COGMA | NEW STUDENT INSTRUCTION MANUAL
COGMA
NEW STUDENT
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
How to study the COGMA Study Guides and complete your final appraisal
FREE โข ONLINE โข PRINTABLE
WELCOME TO COGMA
COGMA Study Guides are designed to help you study the Word of God carefully, understand the truth being taught, and express that understanding clearly.
This manual explains the complete process step by step – from finding your Study Guide online to completing and submitting your final appraisal.
Church of God Mission Academy
COGMA | NEW STUDENT INSTRUCTION MANUAL
1. Before You Begin
COGMA STUDIES ARE COMPLETELY FREE
There are no enrolment fees, no charges for COGMA Study Guides, no assessment fees, and no hidden costs.
There is no requirement to purchase printed material.
You can study the material online without printing anything. If you prefer a paper copy, you may download and print the Study Guide yourself.
COGMA provides these studies freely to help people understand the Word of God and grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
READ THE WEBSITE IN YOUR LANGUAGE
The COGMA website includes a translation tool that allows you to read the website and online Study Guides in many languages, including French, Swahili, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and others.
Simply select your preferred language from the translation menu on the website.
Before beginning your first Study Guide, prepare a study journal or notebook. Your journal will help you slow down, think about what you are learning, record important Scriptures, and prepare naturally for your final appraisal.
What You Will Need
- Access to the COGMA Study Guides website.
- A Bible for checking and reviewing the Scriptures.
- A study journal or notebook – paper or digital.
- Time to work through each study carefully rather than rushing to finish it.
The Process at a Glance
The complete COGMA study process can be understood in eight simple steps.
| 1 | Prepare your study journal. |
| 2 | Find your Study Guide online at cogma.com.au. |
| 3 | Choose whether to study online or from a printed copy. |
| 4 | Work through the Study Guide carefully and complete the Personal Response sections. |
| 5 | Record important Scriptures, truths, questions and short summaries in your journal. |
| 6 | Review the study and make sure you can explain the main truths in your own words. |
| 7 | Complete and submit the final appraisal using the COGMA Submission Form for Appraisal. |
| 8 | Read your appraisal feedback and use it as part of your continuing study. |
COGMA | NEW STUDENT INSTRUCTION MANUAL
2. Your Study Journal
A study journal is strongly recommended for every COGMA student. It is not simply a place to copy material from the Study Guide. It is a personal record of what you are learning and understanding from the Word of God.
At the Beginning of Each Study Guide
- Write the title of the Study Guide.
- Record the date you began the study.
- Leave space for important Scriptures and key teaching points.
- Write down any questions that arise while you are studying.
During Each Study Session
You do not need to write long notes. Short, thoughtful notes are usually more useful. The following five headings provide a simple method:
| HEADING | WHAT TO RECORD |
|---|---|
| SCRIPTURE | Which Scripture is being considered? |
| TRUTH | What does this Scripture teach? |
| UNDERSTANDING | How would I explain this truth in my own words? |
| QUESTION | Is there anything I still need to understand? |
| APPLICATION | Why is this truth important to my Christian life and understanding? |
At the End of a Study Session
Take a few minutes to review your notes. Ask yourself:
- What was the main truth I learned today?
- Which Scriptures were especially important?
- What became clearer to me?
- Is there anything I still do not understand?
- Could I explain what I have learned to another person?
Then write a brief summary in your own words. Even three or four sentences can help you see whether you have truly understood the teaching.
IMPORTANT
Do not copy large sections of the Study Guide into your journal. Your journal should record your understanding, not merely reproduce the material.
COGMA | NEW STUDENT INSTRUCTION MANUAL
3. Finding and Studying Your Study Guide
Step 1 – Go to the Study Guides Website
Go to: https://cogma.com.au/
Locate the Study Guide that you have been asked to complete. Study Guides should normally be completed in their recommended order because later studies may build upon truths explained in earlier studies.
Step 2 – Choose Online or Printed Study
COGMA Study Guides are designed to be studied directly online. You do not need to print them in order to complete your studies.
You may open the Study Guide on your desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet, mobile phone or other suitable device and work through it while keeping your study journal beside you.
If you prefer working from paper, you may download and print the Study Guide. The choice is yours. There is no requirement to purchase printed material from COGMA.
YOUR TWO OPTIONS
ONLINE – Read and study the complete Study Guide on your device without printing it.
PRINTED – Download and print the Study Guide yourself if you prefer a paper copy.
Step 3 – Work Through the Study Guide Carefully
Do not rush through the Study Guide simply to reach the final assessment. The purpose of the study is to understand the Scriptural teaching.
As you study:
- Read each section carefully.
- Read every Scripture passage that is given.
- Consider why each Scripture has been included.
- Pay particular attention to highlighted teaching points.
- Complete the Personal Response sections as you come to them.
- Record important truths and Scriptures in your study journal.
- Write down anything that you do not yet understand.
- Return to difficult sections and study them again when necessary.
THE GOAL
The goal is not simply to remember words. The goal is to understand the Scriptural truth being taught.
COGMA | NEW STUDENT INSTRUCTION MANUAL
4. Preparing for the Final Appraisal
When you have completed the Study Guide, do not immediately rush into the final questions. First review what you have learned.
Review the Complete Study
Read through the important notes in your study journal and review the Scriptures that were central to the teaching. Ask yourself:
- What is the main truth being taught?
- Which Scriptures establish this truth?
- Why is this teaching important?
- How does it affect my understanding of Jesus Christ and the Christian life?
- Could I explain this teaching clearly in my own words?
If there is an important part that you still cannot explain, return to that section of the Study Guide and examine it again. Understanding is more important than speed.
What Is the Final Appraisal?
At the end of the Study Guide you will find the section titled SUBMISSION TO COGMA FOR APPRAISAL. The appraisal is the final assessment for that Study Guide.
It is designed to show that you have understood the teaching. It is not simply a test of memory, and it is not an exercise in copying sentences from the Study Guide.
When Answering the Questions
- Read each question carefully.
- Make sure you answer what the question is actually asking.
- Answer in your own words wherever possible.
- Give enough explanation to demonstrate your understanding.
- Use Scripture where appropriate.
- Make sure your answer agrees with the Scriptural teaching covered in the Study Guide.
YOU MAY USE YOUR STUDY MATERIAL
Unless the instructions for a particular appraisal say otherwise, you may refer to the Study Guide, your Bible and your study journal while preparing your answers.
The purpose is still to demonstrate what you understand. Do not simply copy and paste the Study Guide into your answers.
COGMA | NEW STUDENT INSTRUCTION MANUAL
5. Completing and Submitting Your Appraisal
Complete the Submission Form
Your final answers are completed using the COGMA Submission Form for Appraisal. Follow the instructions provided with the Study Guide and complete all student information requested on the form.
This will normally include:
- Your name
- Student ID
- Date
- Email address
- Study Guide or module details
Check Your Work Before Submitting
Before you submit your appraisal, read through every answer again and check that:
- I have answered every question.
- I have answered what each question actually asks.
- My answers are clear and complete.
- I have demonstrated my understanding rather than simply copied material.
- Any Scripture references I have used are correct.
- My student details are complete and correct.
- My submission is ready to be assessed.
Submit Your Appraisal
Follow the submission instructions and online link provided with the Study Guide or Submission Form. Your completed appraisal will then be reviewed by COGMA.
The purpose of the appraisal is not simply to give you a result. It helps COGMA determine whether you have understood the Scriptural principles taught in the Study Guide.
Your answers will be considered for matters such as:
- Understanding of the teaching
- Scriptural accuracy
- Clarity of explanation
- Completeness of your answers
- Ability to express the truth in your own words
After Your Appraisal Has Been Reviewed
Carefully read any comments or guidance that you receive. The assessment is part of the learning process.
If an answer shows that an important truth has not yet been clearly understood, return to the relevant section of the Study Guide, the Scriptures and your study journal. Study the matter again until the Scriptural principle becomes clear, and add what you have learned to your journal.
COGMA | NEW STUDENT INSTRUCTION MANUAL
6. Questions New Students Often Ask
Do I have to pay to study with COGMA?
No. COGMA Study Guides and appraisals are provided completely free of charge.
Do I have to print the Study Guides?
No. They can be studied completely online. Printing is optional for students who prefer a paper copy.
Do I need a study journal?
It is strongly recommended. Your journal helps you record what you understand, the Scriptures that are important, and questions that need further study.
Should I copy answers directly from the Study Guide?
No. Your answers should show that you understand the teaching and can explain it clearly in your own words.
What if I do not understand part of the study?
Return to that section, read the Scriptures again, review your journal notes and ask COGMA for further guidance when necessary. You may contact COGMA at admin@COGMA.org.au. Do not rush ahead merely to finish.
REMEMBER
Do not study merely to complete an assessment.
Study so that you understand the truth. Read the Scriptures carefully. Think about what they teach. Use your study journal to record what you are learning. Learn to explain the truth clearly in your own words.
Then complete your appraisal as a demonstration of what you have understood.
The Word of God is our final authority.