BJ LINC Frequently Asked Questions
- How can a student contact the BJ LINC teacher after class?
- How can all of the students in a BJ LINC class ask the teacher their questions during class?
- Do BJ LINC classes have enough verbal interaction?
- What about shy students who are too embarrassed to ask a question over the air?
- How do BJ LINC classes compare to a regular classroom academically?
- Are the BJ LINC classes accredited?
- Will taking BJ LINC classes hurt my child's chances of getting into college?
- How do BJ LINC teachers give and grade tests?
- How often are grades available?
- Are the science labs necessary?
- Are the science lab materials expensive?
- Do I need a qualified teacher in the BJ LINC room?
- When a school is out due to an emergency or holiday and BJ LINC classes continue, how can the school catch up?
- How do students get caught up if they fall behind in a BJ LINC class?
- Will BJ LINC eventually eliminate the need for a teacher in the classroom?
- Is it necessary to view the Orientation sessions at the beginning of the school year?
- How soon should I register for my classes?
- How soon should I order my textbooks?
- Is BJ LINC only available for high school?
- How can BJ LINC test for understanding of a foreign language?
How can a student contact the BJ LINC teacher after class?
Students may e-mail or fax questions to their BJ LINC teacher
after receiving permission and direction from their facilitator. Questions
may be about material from that day's class or about a topic the student
would like his teacher to cover in a future class. Students may also register for BJeAccess to communicate with teachers. Details for registering. 
How can all of the students in a BJ LINC class ask the teacher their questions during class?
Because of the size of the BJ LINC classes, not every student will be able to have his questions addressed individually. However, the students who are able to ask a question will generally have the same question that several other students have; therefore, most questions are addressed during the class hour.
Do BJ LINC classes have enough verbal interaction?
According to Dr. Sid Cates, BJ LINC Educational Director, verbal interaction during class has three purposes:
- Teachers determine how well the students understand a concept.
- Students attempt to understand an unclear concept.
- Teachers and students handle the daily routine of class.
Proper teaching methodology required that there be a number of questions from both teacher and students.
Dr. Cates conducted a study of the number of verbal interactions in each of the BJ LINC classes. He asked the BJ LINC teachers' assistants to count the number of verbal interactions in each class during a random sample of ten days throughout the semester (excluding days that were out of the norm, such as test days or lab classes). Using these numbers, he calculated a daily average of 13.9 verbal interactions for all the BJ LINC classes. He believes that 13.9 verbal interactions are enough to accomplish the three-fold purpose of verbal interaction in the class. However, he and his teachers will continue to strive for even more interaction between teacher and student as they pursue excellence in education.
What about students who are too shy to ask a question over the air?
As in the traditional classroom setting, there will be BJ LINC students who are too shy to ask questions. However, many BJ LINC students warm up to the idea of asking questions over the air after watching bolder classmates ask questions and receive responses from the teacher. They realize that their teacher is not an actor/actress but a real teacher who wants to help them learn.
In addition, BJ LINC has other facets that can help the shy student. Students may fax or e-mail their teachers. They may also ask questions via their facilitator or use the anonymous 'Signal' button on the keypad of their IRU (Individual Response Unit).
How do BJ LINC classes compare to a regular classroom academically?
The BJ LINC setting requires a higher level of discipline in listening and paying attention. The student cannot afford to check out or let his mind wander because the teacher will not stop and wait for him to catch up. That extra discipline is advantageous as it strengthens the students' listening comprehension skills and requires them to be constantly aware of what is going on during the class sessions. Also, because the teaching methods are visually stimulating and interactive, the students consistently respond well.
Are the BJ LINC classes accredited?
The BJ LINC program itself is not accredited because accrediting associations accredit schools, not subject classes. However, practically all the schools serviced by BJ LINC programming are a member of either the American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) or the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
Will taking BJ LINC classes hurt my child's chances of getting into college?
The BJ LINC method of delivering subject matter with its quality teachers and academic soundness can only help a student in his chances of getting into college. Most importantly, the BJ LINC classes prepare the student academically for college. Many colleges are also adding distance-learning methods for their college-level courses, so the BJ LINC student will be well prepared for those classes.
How do BJ LINC teachers give and grade tests?
Tests are given over the students' Individual Response Units (IRU). The students will have a hard copy of the test in front of them that they will mark as a reference for later when the teacher goes over the test. They are able to move backward and forward through the test using their keypad, and they can change answers as often as they like.
How often are grades available?
The BJ LINC teachers e-mail a cumulative semester grade report for each student every week. The report lists every grade taken by the BJ LINC teacher during the semester and an overall percentage summary for each student. The school assigns the letter grade according to its grading policy. If a school ever needs a student's percentage right away (for parent conference, student withdrawal, etc.), the principal may request a student's grade by calling the BJ LINC help desk.
Are the science labs necessary?
Labs are a vital part of the science curriculum. Most state programs require that about 20% of the high school science classes including biology, chemistry, and physics be designed to provide some lab work and/or demonstrations. The BJ LINC classes provide for this requirement. While many may argue that meeting state requirements is not a big concern of their curriculum goals, the fact that the state has requirements for laboratory sciences merits some serious consideration. Basically, the requirements are set for the following reasons:
- Lab courses help students think through and apply science concepts. Many times students try to get by with simple memorization, and as a result, the learning process is short-circuited. Lab courses require students to apply concepts.
- Lab courses help maintain student interest. Students traditionally do better in science classes when they can see a principle demonstrated--and even more so if they can be involved in the experiment.
- Retention of science concepts is greatly improved by involvement with the learning process through lab experiences.
- Many college courses are laboratory courses. Students who have not had basic laboratory preparation on the high-school level are at a distinct disadvantage when taking college courses. The type of equipment that the students are using is not as important as the procedures taught in laboratory classes that prepare them for college.
Are the science lab materials expensive?
The most common concern, unfortunately, is not whether students need the lab courses but rather how much they will cost. Contrary to popular belief, the cost of an effective laboratory curriculum is not expensive. Lab facilities are not required for the BJ LINC program. A simple six- or eight-foot table and some basic science equipment coupled with lots of "around the house" items will provide excellent laboratory experiences for your students. The cost of the basic equipment is far less than you might expect. Even the smallest Christian school can find the funds to finance the BJ LINC science labs. Most schools have a parent who would gladly take on this expense if the need were made known.
Do I need a qualified teacher in the BJ LINC room?
While it may be argued that qualified teachers may be able to provide a more academic environment because of their training in student control and motivation, many classroom facilitators have done superb jobs with little or no training. The most important qualifications of a facilitator are that he/she be well-prepared, be organized, have good discipline techniques in the classroom, and be able to motivate the students. The key to the success of the BJ LINC program from the site's perspective is the facilitator.
While it is acceptable to use teachers who are "free" for one period to facilitate a BJ LINC class, these individuals tend to be disconnected from the BJ LINC class in preference to their own classes, which require additional grading and preparation time. Facilitators do not have time to do other jobs while facilitating. They need to be actively involved in the class. Parents who are having financial problems and would like to help are often good prospects; however, they must be organized, loving, and demanding.
We have found that some of the best facilitators are hired only for that purpose. They facilitate all of the BJ LINC classes, which helps add consistency for the school. The facilitator learns how the BJ LINC program works, and he carries out the job requirements meticulously for all of the BJ LINC classes. Another good source of facilitators is daycare or kindergarten teachers who have only a half day of classes and need to work full-time. While they may not understand high schoolers as well as high-school teachers do, many can adjust with a little time and experience.
Facilitators need to be supervised. While this may seem elementary, human nature is such that if there is no accountability, some will tend to let things slip. Classroom observation by the administration periodically is a must in the BJ LINC classroom as much as it is in the traditional classroom. The administrator must see to it that school and BJ LINC policies are being followed.
When a school is out due to an emergency or holiday and BJ LINC classes continue, how can the school catch up?
We know there are times when some of the BJ LINC schools are not in session while the BJ LINC broadcast is taking place. We have addressed this problem by not broadcasting on holidays when many of our schools are out. We recognize this presents a problem to those schools in session on those "marginal holidays" such as Columbus Day or Easter Monday, but many of these schools have used the time to take care of other business relating to the school or class.
Two other areas of concern to many of the BJ LINC schools involve scheduled days off for teacher's conventions and emergency weather-related closings. We have taken these "out days" into account as well by using carefully scheduled "review" days. During the convention season (last week in September until the second week of November), each BJ LINC teacher will schedule a "review" day every week to go over important material covered in the preceding four class days. The same is done in the winter months (January through the third week of March).
How do students get caught up if they fall behind in a BJ LINC class?
The first line of defense in keeping students from being confused and getting behind in any class is to have a good, communicating, and motivating teacher who teaches for content understanding. Content understanding is vital in keeping students from falling behind in a course. A one- or two-day absence is normal; and as in the case of a regular class, an absent student simply calls another student for notes, studies the text, or just "rides it out." If a student falls behind because of an extended absence, the text can be used as a review source. The facilitator may also record the classes and allow the student to view the videotapes.
The BJU Press texts are geared to impart understanding and are followed closely by the BJ LINC teacher. Unfortunately, some students do not use the text as a source of "catching-up." Watching the make-up videotapes and studying the text are THE best way to have a student catch up. In addition, facilitators at the BJ LINC school will receive notes for each class day from the BJ LINC teacher. These notes can be photocopied and given to the absent student for review.
Will BJ LINC eventually eliminate the need for a teacher in the classroom?
The Department of Education at Bob Jones University has as a foundational premise that the teacher is the "key" in any teaching situation. BJ LINC is simply a tool in the school's hands to help in the "perfecting of the saints." BJ LINC will never be a school, only an aid to the Christian school.
Is it necessary to view the Orientation sessions at the beginning of the school year?
Yes, it is necessary. It helps the facilitator to understand the classroom procedures, how to process the grades, and what will be going on during the school year. The required Orientation sessions are designed specifically for this purpose. It is also helpful to record all of the workshops so that you have them on hand in case of staff changes throughout the year.
How soon should I register for my classes?
You may register for classes as soon as you would like, but definitely no later than August 1. Using the correct form in the BJ LINC Program Guide will facilitate your registration in each course that is needed.
How soon should I order my textbooks?
BJU Press offers an early bird discount for all schools around May 1st, so it is of benefit to BJ LINC schools to take advantage of that. The BJ LINC Program Guide and our website has a complete list of necessary texts and other items needed for each subject. Be sure to check these resources to ensure that the correct editions of the textbooks are ordered. Schools should have their textbooks in hand no later than the first day of school.
IS BJ LINC only available for high school?
BJ LINC was designed to provide a qualified teacher in the areas of secondary education where it is hard to find a qualified instructor. Interactive classes are only available for these areas of secondary education. However, non-interactive classes are available through BJ LINC for most subjects in grades K4-12.
How can BJ LINC test for understanding of a foreign language?
A very effective way of testing for understanding in a BJ LINC foreign language classroom is by using the IRUs (Interactive Response Unit). Our teachers use questions, both verbal and written, to determine what the students are understanding. Pop questions are used to allow the students to carefully discriminate between choices. The students are also required to write and speak in the target language to enhance their skills. The written and oral assignments are graded to determine which weaknesses students are having, so that our teachers know what to emphasize and review in order to help them. The tests are also constructed to cause a student to use the skills learned in the foreign language classroom, not just to regurgitate vocabulary terms.
