Using Porterbrook Learning Material
Porterbrook students learn together through attendance at Learning Sites and learn locally through Study Groups.
Learning Sites
Learning Sites are regional Porterbrook conference and material distribution locations where students:
- Register
- Pay fees
- Collect materials
- Attend four conferences a year
- Present assignments in the context of tutorials
Students from all over your region will gather for an introduction day followed by three conference days, one at the end of each of the three terms (Christmas, spring and summer). Learning Site conferences bring students and Study Groups together to learn, share work and hear from keynote speakers applying the gospel to everyday life. Attendance at a Learning Site allows students to engage with other churches and ministry contexts and allows Porterbrook to deliver new materials to students hot off the press.
Study Groups
When students have signed up to a Learning Site they will be organised into local Study Groups to learn together, discuss, and share ideas along the way between conference days. Study Groups could be small groups or home groups in a local church, or staff teams or just a group of friends who want to study together. They may be made up of students studying on other courses who want to do Porterbrook Learning to supplement their learning.
Study Groups can run however their members like. They can meet weekly, fortnightly or monthly. They can be an informal reading group or a formal class.
The aim is to encourage learning together in context. The groups will attend the Learning Site conference days to join in with other Study Groups, collect the new term’s materials and share assignments. Attending or forming a Study Group allows students the local flexibility to shape learning as they would like or build the course into their local programs and structures. It also allows Porterbrook to develop a better curriculum and find ways of serving the church locally.
Study Commitment
- 3 hours a week
- 4 modules a term
- 3 terms a year
- 4 conference days a year
- Presentation of short unassessed assignments in tutorials at conference days
- Attendance at local Study Group Meetings