A Vision of K-12 Students Today
What does this say to the church?
If This Is Not A Place. . .
If this is not a place where tears are understood, Then where shall I go to cry? And if this is not a place where my spirit can take wings, Then where shall I go to fly? I don't need another place for trying to impress you With just how good and virtuous I am. I don't need another place for always being on top of things; Everybody knows that it's a sham. I don't need another place for always wearing smiles, Even when it's not the way I feel. I don't need another place to mouth the same old platitudes; Everybody knows that it's not real. So if this is not a place where my questions can be asked, Then where shall I go to seek? And if this is not a place where my heart cry can be heard, Where, tell me where, shall I go to speak? So if this is not a place where tears are understood, Where shall I go, where shall I go to fly? -- Ken Medema
I watched this twice and am left with some mixed messages. The kids are bored by traditional instruction and feel they're at a disadvantage unless the latest technology can be used whenever and wherever they want it...and ask to be "engaged"--but only digitally--because they create and learn best alone (isolated). Yet they seem to crave teachers who will inspire them--just don't ask them to read a book or write with a pencil or communicate face to face--although these are useful skills in any society.
ReplyDeleteIn my mind, "digital" also conjures up another image--fingers! Hands-on learning!!
Technology can certainly enhance our lives and expand our knowledge, but we need to be aware of what it's costing us in other areas. So here's one old stick-in-the-mud who plans to keep it simple!
Naomi,
ReplyDeleteGood following thought!
"Technology can certainly enhance our lives and expand our knowledge, but we need to be aware of what it's costing us in other areas. So here's one old stick-in-the-mud who plans to keep it simple!"
Could we not say the same about our churches???
Our college saw a similar video clip about a year ago only it had college students sending this same "message". Same author/producer I believe. What it means to us as a higher learning institution is that we are now investigating our own methods of creating podcasts and webinars for our classrooms. Our students are no longer "sitting" in the classroom; they are learning while in their living rooms, wi-fi centers, automobiles etc. They are mobile like no other generation before them.
ReplyDeleteThe amount of information that a K-12 student has to absorb now is hundreds of times more and at a rate much faster than what my grandfather's generation had to process as he was growing up. The message is correct when it says we have to teach our children "how" to learn because they will be researching so much more than they will be memorizing as they grow up and enter the workplace. Though it would be nice to say that my education has provided all I need to know for my workplace, it is not. Most jobs now change quickly, requiring new technology, processing and methods in order to stay viable. Perhaps, just perhaps, our church message must remain the same and remain simple, but it's mode of delivery might want to consider expanding?
Great Insights. As long as the mode of delivery does not become more important than the message.
ReplyDelete