&A. Pray
        0800 - 0815 (optional) post-class Q&A and discussion
    • Flipped Classroom: Each module will have a 15-20 minute pre-recorded lecture. It is expected that each student will have viewed the lecture prior to the live classroom. This facilitates maximum interaction with the instructor around the course material as well as with other students.
    • Two hours of independent work: (reading, videos, projects) will be expected each week for a total of 3 hours per week.
    • Web classroom: (using Moodle) with materials, mentored discussion boards, and practical application assignments at each stage.
    • Take the course as a team: The class will make the most impact if students take the course in small teams (2 or more students) to enable collaboration and immediate application in their ministry context. There are discounts when you sign up with other team members.
    • Cost: You can use a credit card or PayPal account. An early registration discount is available. An additional discount is available to non-Westerners. Your registration is only guaranteed once you have paid for the course. To benefit from the team discount, make sure to click on the correct box on the registration. If you have questions, email Carissa. Here is the explanation of our three-tiered tuition rationale.

    $270 Standard ($230 per person if two or more register together as a team).

    $230 “Majority world” individuals working WITH a “Western” organization that can help cover the cost ($190 per person if two or more register together as a team).

    $100 “Majority world” individuals NOT working with a “Western” organization. Limited to five per cohort ($60 per person if two or more register together).

    An additional "early registration" discount of $20 is available to those who register and pay by February 9, 2023 (14 days before the course start date). For example, if you qualify for the standard registration of $270 but register with a teammate and register by the Early Registration Deadline your cost would be $210 per person.

    Two Course Bundle Discount of 25%: Our Strategic Storytelling for Movements course is offered after this course. A an additional 25% discount is available if you sign up for both courses at the same time. When registering, select the appropriate payment category in one of the last three "bundle" options. This will register you for both the Foundations of Media to Movements and Strategic Storytelling courses. You will not need to register on the Strategic Storytelling course page. If you register for the two course-bundle after September 8, you will automatically be placed in the 2023 cohort for the Foundations course.

    Because we hold ourselves to a high standard, we are happy to offer a refund for anyone dissatisfied with the course. Here is our commitment to excellence.

    • To receive a certificate of completion:
      • Attend 4 or more of 5 live sessions.
      • Do the preparation reading and viewing for each module.
      • Complete 4 or more of 5 independent practice assignments.