Distance Education and Koinonia in Sociology and Social Work at Faith-based and Secular Colleges and Universities: A Review of Literature

Abstract

This article tackles questions of the significance of the Christian concept of koinonia for distance or online education in the fields of sociology and social work. After delving into the theological concept of koinonia, its definition and major aspects, it then describes the current state of online education, including its strengths and weaknesses, with a focus on sociology and social work. Third, the role of sense of community in online education and the role of the Community of Inquiry (CoI) model (Garrison, Anderson, and Archer 2000) are discussed, followed, fourth, by an illustration of what is known about online education at both secular and faith-based colleges and universities. The article then connects koinonia to the CoI model, and concludes by discussing implications for online education in sociology and social work not only at faith-based, but also at secular schools.