Comments on: “Where’s the mouse on this thing?

By: Ian H.

Ian H. — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:25:50 +0000

My wife is taking a class on Worship for her Masters, and one of the essays in the text for the class pointed out some fundamental shifts in the way churches have had to deal with media, which I think is applicable to the educational setting as well. The author’s argument is that churches before the advent of the printing press were largely presentation-style services, where the parishioners would observe the priest going through the motions, but not be able to hear or read along.

After Gutenberg, the worship style catered more to the intellectualisation inherent with a reading experience (sermon focus, rather than Eucharist focus). Since reading focuses on the relationship between author and reader, worship became an individualised head-down format.

Television brought with it another change in worship style. Because TV is experiential and interpretive, and is experienced more easily in community, the style of service that lends itself to the television generation is a heads-up community experience.

Computers and the internet have brought the most recent change, and those growing up in the information age expect that their worship services will be interactive and personally meaningful.

The author’s point was that churches have to move forward into the new way of doing things without leaving behind those who are more comfortable with a reading church. For our schools, since we don’t have the older generation to contend with as students (just as teachers and administrators), we should feel more free to embrace the interactive style of presentation favoured by those born since 1992.

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By: Dean Shareski

Dean Shareski — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:12:31 +0000

Sylvia,

Point taken, however the general point is that the “screen”, is switching from a passive experience to an active one. The convergence of media is happening and the story of the 4 year old simply illustrates the shift is already occurring. Whether it’s because she watches Dora the Explorer or I watch a sporting event and am also connected to live stats, I’m not as interested in passive screen time. I’m an exception of people in my generation, this girl is not.

By: sylvia martinez

sylvia martinez — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:03:45 +0000

As much as I like the “where’s the mouse” story, it isn’t quite so simple. If the girl was indeed watching Dora the Explorer, it makes much more sense. Dora was designed to be a TV show AND a computer game. If you watch, they often use computer/mouse metaphors and ask the viewers to “click on” something. The show translates well to a computer interface because it was designed that way. The response of the four year old is to this specific show’s design, and it shouldn’t be generalized.

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By: Spreading the “Good News” « EdTech4Newbies

Spreading the “Good News” « EdTech4Newbies — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:29:44 +0000

[...] being said, I’m wondering why so many people, as Dean Shareski pointed out, think these tools are a fad. Why isn’t the battle cry for the expansion of [...]