FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What will I earn when I complete the seminar?

When you complete the three-week seminar, if you are a CCD teacher in the Diocese of Arlington, you will receive 10 hours toward Preliminary Catechist Certification in the areas of theology and catechetics.   If you already have preliminary certification, the ten hours earned for this seminar will be applied to your current level of certification. If you are not a CCD teacher in the Diocese of Arlington, you will receive a Certificate of Completion from The Catholic Distance University (CDU) indicating the award of 10 clock hours and one CEU in theology and catechetics.  If you are a Catholic schoolteacher in the Diocese of Arlington, you will receive a certificate from the Diocese of Arlington for 10 hours in theology, catechetics and technology. 

2. What must I do to complete the seminar?

To complete the seminar, you must have access to a computer with a connection to the Internet and spend approximately three hours per week for three weeks (March 4-22, 2002) participating in the seminar.  This will require logging on to the site at least once per week, reading the keynote address and assigned reading and responding online to the weekly reflection question.  At the end of the three weeks, you will be asked to submit a one-page reflection paper on a topic assigned by the faculty.

3. How do I register?

To register, you need to go online to The Catholic Distance University website homepage (http://www.cdu.edu) and click on the link "Registration for the Online Interactive Seminar" sponsored by the Office of Catechetics of the Diocese of Arlington and The Catholic Distance University.  You must registeronline February 18 – March 1, 2002.  If you are a CCD teacher in the Diocese of Arlington, your tuition will be $50.   Checks for tuition should be made payable to "TheCatholic Diocese of Arlington" and sentto the Office of Catechetics, Diocese of Arlington,200 North Glebe Road, Suite 503,Arlington, VA22203.
For all other participants the tuition will be $85.  Checks should be made payable to: "The Catholic Distance University" and sent to The Catholic Distance University (CDU), 120 East Colonial Highway, Hamilton, VA 20158 or call CDU toll-free (1-888-254-4238) to charge the tuition with a credit card.   After you register online, you will receive via email a username and password the weekend before the seminar begins that will enable you to enter the conference site.   You will access the conference site through a link on the CDU website homepage.

4. When should I register?

You must register February 18 – March 1, 2002. The seminar begins Monday, March 4, 2002.

5. How will the seminar be interactive?

When you begin the seminar you will be asked to introduce yourself online in the Reception Area of the ConferenceCenter .  Most participants write a short paragraph describing where they live, what they teach, what parish they belong to, etc.   Everyone registered will be able to read your response just as you will be able to read all other responses.  You will also be able to address comments to other participants.  Whenever you post a response, your name will appear with a link to your email address.  Father Buckner will read your questions and responses and respond online to everyone in the seminar. If you want to communicate directly without public viewing to Father Buckner or to another seminar participant, you can use email. 

6. How will I have contact with the Faculty?

You will have a chance to interact with Father Buckner by posting questions that will be answered online.  He will log on daily and respond to questions; you can always send specific questions via email. When you click on a person's name in blue, there is a hyperlink to his/her email address. If you don't want your comments made available to the group, please use email.

7. Whom do I contact if I have trouble logging on to the seminar?

If you are having technical problems and cannot solve them yourself, e-mail kathryn@webconferences.com  with a description of the problem. As a first step, everyone should tour the Help Desk item in the Reception Area to learn how to navigate the Conference Site.

8. What will we study?

The topic of the seminar for Lent is The Passion and Resurrection of Our Lord. The first week's topic is Mount of Olives-Mount Sion: The Passion of Our Lord. The second week's topic is MountCalvary: The Death and Resurrection of Our Lord.  The third week's topic is learning how to teach the Paschal Mystery and exploring the Church's devotions during Lent. 

Each week at the virtual conference center, there will be a keynote address and participants will be able to take a self-check quiz, ask questions of the professor and engage in interactive discussion.  Best of all, work can be completed at any time, day or night with 24/7 access online. There will even be a virtual Chapel with a weekly meditation.

9. Will it matter that I have no formal background in theology or computer technology?

No, this course does not require any previous formal study of Theology. Previous experience with online training is not necessary. Navigation of the Conference Site is explained in the Help Desk at the Reception Area and technical support is always available. Most previous participants have had no prior experience and found the technology easy to learn.

10. Who should enroll in this Online Seminar?

The new online interactive seminar has been designed for CCD teachers in the Arlington Diocese, Parish RCIA staff or teams, Catholic schoolteachers and any adult who would like to learn more about the Passion and Resurrection of Our Lord, especially during the Lenten Season.The online seminar is open to the public, but space is limited.