COHORT LEARNING

What is Cohort Learning?

Generally speaking, graduate school cohorts are set groups of people who work together for a predetermined duration of their program; typically, cohorts are formed within one seminary, but TKC’s cohort groups have become very flexible and dynamic. Some programs establish long distance cohorts which can be especially useful for online learning students. The purpose, broadly speaking, of cohort groups is to encourage a more dynamic, collaborative, and supportive learning environment to carry graduate students through their program. In some cases, you will be assigned a “well known” author cohort in your field for regular “zoom” style discussion and interaction with. These groups might meet once a month or quarterly for several years. Cohort groups can be as few as a pair or as many as a dozen. Some groups last for just a class, others might last for many years.

Different Types of Cohorts

Many schools are establishing cohort programs to encourage interdisciplinary learning and innovative thinking. Typically, cohorts are made up of common interest groups, but not always. We have actually found it helpful to have people in different interest groups interacting. The impetus behind this type of cohort is the belief that having continuity will result in greater support and productivity for students (and the seminary). Cohorts are also sometimes referred to as intentional learning communities, a name that drills down to the goal of their formation. The focus in cohorts is on innovative learning and enabling students to think independently, to not simply receive knowledge but to develop their own conclusions and ideas.

Some of our cohort experiences may include live small group interaction with well-known authors such as :

• Brian Zahnd
• John Bevere
• John Walton
• and many other of the authors of the TKC course descriptions.

There are no additional fees for cohort learning.