Digital Spiritual Learners

7 Jul

A conversation has been going on for a while about the difference between the way people learn today and how they have learned in the past. Althought I don’t necessarily believe that all of the conversation has relevance when thinking about religous education, parts of it certainly do. Shortly said, the students today are different because they grew up with this technology.

They are “digital natives” as opposed to “digital immigrants” because they have had it their whole life. They speak web and web technologies fluently. This familiarity allows them to use it for learning in ways we immigrants don’t necessarily find easy. One example would be their interaction with the scriptures. They can read scriptures online just as easy, if not easier than in scripture form. They also use cell phones, SMS, iPods, blogs, wiki’s, and other tools without reservation.

There was a video created about a year ago that I really liked that addressed some of these differences. It is about 7 minutes long, but worth it.

This video talks about why students are so comfortable with it, but it brings up a bigger point… ENGAGEMENT. Because they grow up with this technology and use it so much in their lives, they are not engaged in the classroom when we make them turn it off. Instead of “checking out” when they come to class, we can use this technology to engage them.

I really like the example of text message assignment. Imagine a similar assignment in a seminary classroom. I can see a good one about missionary work. “You have two minutes to share the gospel with a friend (right now!). It can be an invitation… an answer to a question… anything.” The students are smart enough to know how to use the the technology. They it is not just talking about the gospel, it is experiencing it!

This will become more and more of a theme as I work through these posts. Technology enables students to experience the gospel. It allows them to not just “play seminary and get the grade” but sink it deep into their hearts where it will become part of them on an individual basis!

What are your thoughts? There are obviously parts of this that don’t apply to the spiritual classroom… or are there?

Technology and Spiritual Education

How Technology can Augment the Current Teaching Emphasis for Seminaries and Institute Programs

Jeff’s Finds – January 5, 2009

Spiritual Thoughts

Using Web Technologies to Augment Spiritual Education

3 Responses for "Digital Spiritual Learners"

Bryan Beckman July 7th, 2008 at 10:25 am 1
One thing we need to be careful about when integrating technology into religious education is that we do not leave the poor/disadvantaged or those with learning disabilities behind. Or those students who, for whatever reason, do not have access to modern technology.

After that, we need to get our instructors to use these tools effectively. I’ve heard many people wish for projectors and tech podiums in our Church buildings so they could show Powerpoint slides and other electronic visual aids during Sunday School and priesthood/Relief Society meetings. But those who can give really great Powerpoint-assisted presentations are still few and far between. “Death by Powerpoint” is more contagious than the common cold.

I guess I’m a little old-fashioned (like President Packer in his book “Teach Ye Diligently”) in that I think the best visual aid (after the teacher, that is) is a chalkboard or whiteboard. I’ve occasionally wished for something a little more dynamic to convey a principle, but I’ve usually been able to come up with an equally-effective low-tech solution.

I think the key is to not allow the medium to take precedence over the message. And to make sure that whatever medium you use is accessible to all. Other than that, I agree with a lot of the sentiments you’ve expressed here.
Jeff VanDrimmelen July 7th, 2008 at 2:11 pm 2
Bryan, thanks for your comments. You make a lot of really good points. I also believe that we shouldn’t leave those poor/disadvantaged students behind, but I wonder about those with learning disabilities. I see technology actually enabling those users more than typical. Take Podcasts for example. A class that is recorded can be paused and replayed again and again till a LD student can understand it, and in the privacy of their own learning environment.

As for powerpoints… you are exactly correct. Too many people use it wrong. We need to educate people on using powerpoint to interact with the class… not preach to the class. I have found that tablet PC’s go a long way with writing on the screen and programs like Classroom Presenter. (http://classroompresenter.cs.washington.edu/)

I just want to be clear that I am certainly not advocating that we get rid of the chalkboard… I agree with Elder Packer (when I first read it and now) that a chalkboard is often a best tool for the classroom. I am proposing that we augment classroom studies with web technologies. These technologies will enable students to keep learning (and be motivated to keep learning) outside of the classroom. They have the potential to challenge them. too.

You really make some good points… thanks for your comments. Most of all I agree, like you, that the is the message that matters most. I also believe that technology will allos us to get that message deeper into the hearts of our students!
Travel South Africa August 18th, 2009 at 10:14 am 3
Nice posting.