Digital Life Together: The Challenge of Technology for Christian Schools, Paperback

How digital technologies are impacting Christian education, and how to respond.

Digital technologies loom large in the experience of today's students. However, parents, teachers, and school leaders have only started to take stock of the ramifications for teaching, learning, and faith. Digital Life Together walks educators, leaders, and parents through some of the big ideas that are hidden in our technology habits. Moving beyond general arguments for and against digital devices, the book draws from extensive interviews, surveys, classroom observations, and school records to examine the real impact of technology on Christian learning.

Based on a three-year, in-depth study of Christian schools, authors David Smith, Kara Sevensma, Marjorie Terpstra, and Steven McMullen offer resources to inform conversations in school communities about the role of digital technologies in students' formation. With a wealth of new research findings, short, readable chapters, and accompanying discussion questions, Digital Life Together sets the stage for individual reflection, book club discussions, professional development conversations, or strategic reflection by school leaders.

David I. Smith is director of the Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning and professor of education at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and he serves as editor of the International Journal of Christianity and Education. His books include On Christian Teaching, Teaching and Christian Practices (with James K. A. Smith) and Teaching and Christian Imagination(with Susan Felch). Visit him online at onchristianteaching.com.

Kara Sevensma has over 15 years of educational experience, first as a K-12 special education teacher and then as an assistant professor of Education at Calvin College. Her most recent work explores the intersections of digital technologies, school culture, and Christian education.

Marjorie Terpstra, chair of the Education department and associate professor of education at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, brings many hours of classroom observation experience as part of her instructional work at Calvin and elsewhere. Her research has focused on the complexities of teaching with digital technologies and on leveraging digital technologies for learning to teach.

Steven McMullen is associate professor of economics at Hope College, the executive editor of the journal Faith & Economics, and fellow at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. He has done substantial work on the ethics and theology of economic life, with an emphasis on animal ethics, the environment, consumerism, and technology, including the book Animals and the Economy.