Engaging Technology in Theological Education: All That We Can't Leave Behind

by Mary E. Hess

Overview

We live in a media culture, surrounded by ever-evolving digital technologies. While state schools and secular organizations have embraced the new teaching tools and models for learning that technology affords, religious institutions have struggled with how and why to do the same. All that we can't leave behind: Engaging technology in theological education is a breakthrough book that invites religious educators to both engage and adapt their pedagogy to incorporate new media and technology. Drawing from her expertise as a seminary professor and consultant to religious institutions on the use of technology in teaching, Mary Hess invites professors, pastors, seminarians, and anyone interested in religious education into critical reflection on ways of engaging technology to enhance learning and serve as critical interpreters within communities of faith.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742532243
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	04/28/2005
Series:	Communication, Culture, and Religion
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.39(d)

About the Author

Mary E. Hess is assistant professor of educational leadership at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Rich treasure in jars of clay: Theological education in changing times Chapter 3 Searching for the Blue Fairy: Questioning technology and pedagogy in theological education Chapter 4 Understanding by design: Creating learning experiences that meet the challenges of the 21st century Chapter 5 "You've got mail": Teaching and learning in online formats Chapter 6 All that we can't leave behind: Learning from the past in engaging new media Chapter 7 Embodied pedagogies: Engaging racism in theological education and digital cultures Chapter 8 Freeing culture: Copyright and teaching in digital media Chapter 9 Seeing, hearing, creating: Exercises that are "low tech" but that engage media cultures

What People are Saying About This

Lucinda Huffaker

Mary Hess’s essays probe deeply the most crucial questions about technology in theological education. She makes the compelling case that responsible theological education must engage digital culture—not in an instrumental how-to way but in an adaptive one—if we are to remain faithful to the life of Jesus Christ. The conversation is unquestionably two-way: mass mediated popular culture produces, circulates, and contests meaning, but Christian faith provides critical tools and practices by which contemporary meanings are tested for adequacy as God continues to reveal Godself for our time. Being the outstanding teacher she is, the author does not merely set the issues before us but effectively frames them with pedagogical insight, suggestions, examples, and implications rooted in the essential practices of our teaching and learning. Through this invitation into sustained reflection about our processes of meaning-making through digital cultures, and her persuasive argument for its significance for the life of the church, Mary Hess clearly succeeds in giving back to the communities that have nurtured her. This book is a must-read for those who are committed to quality theological education and the preparation of leaders for the church.

Richard Nysse

Mary Hess has produced an engaging set of reflections on popular culture, viewed through the lens of an educator. In the tradition of Brookfield and Palmer, she both respects and queries her subject and invites the reader into her reflections. Her analysis draws the reader into her reflections rather than merely declaring her conclusions. A spirited book!

Scott Cormode

Mary Hess is one of the most innovative and interesting voices working in theological schools today. Her insights both surprise and enlighten. She understands the pedagogical potholes and possibilities that technology presents for seminary education. Reading her work will change the way I teach.

Editorial Reviews

Mary Hess has produced an engaging set of reflections on popular culture, viewed through the lens of an educator. In the tradition of Brookfield and Palmer, she both respects and queries her subject and invites the reader into her reflections. Her analysis draws the reader into her reflections rather than merely declaring her conclusions. A spirited book!--Richard Nysse, professor of Old Testament and Associate Dean for Learning Systems and Technology, Luther Seminary

Mary Hess is one of the most innovative and interesting voices working in theological schools today. Her insights both surprise and enlighten. She understands the pedagogical potholes and possibilities that technology presents for seminary education. Reading her work will change the way I teach.--Scott Cormode, professor, Claremont School of Theology; creator of www.christianleaders.org

Mary Hess's essays probe deeply the most crucial questions about technology in theological education. She makes the compelling case that responsible theological education must engage digital culture--not in an instrumental how-to way but in an adaptive one--if we are to remain faithful to the life of Jesus Christ. The conversation is unquestionably two-way: mass mediated popular culture produces, circulates, and contests meaning, but Christian faith provides critical tools and practices by which contemporary meanings are tested for adequacy as God continues to reveal Godself for our time. Being the outstanding teacher she is, the author does not merely set the issues before us but effectively frames them with pedagogical insight, suggestions, examples, and implications rooted in the essential practices of our teaching and learning. Through this invitation into sustained reflection about our processes of meaning-making through digital cultures, and her persuasive argument for its significance for the life of the church, Mary Hess clearly succeeds in giving back to the communities that have nurtured her. This book is a must-read for those who are committed to quality theological education and the preparation of leaders for the church.--Lucinda Huffaker, Director of Supervised Ministries, Yale Divinity School

From the Publisher

Mary Hess has produced an engaging set of reflections on popular culture, viewed through the lens of an educator. In the tradition of Brookfield and Palmer, she both respects and queries her subject and invites the reader into her reflections. Her analysis draws the reader into her reflections rather than merely declaring her conclusions. A spirited book!

Richard Nysse

Part of the great value of Engaging Technology in Theological Education, is implicit in its calling and challenging theological educators to consider the multiple-intelligences and varied learning styles among students....Hess has written a wonderful resource for faculty in reflecting on their pedagogical strategies and approaches - especially if and when anticipating developing online course and curricula. It would serve especially well as the heart of a faculty conference or retreat on technology and pedagogy.

Review & Expositor

Mary Hess is one of the most innovative and interesting voices working in theological schools today. Her insights both surprise and enlighten. She understands the pedagogical potholes and possibilities that technology presents for seminary education. Reading her work will change the way I teach.

Scott Cormode

A thoughtful analysis on the ways in which media culture can, and ought, to be used in the seminary context. In the process of explaining her rationale for a distinctly modern approach to theological education, she makes a variety of practical points as well, that would certainly prove helpful to those wishing to adopt her methodological and theoretical propositions.

Growth And Transformation Religious Education:An Interfaith Journal Of Spirituality

Philosophically deep and culturally diverse and relevant...seminary faculties have in Hess’s book a series of wonderful discussion starters about the 'why-to' of technology for theological education.

Teaching Theology & Religion

Mary Hess’s essays probe deeply the most crucial questions about technology in theological education. She makes the compelling case that responsible theological education must engage digital culture—not in an instrumental how-to way but in an adaptive one—if we are to remain faithful to the life of Jesus Christ. The conversation is unquestionably two-way: mass mediated popular culture produces, circulates, and contests meaning, but Christian faith provides critical tools and practices by which contemporary meanings are tested for adequacy as God continues to reveal Godself for our time. Being the outstanding teacher she is, the author does not merely set the issues before us but effectively frames them with pedagogical insight, suggestions, examples, and implications rooted in the essential practices of our teaching and learning. Through this invitation into sustained reflection about our processes of meaning-making through digital cultures, and her persuasive argument for its significance for the life of the church, Mary Hess clearly succeeds in giving back to the communities that have nurtured her. This book is a must-read for those who are committed to quality theological education and the preparation of leaders for the church.

Lucinda Huffaker

Philosophically deep and culturally diverse and relevant...seminary faculties have in Hess’s book a series of wonderful discussion starters about the 'why-to' of technology for theological education.

Teaching Theology and Religion

A thoughtful analysis on the ways in which media culture can, and ought, to be used in the seminary context. In the process of explaining her rationale for a distinctly modern approach to theological education, she makes a variety of practical points as well, that would certainly prove helpful to those wishing to adopt her methodological and theoretical propositions.

Religious Education: An Interfaith Journal Of Spirituality Growth And Transformation