Foundational Books: Digital Life & Learning

Digital Life

The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age
Catherine Steiner-Adair with Teresa H. Barker (Harper, 2013)

Have iPads replaced conversation at the dinner table? What do infants observe when their parents are on their smartphones?  Should you be your child's Facebook friend? As the focus of family has turned to the glow of the screen—children constantly texting their friends, parents working online around the clock—everyday life is undergoing a massive transformation. Easy availability to the Internet and social media has erased the boundaries that protect children from the unsavory aspects of adult life. Parents often feel they are losing a meaningful connection with their children. Children are feeling lonely and alienated. The digital world is here to stay, but what are families losing with technology's gain? As renowned clinical psychologist Catherine Steiner-Adair explains, families are in crisis around this issue, and even more so than they realize. Not only do chronic tech distractions have deep and lasting effects, but children desperately need parents to provide what tech cannot: close, significant interactions with the adults in their lives. Drawing on real-life stories from her clinical work with children and parents, and her consulting work with educators and experts across the country, Steiner-Adair offers insights and advice that can help parents achieve greater under-standing, authority, and confidence as they come up against the tech revolution unfolding in their living rooms.

Click 2 Save: The Digital Ministry Bible
Elizabeth Drescher and Keith Anderson (Morehouse, 2012)

Social media provide an opportunity for congregations to open the doors and windows to their congregational life before people ever step inside. It's no longer all about getting your message out as if people are passively waiting for the latest news from the parish, diocese, or national church. Rather, it's about creating spaces where meaningful relationships can develop. Click 2 Save: The Digital Ministry Bible is a practical resource guide for religious leaders who want to enrich and extend their ministries using digital media like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and church or personal blogs. Click 2 Save draws on extensive research and practical experience in church and other ministry settings to provide functional, how-to guidance on effectively using social networking sites in the day-to-day context of ministry.

Digital Religion: Understanding Religious Practice in New Media Worlds
Heidi A. Campbell, editor. (Rutledge, 2013)

Digital Religion offers a critical and systematic survey of the study of religion and new media. It covers religious engagement with a wide range of new media forms and highlights examples of new media engagement in all five of the major world religions. From cell phones and video games to blogs and Second Life, the book provides a detailed review of major topics, includes a series of case studies to illustrate and elucidate the thematic explorations, and considers the theoretical, ethical and theological issues raised. 

Faith Formation 4.0
Julie Lytle (Church Publishing, 2013)

Faith Formation 4.0 is a  contemporary exploration of the intersection of theology, education and communication regarding faith formation. The book examines eras in faith formation and communications including 1.0 (Jesus telling stories and the oral tradition), 2.0 (Paul’s letters to build and guide the church), 3.0 (The Reformation, printing press, and rise of mass media) and 4.0 (reclaiming the oral tradition through digital media). Using an ecological approach to study how emerging technologies impact individual and communal formation, Faith Formation 4.0 looks at how our efforts to be story-keepers, story-sharers, and story-makers have evolved over four eras of human communication. Framed by the Great Commission imperative to “make disciples,” this book offers a road map to help leaders develop goals to form, inform, and transform new members, as well as long-time believers, within a faith community. Julie Lytle illustrates that church success depends not only on knowing the Christian message of God’s enduring love, but also how to use today’s tools appropriately for evangelization and faith formation.

iGods: How Technology Shapes Our Spiritual and Social Lives
Craig Detweiler (Brazos Press, 2013)

Today the world is literally at our fingertips. We can call, text, email, or post our status to friends and family on the go. We can carry countless games, music, and apps in our pocket. Yet it's easy to feel overwhelmed by access to so much information and exhausted from managing our online relationships and selves. Craig Detweiler provides needed Christian perspective on navigating today's social media culture. He interacts with major symbols, or "iGods," of our distracted age - Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Pixar, YouTube, and Twitter - to investigate the impact of the technologies and cultural phenomena that drive us. Detweiler offers a historic look at where we've been and a prophetic look at where we're headed, helping us sort out the immediate from the eternal, the digital from the divine.

When Religion Meets New Media
Heidi A. Campbell (Routledge, 2010)

This lively book focuses on how different Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities engage with new media. Rather than simply reject or accept new media, religious communities negotiate complex relationships with these technologies in light of their history and beliefs. Heidi Campbell suggests a method for studying these processes she calls the "religious-social shaping of technology" and students are asked to consider four key areas: religious tradition and history; contemporary community values and priorities; negotiation and innovating technology in light of the community; communal discourses applied to justify use. A wealth of examples such as the Christian e-vangelism movement, Modern Islamic discourses about computers and the rise of the Jewish kosher cell phone, demonstrate the dominant strategies which emerge for religious media users, as well as the unique motivations that guide specific groups.

Social Media

The Definitive-ish Guide for Using Social Media in the Church [Kindle Edition]
Bruce Reyes-Chow (Amazon Kindle, 2012)

For anyone who has wondered if and how social media can benefit the church, Presbyterian pastor and social media early-adopter Bruce Reyes-Chow steps in with answers. He deftly weaves practical how-to's with a convincing rationale for why social media matters for the church. Social media novices will find an accessible introduction and ideas for getting started, while more experienced users will discover new ways to use social media in congregations. Readers will learn from Bruce's experiences managing information overload and navigating social media issues during a pastoral transition. This is a book to pick up for both practical purposes and Bruce's insightful and inspiring commentary on the ways social media is changing our culture and the church. Learn how social media allows Christians to be in the world in new, powerful, and God-honoring ways.

• Available only as an e-book on Kindle. Go to Amazon.com to purchase. 
  

Social Media for Educators: Strategies and Best Practices
Tanya Joosten (Jossey Bass, 2012)

Tap into the power of social media and increase course effectiveness! Faculty will learn to choose the appropriate social media tool for the intended learning outcome, design engaging and innovative activities, and better meet pedagogical needs. In addition, the author offers strategies for assessing and documenting the effectiveness of using these tools in your course. Administrators and student affairs professionals will also find a wealth of information useful for planning faculty development programs and communicating with students. Although the book focuses on higher education, tools and techniques presented here can be easily generalized for K–12 classrooms or organizational learn­ing. The best practices and faculty development tips can be informative for all educators. 

Social Media for Trainers: Techniques for Enhancing and Extending Learning
Jane Bozareth. (Pfeiffer, 2010)

Whether you work in a traditional or virtual classroom, social media can broaden your reach and increase the impact of training. In Social Media for Trainers, e-learning and new media expert Jane Bozarth provides an overview of popular tools, including blogs, wikis, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, SlideShare, Flickr, and others. You’ll learn to leverage each medium’s unique features and applications to deliver training, facilitate discussions, and extend learning beyond the confines of a training event. This key resource offers a new set of powerful tools for augmenting and enhancing the value of training.

The Social Media Gospel: Sharing the Good News in New Ways
Meredith Gould (Liturgical Press, 2013)

Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and a growing number of other social media tools can help you build church, deepen faith, and extend your reach in previously unimaginable ways. In this easy-to-understand, step-by-step guide to digital ministry, church communications professional Meredith Gould goes beyond “how to” and explains “why to” engage your parish in the world of social media. Social media tools make it possible to share conversations and content with the long-time faithful, disaffected millennials, the homebound, and spiritual seekers within and beyond church-the-building. Inspired by the Gospel and centered on Christ, The Social Media Gospel gently guides you and your church leaders and volunteers through the rapidly changing world of social media, helping you preach the Good News in new ways. 

Transforming Parish Communications: Growing the Church through New Media
Scot Landry (Our Sunday Visitor, 2014)

Transforming Parish Communications provides insights and tools for transforming Catholics (and all Christians) into digital missionaries - ready and able to take the joy and warmth of the Gospel online via social media to infrequent, inactive, or ex-Catholics around the corner or across the globe. The book address the following topics: how to embrace the Church's vision of evangelization in new media; how entire parishes can become hubs of digital evangelization - and how to overcome obstacles; specific strategies for implementation; how to create a consistent digital identity online; best practices for parish websites; and the nuts and bolts of Facebook, Twitter, email, blogging and more. 

Digital Learning

Best Practices for Teaching with Emerging Technologies
Michelle Pacansky-Brock (Routledge, 2103)

As social media and Web 2.0 technologies continue to transform the learning trends and preferences of students, educators need to understand the applicability of these new tools in all types of learning environments. Best Practices for Teaching with Emerging Technologies provides both new and experienced online, hybrid, and face-to-face instructors with practical examples of how low-cost and free technologies can be used to support student learning, and "showcase” spotlights woven throughout the book, providing examples of how the tools described in the book are already being used effectively in educational settings. The book provides a collection of proven emerging technologies that can be leveraged for generating content, enhancing communications with and between students, and cultivating participatory, student-centered learning activities.

Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms (3rd Edition)
Will Richardson (Corwin Press, 2010) 

This book provides real examples from K–12 teachers around the world who are at the forefront of bringing today’s Web tools into their schools and to their students. This book is filled with practical advice on how teachers and students can use the Web to learn more, create more, and communicate better. This fully updated resource opens up a new technology toolbox for both novice and tech-savvy educators. Will Richardson provides clear explanations of specific teaching applications, with how-to steps for teaching with: weblogs, wikis, Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds and aggregators, social bookmarking, online photo galleries, Facebook and Twitter. Updated with materials on Web publishing and information literacy, this invaluable handbook helps students and teachers use Web tools within the classroom to enhance student learning and achievement.

The Connected Educator: Learning and Leading in a Digital Age
Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach and Lani Ritter Hall (Solution Tree, 2011)

Connected learning communities are a three-pronged approach to effective professional development using the local (professional learning community), contextual (personal learning network), and global (community of practice) environments. Connected learners take responsibility for their own professional development. They figure out what they need to learn and then collaborate with others to construct the knowledge they need. Instead of waiting for professional learning to be organized and delivered to them, connected learners contribute, interact, share ideas, and reflect.The authors emphasize the importance for educators to embrace the technological revolution permeating society.

• Author Website: Powerful Learning Practice
  
• Author Website: www.21stcenturycollaborative.com
  

Flip Your Classroom: Reach Every Student in Every Class Every Day
Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams (ISTD & ASTD, 2012)

It started with a simple observation: Students need their teachers present to answer questions or to provide help if they get stuck on an assignment; they don’t need their teachers present to listen to a lecture or review content. From there, Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams began the flipped classroom: Students watched recorded lectures for homework and completed their assignments, labs, and tests in class with their teacher available. Bergmann and Sams found that their students demonstrated a deeper understanding of the material than ever before. Learn what a flipped classroom is and why it works, and get the information you need to flip your own classroom. You’ll also learn the flipped mastery model, where students learn at their own pace. 

Getting Smart: How Digital Learning is Changing the World
Tom Vander Ark (Jossey-Bass, 2012)

In our digital age, students have dramatically new learning needs and must be prepared for the idea economy of the future. In Getting Smart, well-known global education expert Tom Vander Ark examines the facets of educational innovation in the United States and abroad. Vander Ark makes a convincing case for a blend of online and onsite learning, shares inspiring stories of schools and programs that effectively offer “personal digital learning” opportunities, and discusses what we need to do to remake our schools into “smart schools.” The book examines the innovation-driven world, discusses how to combine online and onsite learning, and reviews “smart tools” for learning. It investigates the lives of learning professionals, and examines online universities and “smart schools.”

Project-Based Learning: Differentiating Instruction for the 21st Century
William N Bender (Corwin, 2012)

Project-based learning has emerged as one of today’s most effective instructional practices. In PBL, students confront real-world issues and problems, collaborate to create solutions, and present their results. This book describes how PBL fosters 21st century skills and innovative thinking. The author provides instructional strategies, assessment methods, and detailed instruction on how to: design projects for various content areas across all grade levels; integrate technology throughout the learning process; use Khan Academy, webquests, wikis, and more to foster deeper conceptual learning; build social learning networks; and differentiate instruction by scaffolding supports for the learning process. 

The Socially Networked Classroom: Teaching in the New Media Age
William Kist (Corwin, 2010)

Incorporate social networking into instruction, no matter your level of technological expertise or Internet access! Web sites like Facebook and Twitter have transformed the way young people interact and communicate. With appropriate guidelines, students’ social networking skills can be harnessed to develop new literacies and deepen teaching and learning in the 21st century. The Socially Networked Classroom demonstrates how pioneering teachers have successfully integrated screen-based literacies into their instruction. This book includes real-world activities and lesson examples; ideas on fostering collaborative learning using blogs, wikis, and other interactive media; and tips on Internet safety, blogging etiquette, protected blogging sites. With this guide for Grades 5–12, teachers of all levels of technological expertise can help students develop the new literacies necessary to succeed in a digital world.

Personal Learning Networks: Using the Power of Connections to Transform Education
Will Richardson and Rob Mancabelli (Solution Tree, 2011)

The Internet connects us in unprecedented ways. New tools allow us to build global learning networks where we can pursue our intellectual and creative passions with people around the world. Personal Learning Networks helps educators understand the power of learning networks and become networked individuals. Learn how to use learning networks in education with step-by-step advice and real-world stories. This book aims to narrow the technological divide, put educators on the same footing as students, and provide a recipe for incorporating these tools into every classroom.

The Really Useful eLearning Instruction Manual
Rob Hubbard, editor. (Wiley, 2013)

Technology has revolutionised every aspect of our lives and how we learn is no exception. The trouble is; the range of elearning technologies and the options available can seem bewildering. Even those who are highly experienced in one aspect of elearning will lack knowledge in some other areas. Wouldn’t it be great if you could access the hard-won knowledge, practical guidance and helpful tips of world-leading experts in these fields? Edited by Rob Hubbard and featuring chapters written by global elearning experts: Clive Shepherd, Laura Overton, Jane Bozarth, Lars Hyland, Rob Hubbard, Julie Wedgwood, Jane Hart, Colin Steed, Clark Quinn, Ben Betts and Charles Jennings - this book is a practical guide to all the key topics in elearning, including: getting the business on board, building it yourself, learning management, blended, social, informal, mobile and game-based learning, facilitating online learning, making the most of memory and more.

Teaching on the Education Frontier: Instructional Strategies for Online and Blended Classrooms
Kristin Kipp (Jossey-Bass, 2013)

Today, online and blended learning are taking over the K-12 education system faster than most teachers can keep up. Teaching on the Education Frontier provides teachers with an opportunity to learn how to effectively teach online classes for any subject in grades 5-12. Teachers will now be able to master best practices for online education, including how to: Structure an Online Course for Student Engagement, Build Relationships with Virtual Students, Develop Discussion Board Strategies, Collaborate with other Teachers Online, Provide In-Depth, Meaningful Feedback, Differentiate Assignments in an Online Environment, and Design Online Assessments. Each chapter offers clear explanations and examples of each underlying topic which will lead to a better understanding of the realities of online teaching.  

• Author Website: http://educationfrontier.org
  

Time for Learning: Top 10 Reasons Why Flipping the Classroom Can Change Education
Kathleen P. Fulton (Corwin, 2014)

Flipping classrooms—using class time for hands-on learning and "off loading" the lecture portion of lessons to teacher-created videos or other technology presentations assigned as homework—is taking schools by storm. But like all hot trends, it is important to apply this innovation intelligently. This book makes a persuasive case to leaders for the potential benefits of flipping. Backed by powerful data and compelling anecdotes, this book covers: data on positive student outcomes in terms of achievement and motivation; how flipping gives teachers more time to work with students one-on-one and encourage peer learning; ways flipping can benefit teacher learning and collaboration; why flipping encourages students to take responsibility for their own learning; how flipping engages students in 21st century skills; and ways flipping is budget and resource-friendly.