Office for the Integration of Faith and Learning
Technology and Christian Faithfulness
Develop a practical, theologically-grounded framework to understand how technology impacts individuals and society.
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Enroll NowSample Course
$24.9911 LessonsWorkshop
Overview

That technology, especially digital technology, fundamentally alters our lives is beyond dispute. However, whether those changes benefit or harm our children, our work, and our society are hotly debated.

This course provides insight into questions surrounding issues like social media and online privacy from an explicitly Christian perspective. In a culture dominated by technological disruption, keeping our moral compass pointed towards truth and our ethical framework integrated with daily life requires a perspective that is rooted in something more permanent than the ephemeral world of technology.  Together, we will examine Christian thought and tradition for wisdom and guidance to live in a world of constant technological change.

Over the course of eleven lessons, each featuring videos and reflection exercises, you will receive insight and resources to guide you through developing a practical theologically grounded framework for understanding technology and considering its impact on the individual and society. At the end of this course, you will also receive a free curriculum resource with activities and discussion questions designed for use in youth groups and small group settings.

Instructor
Tim Milosch
Office for the Integration of Faith and Learning

Tim Milosch (www.timmilosch.com) is an instructional designer and adjunct faculty member at Biola University.  As a builder and teacher of online courses, Tim routinely interacts with many of the questions touched on in this course as he navigates the changing technological landscape alongside his students. The content, resources, and conversations brought together in this course reflect the 2017 Faculty Integration Seminar at Biola that Tim was a member of.

The Office for the Integration of Faith and Learning was established in 2009 in order to assist university-wide efforts in the integration of faith and learning.

Learn more about how faith and learning are integrated at Biola University

Syllabus

Hardly a week goes by without some news story...
Overview
Introduction
Video
Technology and God
Reflection
Journal Prompt: Technology and Faithfulness
Reflection
Step into this lesson asking yourself why you...
Overview
A Few of Our Favorite (Digital) Things
Video
Technology and Idolatry
Reflection
Journal Prompt: What You Think About Technology
Reflection
Tools and machines are two different things....
Overview
Tools and Machines
Video
Tools for Conviviality
Video
Technology, Choice, and Values
Reflection
Many people are tightly connected to their...
Overview
Social Media and Teens
Video
Separation and Connections
Reflection
Journal Prompt: Track Your Social Media Use
Reflection
In an interesting generational twist, it seems...
Overview
Explicit vs. Implicit Learning
Video
Intentional Attention
Video
Attention
Reflection
Journal Prompt: Track Your Attention
Reflection
In the United States, people have a very strong...
Overview
Digital Citizenship, Part 1
Video
Digital Citizenship, Part 2
Video
Citizenship
Reflection
Journal Prompt: Being Online Ambassadors of Christ
Reflection
Social media is incredibly good at monopolizing...
Overview
Discipline and Social Media
Video
Social Media as Spiritual Discipline
Reflection
Journal Prompt: Changing Social Media Habits
Reflection
When we think about teens and social media,...
Overview
Jigs and Third Culture Kids
Video
Role of Culture in Your Life
Reflection
Journal Prompt: Technology and Third Culture Kids
Reflection
Throughout these lessons, we’ve focused on the...
Overview
Psychology Online
Video
Christians Online
Video
Fruit of the Spirit
Reflection
Journal Prompt: Fruits of the Spirit Online
Reflection
In this lesson, our gathered panel considers...
Overview
Privacy Online (and Other Oxymorons)
Video
Privacy
Reflection
Journal Prompt: Anonymity
Reflection
Throughout this course, we’ve reflected on a...
Overview
Vices and Virtues
Video
Learnings from this Course
Reflection
Journal Prompt: Social Media Moral Examples
Reflection
Free Youth Curriculum
Resource
Recommended Resources
Resource
Course Evaluation
Resource

Course FAQ

Each lesson is designed to take approximately 1-2 hours, depending on how deeply you engage the reflection and discussion questions. Since this is a self-paced course, the time it will take you to complete it will depend on the speed with which you want to progress through the course.

No. The course contains everything you need to successfully complete the course. There are resources recommended at the end of the course that you are free to purchase if you wish to pursue further study on the course topic.

Since this course is designed as a completely self-paced experience, you will not have any interaction with the professor during the course.