Designing and Implementing Adult Learning and Faith Formation (AFL 7)Course Level: Advanced

This course concludes the Certificate in Adult Learning and Faith Formation. The major goal of this course is to assist you in developing and implementing an ongoing process for adult learning and faith formation in your parish or area, incorporating what you have learned in the six previous courses of this certificate. This course will look at pastoral planning, how it applies to adult learning and faith formation, the role of technology in adult learning, the importance of marketing and communication, the role of evaluation and guidelines for choosing resources for adult learning and faith formation. In this course you will be asked to apply what you have learned and discovered in the previous six courses. The ongoing planning for the development and implementation of adult learning and faith formation will create a solid foundation for lifelong learning and growth of adults.

This course is part of a specialized Certificate in Adult Formation Leadership and is meant to be taken as part of a sequence. This course presupposes knowledge in the previous courses. Refer to the certificate page for more information.

Successful completion of this course earns 2.5 CEU's. Click here for more information about CEU's.

• Review your present parish adult learning and faith formation opportunities
• Begin developing a long-range plan for adult learning and faith formation
• Learn the foundational principles for pastoral planning
• Understand pastoral planning basics and how to apply to adult learning and faith formation
• Appreciate the role of technology in adult learning and faith formation
• Develop strategies for marketing and communicating adult learning and faith formation opportunities
• Appreciate the role of evaluation in the future planning for adult learning and faith formation
• Learn principles for choosing resources for adult learning and faith formation
• Develop strategies for the ongoing implementation of the pastoral plan for adult learning and faith formation

• Required Book: Jane E. Regan Toward An Adult Church: A Vision of Faith Formation Loyola Press, 2002
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• Required Book: Neil A. Parent A Concise Guide to Adult Faith Formation Ave Maria Press, 2009
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• Week 1: Introduction to Pastoral Planning
  • Understand the foundations of pastoral planning
  • Appreciate the important insights and characteristics of pastoral planning
  • Begin a review of successes and challenges for adult learning and faith formation
• Week 2: Pastoral Planning Basics for Adult Learning and Faith Formation
  • Understand the basics of the pastoral planning process
  • Apply pastoral planning principles to adult learning and faith formation
  • Review present assumptions and structures for adult faith formation
  • Review parish offerings for adult learning and faith formation
  • Begin developing a planning process for adult learning and faith formation
• Week 3: The Role of Technology in Adult Learning and Faith Formation
  • Understand the role of technology in adult learning and faith formation
  • Discover some of the various tools and aspects of technology
  • Review your vision for adult learning and faith formation
• Week 4: Marketing and Communication in Adult Learning and Faith Formation
  • Learn the basics of communication
  • Explore marketing approaches for reaching adults
  • Develop a communication/marketing plan for adult learning and faith formation
  • Discover ways for listening to needs and concerns of adults
  • Continue developing a planning process for adult learning and faith formation
• Week 5: Resources and Evaluation in Adult Learning and Faith Formation
  • Affirm the importance of evaluation in adult learning and faith formation
  • Explore  criteria and various possibilities for evaluating the process for adult offerings
  • Examine guidelines for choosing resources for adult learning and faith formation
  • Review planning cycles for adult learning and faith formation