Faith Formation with
Digital Media & Web Technologies
Faith formation can now utilize powerful web-based and digital technologies and resources to blend face-to-face, interactive faith formation in physical settings with faith formation in virtual settings, providing 24x7x365 faith formation for all ages and generations, anytime and anywhere. Websites, social networking services, and digital technologies (iPod Touch, iPad, smart cell phones) mean that churches can deliver faith formation experiences and resources anytime and anywhere, reaching people wherever they go online (home, work, school, vacation, coffee house). The interplay between learning in physical places and virtual online spaces can revolutionize faith formation in churches. Web-based technologies and digital media provide the means to connect with spiritually hungry people and provide online tools and resources for them to explore faith and spirituality, engage in a spiritual conversation with others, invite them to a faith community. The new digital tools can empower people to connect with each other online, share their stories and faith experiences, give witness to the ways they are living their faith (practices), create faith formation content (print, audio, video) to share with others, and so many other user-generated activities.
There are two ways to envision the relationship between the physical and virtual. The first approach begins with people’s participation in face-to-face faith formation activities (small group, large group, whole church, community/world) and then uses virtual online spaces with activities, print/audio/video resources, and social networking to extend, deepen, and support the learning that began in the physical program. The second approach begins with people’s involvement in online/digital learning activities and leads them to participate in face-to-face learning activities.
For strategies and ideas for "Faith Formation with Digital Media and Web Technologies" read the section from Chapter 4 of Faith Formation 2020, pages 127-133.
There are two ways to envision the relationship between the physical and virtual. The first approach begins with people’s participation in face-to-face faith formation activities (small group, large group, whole church, community/world) and then uses virtual online spaces with activities, print/audio/video resources, and social networking to extend, deepen, and support the learning that began in the physical program. The second approach begins with people’s involvement in online/digital learning activities and leads them to participate in face-to-face learning activities.
For strategies and ideas for "Faith Formation with Digital Media and Web Technologies" read the section from Chapter 4 of Faith Formation 2020, pages 127-133.
Practices & Approaches
- Nurturing Faith Online - Lynne Baab
- Moving Online: Faith Formation in a Digital Age - Julie Lytle
- Teaching and Learning with the iGeneration - John Roberto
| nurturing_faith_online_-_baab.pdf |
| moving_online-faith_formation_in_a_digital_age_lytle.pdf |
| teaching__learning_with_the_igeneration_-_roberto.pdf |
Tools
- Tech Tools for Learning - Will Richardson
- We All Learning: 10 Digital Tools - Curtis Bonk
| tech_tools_for_learning_-_richardson.pdf |
| we_all_learn.pdf |
Resources
- Baab, Lynne. Reaching Out in a Networked World: Expressing Your Congregation’s Heart and Soul. Washington, DC: The Alban Institute, 2008.
- Bailey, Brian. The Blogging Church. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2007.
- Bonk, Curtis J. The World Is Open: How Web Technology Is Revolutionizing Education. San Francisco: Jossey Bass, 2009.
- Geoghegan, Michael, and Dan Klas. Podcast Solutions: The Complete Guide to Audio and Video Podcasting. Berkeley: friends of Ed, 2007.
- Jukes, Ian, Ted McCain, and Lee Crockett. Understanding the Digital Generation: Teaching and Learning in the New Digital Landscape. Kelowna: Twenty-First Century Fluency Project, 2010. (www.21stcenturyfluency.com)
- Prensky, Marc. Teaching Digital Natives: Partnering for Real Learning. Thousand Oaks: Corwin, 2010.
- Richardson, Will. Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. (3rd Edition) Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press, 2010.
- Rosen, Larry D. Rewired: Understanding the iGeneration and the Way They Learn. New York: Macmillan, 2010.
- Welch, Tim. Technology Tools for Your Ministry. New London: Twenty-Third, 2008.
- Zandt, Deanna. Share This! How You Will Change the World with Social Networking. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler, 2010.
Websites
Twenty-First Century Fluency Project: www.21stcenturyfluency.com
Classroom 2.0: www.classroom20.com
Digital Catechesis: http://digitalcatechesis.ning.com/
Edutopia: www.edutopia.org
