One of the tasks that I have been engaged in for a large part of this week has been reading and writing course documents for the classes I am teaching at Legacy Institute. For two of the classes I am teaching (Speech, and Leadership), there are extensive documentation provided. In two others (Doctrines and Bible 3–New Testament/Early Church History) I have a fair amount of material, but it seems as if a large part will have to be supplemented and added to that. In a fifth, that I was just given today, part-time for the first month of classes, at least (Bible 2–Old Testament Survey), I will need to get what notes exist so that I can cover the class for Ajan Leon while he is in the United States during the second half of June and July taking care of personal business.

Course design is an interesting sort of work. For the most part, I have found such notes as I have very excellent, while others I have made changes to reflecting my own interests and studies. That said, I believe it is important to maintain continuity in the broad scope while also providing flexibility and individuality in details and focus. I like to balance tradition and innovation, being neither a hide-bound traditionalist nor a believer in radical innovation, rather preferring cautious and incremental (but constant) growth and development. This preference I take over into such instructing as I provide as well.

Though I do not have a schedule yet (that schedule will be posted when it is final and approved), overall there is a certain tendency for my classes to be for second and third here trainees here at Legacy Institute. Two of my classes (New Testament/Early Church History and Leadership) are for third year students, two of them (Speech and the part-time role of teaching Old Testament Survey) are for second year trainees, and one (Doctrines) will be for select second and third-year trainees. I think that is wise, on the whole. It is important to be understood by one’s audience.

I have written syllabi, read texts, looked through lecture notes and made some edits, and written some of the paperwork for final projects, and so far things are progressing nicely. Those trainees who wish to learn will have ample opportunity to learn through research, presentation, reading, and listening. Soon the hard work of conveying the knowledge of truth to people in an ESL environment will begin in earnest. Classes begin June 13th.