Alpha Omega Academy® cares about helping its teachers be the best they can be for the benefit of every AOA distance learning student. Recently, the entire AOA teaching staff was encouraged and inspired toward new steps in excellence while attending a training in-service at the Heartland Christian Educators' Convention from October 1-2 on the campus of Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa.

Ken Medema, a popular Christian performing and recording artist, was the keynote speaker. He challenged AOA's faculty to teach with authenticity and develop new storytelling techniques to fire up the imagination and love for learning in students. Other small group sessions covered transforming topics like the uniqueness of Christian education, environmental science exploration, career counseling, the value of play, and the complexities of today's technologies and their affect on education.

Coming away from the convention refreshed and recharged, AOA's teachers and staff shared the following comments about their enlightening and engaging experiences at this year's convention.


"From Ken Medema, I heard repeated examples of personal stories being incorporated into the greater story of God dealing with his children. The result was that God was acknowledged and glorified, and people and their struggles gained significance. I aim to follow his lead and grow in my own ability to see things and state things in this manner."
- Roger Bouwman

"I was helped by the technology track. It was interesting to see all the different things that can be done with a little creativity and exploration. It was fun to listen to all the possibilities. I was glad to hear a self-professed tech geek say that too many people have made technology into a god instead of using it as a tool."
- Wendel Buys

"As teachers it will be increasingly important to motivate students as much as possible over the phone and in messages to work hard and not give up because 90 percent of this method of teaching requires student self-motivation and perseverance. The verses that will be my guide and constant reminder through this process of perseverance will be Romans 5:3-5: 'And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience, and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.'"
- Grant Fifield

"A student who knows how to learn is a much better student than one who just memorizes the content."
- Brad Vogel

"I liked the short definition of 'attitude' as 'the fragrance of the heart.' We reveal our feelings by our attitude. 'How does my heart smell?' is a good application question for each day."
- Daryl Heino

"Ken's concept of storytelling is to have people and students tell their own stories. What this does is help teachers and students connect at a deeper level. It drives learning to a whole new level of growing in knowledge of the world and self, as well as in relationship with each other and Christ."
- Dennis Kroll