Mobile Apps for faith formation

Transcription

1 Mobile Apps for faith formation What do we need, and how do we get there? Kyle Matthew Oliver Digital Missioner, Center for the Ministry of Teaching Virginia Theological Seminary

2 Outline: We need a framework to guide our app experimentation. Theory: How can mobile apps fit into formation? Practice: What apps can I use right now, and for what? Reflection: What are we concerned about?

3 Activity: Find a partner and describe or demo your favorite apps to each other. Ask yourself What does your app help you do? Where do you use it? Kyle: My favorite app is NPR News. It lets me listen to my favorite weekend shows while running without worrying about radio reception.

4 Theory How can mobile apps fit into formation?

5 Mobile apps have two (rather obvious) facets: functionality and mobility. Functionality: Apps let you do stuff. Mobility: You can do it wherever you are.

6 Faith formation has two (less obvious) facets: learning and living. Learning: "Christian ed" in the traditional sense. Living: Acts and practices, our spiritual formation

7 These facets create a matrix of opportunities for mobile faith activity. What we do > k Where we do it v At church At home At school/work On the go Learn Live Where might apps fit in, and how?

8 We can get more precise if we describe formation following Harris's curricula. Five Curricula of the People of God* Proclamation Prayer Fellowship Teaching Service At church At home At school/ work On the go Work the church is called to. * Harris, Maria. Fashion Me a People (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1989).

9 We might choose apps to ensure coverage in Drescher's digital habitus. Six Characteristics of Digital Habitus* Immediac y Transparency Interactivity Cocreativeness Integration Distribution Proclamation Prayer Fellowship Teaching Service How an increasing number of Christians want to do the work of the Church. * Drescher, Elizabeth. Tweet If You Jesus (New York: Morehouse, 2011).

10 Practice What apps can I use right now, and for what?

11 Proclamation apps help us tell our faith story, to each other and to the world. Storytelling: Animation, moviemaking, presentation, publishing apps let us adapt faith stories in new media. Demo: Toontastic, with thanks to Missy Morain at Forma Tapestry Sharing: Social networking sites help us tell those stories "where the people are," even on the go. Demo: Twitter, with thanks to Jim Naughton and Rebecca Wilson at #dcwitness.

12 Prayer apps guide our meditation, help hold us accountable. Reflection: Podcasts and daily meditation apps help shape our day's prayer concerns. Demo: Pray-as-you-go by Jesuit Media Initiatives. Reminders: Timer and list apps can be set to call us to prayer. Demo: Richmond Hill Prayer, with thanks to that community.

13 Fellowship apps help the body gather, stay connected in between. Connection: Social networks (not just FB & Twitter) help you connect with your people. Demo: Celly mobile social network, with thanks to Middle School Matters. Conversation: New chat apps let us see each other face-to-face when we can't be together in person. Demo: Google+ Hangout

14 Teaching apps guide users in their faith learning & development on the go. Resourcing: Content apps offer ondemand lesson plans for families and individuals. Demo: Vibrant Home Coaching: "Lifestyle" apps help individuals make a plan and stick to it. Demo: Living Compass

15 Service apps connect us with volunteer opportunities, help us learn from them. Caring: Pastoral care apps get us organized for helping those in need. Demo: Caring Bridge Reflection: Service learning apps store our questions and ideas while we do so. Demo: SALLT, with thanks to Trinity Lutheran College

16 Reflection What are we concerned about?

17 Discussion: What questions have we begged? What do you wish you knew? How do we stay focused when using technology in groups? How do we help individual users follow through away from church? What about justice and accessibility? Are we making matters worse in lives lived Alone Together?

18 Follow the Center for the Ministry of Teaching for more app curation. facebook.com/vtscmt twitter.com/vts_cmt vts-cmt.tumblr.com pinterest.com/vtscmt