Dr. Claire Smith, Director of youTheology and Youth Ministry Specialist-in-Residence, reviews Rewired: Understanding the iGeneration and the Way They Learn, by Larry D. Rosen, Ph.D. (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010) for this month's Faculty Focus.

In Rewired: Understanding the iGeneration and the Way They Learn, Larry D. Rosen posits that the constant diet and manner of use of technology have changed the way students learn. They have been rewired. Written with an audience of teachers in mind, in Rewired Rosen examines the disconnect between students' out-of-school life and what happens in school. 

The iGeneration refers to students in elementary and secondary schools. Rosen differentiates between this generation and the net generation. The net generation would be the group just ahead of the iGeneration; those in college, etc. The iGeneration has grown up in a media rich environment with ipods, wii, iphones, social networks, etc. They are immersed in media, using it constantly, multi-tasking, and always connected to their friends. Moreover, they are mobile in their use. While family and parents are important, they are very social and are participatory, creating online content. Rosen makes the case that the iGeneration is different from any other generation.

Rosen advocates that educators use new media in the classroom in student centered ways. He gives suggestions for doing this ranging from how cell phones can be used and online discussion to the more complicated possibilities of virtual environments such as Second Life. He believes that we need new ways of allowing students to be collaborative, creative, driving content and exploring, going deeper. He uses the term "mLearning" (mobile learning), which would allow students to learn wherever they are. Also he shows that when students have online discussions, the result is richer classroom explorations. Rosen truly feels that educators do students a disservice when they expect students to "unitask" and be quiet. Multitasking can be creative and we should allow it. In addition, educators need to help students develop media literacy to understand how they are impacted by media and to critically access relevant materials. In general, Rosen's call is not simply for using new tools in old ways but for rethinking the philosophy of how we educate.

This book interested me in part because youTheology is working on a new book that will come out this year entitled, Youth Ministry in a Technological Age. Since I work primarily with the iGeneration and teach courses related to this age group, and since it is only a matter of time before the iGeneration enters seminary, I wanted to see what Rosen had to offer to our work.

This books helps us to recognize not only that the iGeneration is different, but how. Its practical, often low-cost, suggestions for engaging them are also useful. At the same time, growth in the Christian life of faith does necessitate that we step away from everything and focus on God, our Creator and Sustainer. Thus, all of his recommendations would not be appropriate for our setting. Nevertheless, the book is well worth reading.

Faculty Speaking Schedule: March 2011

March 7, 2011
Shannon Jung, Franklin and Louise Cole Professor of Town and Country Ministries
30th annual Rural Ministry Conference at Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, 7:00 p.m.
Response to receiving the "Friend of Rural Ministry" award

March 13, 2011
Young-Ho Chun, Professor of Theology
Platte Woods United Methodist Church, Kansas City, Missouri
30's Christian Education Class: "Christian Life and Spirituality II"

March 13, 2011
Mike Graves, Wm. K. McElvaney Professor of Preaching and Director of Continuing Education
Saint Andrew Christian, Olathe, Kansas, 9:30 a.m.
Adult Education: Part 2, "Preaching and the People: What to Know about Sermons"

March 14, 2011
Kristen E. Kvam, Associate Professor of Theology
Boe Chapel, St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota
Preaching
 
March 14, 2011
Kristen E. Kvam, Associate Professor of Theology
St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion: of the book Transformative Lutheran Theologies: Feminist, Womanist, and Mujerista Perspectives

March 14, 2011 
Kristen E. Kvam, Associate Professor of Theology
St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, 7:30-9:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion: "Transforming the Reformer: Lutheran Sisterhood and Brother Martin"

March 16, 2011
Patricia Beattie Jung, Professor of Christian Ethics and Oubri A. Poppele Professor of Health and Welfare Ministries
"In Good Faith," interreligious dialogue initiative, Bernardin Center, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago
Lecture: "Faith and Sexuality"

March 19, 2011
Sondra Matthaei, Professor of Christian Religious Education
Laity School of Theology, Saint Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, Missouri, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
"A Congregational Ministry of Making Disciples"

March 20, 2011
Mike Graves, Wm. K. McElvaney Professor of Preaching and Director of Continuing Education
Saint Andrew Christian Church, Olathe, Kansas, 8:15, 9:30, 11:00 a.m.
Preaching

March 20, 2011
Myron McCoy, President
104th Church Anniversary, Centennial United Methodist Church,
Kansas City, Missouri, 10:40 a.m.
Preaching

March 30, 2011
Myron McCoy, President
Kresge Chapel, Saint Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, Missouri, 11:00 a.m.
Preaching