FAQ

General WalkingBible Questions
Courses - Learning
Courses / Tests - Creating
Tests
Challenges
Groups
Respect
Troubleshooting

General WalkingBible Questions

What is WalkingBible?

WalkingBible is an online service that helps you to memorise bible verses using music, spoken word, photos, cartoons and a unique game based learning method. Simply choose a course, or create your own, and then use the course player to work your way through the courses. The idea is over-learning, you interact with a small set of verses so many times they just sink in.

Courses can also have a test to help you assess how you are learning. If you think you are really good send a challenge to a friend and see who can get the best score.

WalkingBible is a serious learning tool wrapped up in a fun package.

Why music?

The average person knows only a handful of poems by memory but remembers at least 2000 song lyrics. Music can be a powerful tool to aid memorisation. But hey, if you don’t like the music you can use the spoken word versions. Different approaches will work for different people - try the music and the spoken word, use the flash cards, get it on your iPod. It's easier than you think to become a Walking Bible.

How much does it cost?

WalkingBible is and will always be free. We may subsidise the cost of providing WalkingBible with some advertising on the site but never plan to charge users for the service. That's not why we are doing it.

How do I get to learn and create courses?

It's as simple as signing up. Our sign up form only has two fields and if that's too much, you can also sign in with your Facebook account. Piece of cake.

I want to use WalkingBible for a church group / ministry I am involved with. Is this OK?

Of course! Go for it!

I am involved in a christian organisation that would like to work with WB, who should I talk to?

Talk to Kris Morris (Head of Operations / Marketing / Creative / Editorial / etc).

What translations are available?

WalkingBible offers verses in the following translations:
- New International Version set to music. (English)
- New International Version in spoken word. (English)
- New King James set to music. (English, currently 250 verses soon to be 875!)
- New King James in spoken word. (English)
- Bibel 2000, Rap. (Swedish)
- Svenska Folkbibeln (SFB) in spoken word. (Swedish)
- 1917 in Spoken word. (Swedish)

But I only read the King James Version?

We’ve had a few requests for KJV verses, but we have no immediate plans to produce this just yet. It's very, very hard to use the phrase “thou hast” in the context of a funky tune. Just joking : )

What languages is WalkingBible available in?

We offer bible translations in English and Swedish, however, the site is in English only at the moment. We’ll be looking to add extra languages to the site soon.

I’d like to use my own images / music / other verses.

We’d love you to, too. It's coming up. How exciting.

Can I still download the old software or audio packages?

Software is so 1994. The software will still work but we’re not developing it further. You can now do everything the software did (and more) on the website.

The best way to get audio packages is to find a course you like and download the MP3 zip - or make your own course and do the same. What really is the point of downloading 900 verses in one go? It just makes it so hard to know where to start. This next version of the site has been about breaking it all down and giving you a much more accessible method for your bible memorisation.

Who is involved with WalkingBible?

Have a look here.

What about privacy?

Have a look here.

What about terms?

Ohh - they’re over there.

Courses - Learning

What are courses?

A course is a selection of verses that someone has put together for the purpose of memorisation. Courses can be focussed on subjects (e.g., Family, Hope, Christian Basics ), bible sections (e.g., Proverbs, New Testament) or just any personal selection (e.g., Favourite Verses). Courses are created using our course builder tool which allows you to select the translation, language, media options (photos or cartoons, spoken word or sung etc.), and then hand pick the verses you want to learn.

How do I find a suitable course?

The easiest way to find a course is to have a look at the courses listed on the homepage, or browse through the course category lists on the browse page. Use the course rating and popularity as a guide too. The site search will also bring up courses if you use subject keywords or bible references.

How do I to take a course?

When you are having a look at courses around the site you will generally be looking at them in the preview mode of the course player. If you’d like to take a course click the ‘Learn’ icon in the player. In the background this will add it to the courses you are learning (so you can come back to it) and will open the player in 'Learn Mode'. This is the player with interactive controls which will allow you to make progress through a course.

So what is 'Learn Mode' exactly?

‘Learn Mode’ is our course rehearsal system. It allows you to play the course slides but also to use the traffic light tool to mark off the verses you are getting to know. The three lights mean the following:

Red - I Don’t Know This Verse.
Orange - I Kind of Know This Verse (needs more work)
Green - I Absolutely Have This Verse Memorised

As you work through and mark verses off you can use the filter in the ribbon (the ribbon is the scrolling container that hold the slides) to focus in on specific slides. Click the red filter and you can just focus in on the ones you don’t know. Click again on the orange filter and you can focus on both the ones you don't know and the ones that need a little more work. Click any combination to focus in on the slides you want to work on. It's just another mechanism to help you keep track of your learning and to stay focussed.

The best way to use 'Learn Mode' is in full screen - hit the monitor icon in the bottom right of the player and you’ll get a huge version of the player. This is so handy for cutting out distractions.

When have I completed or passed a course?

You can take the courses' test anytime, and additionally, when you mark all the slides green, you will be prompted to take the test. If you complete 80% of the test questions correctly, you are regarded as passing or completing the course. You can take a test as many times as you like, even after you have passed.

I noticed the ‘Save Slide’ icon on all the courses. What is that for?

‘Save Slide’ allows you too save a slide to your library - it will then be available for you to insert into your own courses in the course builder. You can remove saved slides in the settings section of your dashboard.

Can I use the audio and images on my iPod or MP3 Player?

You sure can. Shortly after a course is created we automatically create some zips of the course materials as MP3 audio and MP4 video files. The links for the downloads are available at the top of each course page. The MP3 download comes with an iTunes playlist so you can literally drag the MP3 files into iTunes and then import the playlist file (playlist.txt) and you’ll be set. The MP4 download comes as one video file which allows you to click through the slides.

And I can still make Flash cards too yeah?

Yes - you can find those with the other download links at the top of the course pages. We provide the cards in a zip folder with a front PDF and a back PDF. Simply print off the fronts, put the paper back in the printer the other way and print off the backs. The slides are all numbered too to make sure you get the right fronts on the right backs. We understand this crafty stuff can be a bit confusing! Flash cards are possibly the most effective way to back up your online learning. Print off the cards and carry them with you - flick through them frequently throughout the day. Using flash cards is a proven memorisation technique - and what a great way to keep the bible as a part of your everyday life!

What if I can’t find a suitable course?

It's easy to create your own. The next section is just for you.

Courses / Tests - Creating

How do I create a course?

All you need to do is:

1. Sign in or create an account
2. Click ‘Build’ in the main site menu
3. Add in the basic course details and click ‘next’
4. Choose what translation and image types you’d like to use
5. Look through the slides in the Slide Finder. Clicking once on a slide item in the drop-down tree opens the slide up for preview in the player area. To add it to your course double click it or drag it into the grey ribbon.
6. Keep adding slides. You can change the order of slides by dragging them around in the ribbon. You can remove them by selecting and pressing ‘delete’ on your keyboard or by dragging them onto the trash can. This just removes them from your course, not from the whole site.
7. Happy with your course? Click ‘next’. Now you’ll have some options to create a test or to publish the course.
8. You can let us create a test automatically (look mum - no hands!), create your own custom test or publish the course without a test (you can always come back and add a test later).
9. Optional: If you selected 'build a custom test' you will be directed to the test builder. You can add as many questions as you like to each slide. Hit ‘generate questions’ to have the site automatically throw in five questions for you. The more questions per slide the more diverse the test will be as the test will have more questions to present to the user.
10. Click ‘Publish’ and the course is live on WalkingBible. Yeehah!

What sorts of questions are there in tests?

1. True/False: Is the statement true or false?
2. Multiple Choice: Pick the right answer from the options.
3. Complete the verse: Fill in the missing word.
4. Choose a reference: Where does the verse come from?

Automatically generated tests contain only ‘complete the verse’ and ‘choose a reference’ question types.

How many slides should I put in a course?

Start small. Twenty is a solid challenge which will give you plenty to work on without it being too daunting. It's much better to successfully navigate through many smaller courses than to be stuck on one huge one. That way you can give yourself a little high five after each course and get some momentum going.

Can I create a private course?

Yes. Just make sure you select ‘private’ in the course settings. That means the course is just for you. You can make it public later.

How long does it take to create a course?

It shouldn't take more than a few minutes.

I’ve started creating a course but need to get a cup of tea. Can I save it and come back later?

Yes. Just click ‘save and exit’ in the course builder. The course will be saved as a draft under ‘Courses / Created’ in your dashboard.

How do I let people know about my new course?

If you're feeling confident, why not issue some challenges out to your friends? Or you can use the ‘share’ icon to let folks know about your great new course. This allows you to send an email message, share it on social sites, or get the code to embed your own course player widget on your website or blog.

Tests

How many times can I take a test?

As many times as you like. Think of it more like a game and less like an exam. You obviously want to pass the test but have fun with it and keep shooting for those hi-scores.

What is the point of scores?

Scores are included to add a sense of fun. Who can get the best score? Who can win the challenge? Can you beat your own best score? Adding challenges and points brings in a sense of healthy fun and competition. The test also runs in a computer game style against the clock. This isn’t a classroom - it's an interactive learning experience. Thinking more of hi-scores and less of pass and fail makes it feel a bit less school like too. Its meant to be fun and engaging.

Points are not added to your Respect - they are only here for assessing your game performance.

How do scores work?

Each question starts with 20 seconds on the clock, the timer gives you five seconds to read the question and then the clock starts ticking down. However, many seconds are left on the clock when you answer the question correctly is the points you receive. If you answer the question wrong you get 0. The results for each question are added up to make up your total test score.

Anyways, how do I successfully complete a course?

If you complete 80% of the test questions correctly, you pass.

What if I fail a test?

It really doesn’t matter. The only person that will know is you (and anyone looking over your shoulder . . . I hate when people do that). Get back into ‘Learn Mode’ and come back to give it another go when you’re ready.

My computer crashed while I was taking the test. What should I do?

Maybe be a little less aggressive with your computer and try taking the test again.

Challenges

What is a Challenge?

A Challenge is a simple invitation you can send someone to ask them to compete with you on the same course. You can send a challenge to someone you know on WalkingBible or send a challenge to an unregistered users email address (this will include an invitation for the person to sign up). A challenge includes a course, a challenger and competitor, and a deadline. And eventually a winner.

How do I win a Challenge?

Whoever has the highest test score by the deadline date is the winner. Simple as that. You can take the test as many times as you like. Remember, the test may be different every time you try it so sheer memorisation of the actual test may not be a huge help.

What if I win?

Winning a challenge will earn you Respect and the right to display a winners badge on your profile. Don’t get too smug though - who knows who will win the next one?

What if I lose?

Matthew 20:1-16

Groups

What are groups for and how do I set one up?

Groups are great for connecting users with similar interests or goals. You might set up a group for your youth group or church - so that when you are learning courses you can encourage each other. Or groups might emerge based around interest areas (e.g., Old Testament Fans, Theology Students) so that like minded folks can share knowledge, increase understanding and support each other’s learning.

Each group has a homepage and a group newsfeed so the activity around the group is shared.

It's easy to setup a new group - simply go to the ‘Community’ page and select ‘create new group’. Groups can be private or public.

Respect

What is Respect?

As you engage with different activities on the site you earn Respect e.g., Kris (1680). This is displayed on your profile and alongside your username. Respect provides a gauge for how active you are on the site and builds credibility for you with other users. For example, when people look at your course listings and see your high Respect it increases the chance that they’ll look at your course more closely. It's a sign of experience and activity on the site. Respect!

How do I earn Respect?

Here is a little table for the different actions which increase your Respect.

Send invitation (which gets accepted): 2
Create a course: 10
Complete course: 5
Send a challenge (which gets accepted): 2
Win a challenge: 5
Create group: 5

Your course gets 10 users: 2 each 10 users
Your group gets 10 users: 2 each 10 users

This table is liable to change.

Troubleshooting

I never received my registration email. Why?

No matter how hard we try sometimes emails do go to the big spam inbox in the sky. In the first instance have a look in there.

I created a course but the MP3, MP4 and PDF downloads aren’t available. Where are they?

It can take 30 minutes or so for these to be created on our server. Try again in a little while and if they’re still not there, let us know. The server might need a nudge.

I’m trying to use something on the site but it seems broken?

Please email us with details of what you were doing at the time, what browser and operating system you use and if there were any error messages. We’ll do our best to help you out straight away.