I would be more surprised if newspapers weren't such tired dinosaurs that have been teetering on the verge of extinction for years. They were so late to the internet game. Even later on social media. They have been clinging onto a dead business model for dear life. At this point, it seems their only chance for survival rests in an endless stream of bailouts and government intervention (which doesn't exactly bode well for their integrity, not to mention long-term viability).
So, what does this mean for the church?
First, we cannot hold onto traditional methods of communication. I know if is so cliched and overplayed, but we cannot be married to methods. Too often I hear, "we can't do it that way, because [fill in the blank with appropriate minority of staunch opponents to progress] won't buy into that." Life and all that is good is quickly leaving them behind. We will be left behind if we let "them" (whoever they may be) dictate what we do. Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting we leave "them" behind. I'm just suggesting that we don't let them hold us back.
Second, stewardship is crucial. Without getting lost in the details, these social media communication models are much more efficient (not to mention cheaper). In many cases, this is why traditional models can't keep up; they aren't cost effective.
Typically we are defined by what we value and what we do. What we are not and what we fail to do can also deeply impact our identity. Non-O-Biography got me thinking (which I'm sure was not it's intention), what are some things I hope to do that I haven't yet. A couple of year's back I stumbled upon a book called "101 Things to Do Before You Die" and made my own list. In retrospect the list may have been a little ambitious (especially academically). In fact, in the two years since I wrote the list, I have only knocked one thing out. I saw Bela Fleck live in concert.
Mobile Learning: iPhone, Kindle 2 and the Future of Christian Education
Earlier this week, I posted about the Future of Ministry Education and a discussion going on at The Road Less Traveled. The way it currently stands, when most churches identify someone they want to serve in the ministry, they send them to a Bible College or Christian University. But, what if there were no limits, traditions, or built in assumptions. What would be the best way to train people to do ministry?
Last week I took a few students from Castle Hills Christian Church, where I work as youth & young adult minister, on what we called the "Spring Break College Tour," visiting Christian Colleges and Universities here in Texas. I had never stepped on the campus of Abeline Christian University or really even interacted with ACU until this trip. Right away, I was impressed, especially by their Mobile Learning Initiative.
At first, giving iPhones to incoming freshmen seemed a little gimmicky, but the longer I listened, the more I liked it. ACU truly seeking to integrate cutting edge mobile technology into the college experience. They have 22 ACU exclusive apps, everything from mobile quiz taking and downloadable class lectures, to a map of campus. As a result of the Mobile Learning Initiative, Alcatel-Lucent selected ACU as one of the first recipients of the Dynamic Enterprise Award.
I am not saying that ACU has achieved perfection in the arena of Christian Education (let alone ministry training). What I am saying is that they are doing something well. Most churches and Christian educational institutions are so far behind on technology. And, for so many people (especially 18 to 20 somethings, like those typically found enrolled in college) mobile technology is (like say the iPhone) integrated into their everyday lives. I believe many educational institutions are now realizing that the traditional models and methods of education won't cut it any longer. Unfortunately, many of these institutions are caught in the "deer in headlights" type position. If this isn't soon remedied, they will get run over. Students are becoming less and less tolerant of outdated education.
What ACU is doing, may not be enough though. Their model is still mostly limited to the come here and experience model. At some point, I believe, students will begin asking, if I can view all of my class lectures and take all of my quizzes on my newly acquired iPhone, can you explain to me why I have to pay you $30,000 a year and come to you? Is it all together possible that the future classroom will exist wherever you happen to be?
The iPhone has become a huge open-source market. Apple has given away development tools, and is encouraging developers to distribute their apps. This is an open door for Christian educators, churches, and ministry mentors to take the iPhone technology and run with it. They sky is the limit.
Along similar lines, I think the Kindle 2 is a completely untapped resource for [Christian/ministry] education. Completely portable. Under $400. Over 245,000 book are already available for download (and you can send a harassing e-mail request to the publisher of books not available). There are 2 features that I believe make the Kindle prime for educational use. One, you can highlight text, make notes and e-mail them. Can you say book report? Two, you can e-mail Word or PDF documents to the Kindle, like say class syllabus, notes, or assignments.
It doesn't exists yet, but the ability to read socially via the Kindle doesn't seem far off. If someone at Amazon saw potential for Kindle as an educational tool, I'm sure a software update would come quickly.
Discussions about educational technology do not answer larger questions of educational philosophy, but I believe they must be at the forefront of any discussion regarding changing how we train people for ministry. Technological advances fuel the future. We cannot be married to technology, but we also cannot let our inability to be innovative (technologically) handicap us. Unlike many of our predecessors, we must unshackle ourselves and utilize the cutting edge.
