Course Development

The RTS Virtual Course Development Center is responsible for preparing and producing all course materials for distribution to our students.

A major part of the on-going work of the RTS Virtual Course Development Center is the constant correction, revision and updating of all of our materials. In order to stay current with the latest research and information available, we are steadily replacing courses every three to four years.

This process includes:

1. Capturing new versions of the courses


2. Editing and engineering all sound recordings (30-40 hours), as well as preparing any video and other media needed


3. Editing, developing and formatting all teaching notes (ranging from 2 - 400 pages) into "GUIDE." In this format, each lesson contains:
   • G - Getting Started - Reading and listening assignments
   • U - Understanding - Purposes and objectives for the lesson
   • I - Investigating - Expanded lecture outline
   • D - Developing - More readings and application questions
   • E - Evaluating - Lecture and reading content study questions


4. Developing all Assessment and Interaction Instruments:
   • Quizzes and exams (based on study questions)
   • Research paper relevant to course
   • Projects applying knowledge from course in practical situations
   • Discussion Board with student-to-professor and student-to-student interaction
   • Local mentor tools and materials
   • Developing all MP3, PDF, and Microsoft Word note taking files for distribution

This process can take as long as a year (or more) per course.

In our on-going quest to continually improve our students' learning experience, we are constantly pushing the envelope with the latest technology available to find more efficient ways in which to deliver our courses. These include:

1. Saba/Centra Media Platform, which enables live classes, with two-way audio and video, to be accessed from anywhere in the world.


2. Digital CDs containing:
   • MP3s of course lectures
   • PDFs of course notebooks
   • Microsoft Word versions of the notes, which allow students to add their own notes


3. Digital downloads via RTS on iTunesU


4. Online Guided Tutorials, available anytime, from anywhere. These guide the student step-by-step through the entire course.


5. State-of-the-Art Smart Classroom technology

Our Pledge to You:

To work our hardest, and to do our best, with God's help, to give you the highest quality theological education possible, delivered in the most efficient manner possible, to anywhere in the world.

Rev. Donn DeHart
Director of Course Development
ddehart@rts.edu