21328f


 * Proposal submission #21328**

What can Educators Learn from Online Religious Communities?
 * Title**

Scot Headley, George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon, USA, sheadley@georgefox.edu Amy Dee, George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon, USA, Dave Johnstone, George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon, USA, Sue Phillips, George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon, USA, Tricia Meyer, George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon, USA, Jeanette Eggert, George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon, USA,
 * Presenter(s)**

Some educational authorities, such as Tom Sergiovanni (1996) and Parker Palmer (1998) have suggested that educators consider a congregational model, as opposed to a business model, as the controlling metaphor for a classroom. What does that model offer the online educator? Satisfying and effective education in the online environment includes strong relationships amongst the participants. Could online religious communities be models for online educational experiences?
 * Description**

In an attempt to determine the practice and feel of communication and community in online religious groups, a team of graduate students and their instructor entered into a semester-long examination of various Web 2.0 applications and their use by online religious communities. Among the activities explored and engaged in were a) online prayer groups, b) Christian-themed social networking sites, c) religious communities in Second Life, d) the use of wikis by a local congregation, e) and undergraduate students' attempts at building community online through social networking sites.

Community is espoused as an important element of online courses. Our experience with online religious communities offers some lessons that are applicable for educators in general and may bear special significance to those who ponder how their own faith and practice could be augmented in the online environment. Lessons learned include the challenges and opportunities for encouragement and accountability online, practical aspects of learning new technologies, and philosophical and practical aspects of online religious practice. Join us as we share what we learned and ask questions designed to stimulate our imaginations regarding online community within our courses.

References Palmer, Parker J. (1998). The courage to teach: Exploring the inner landscape of a teacher's life. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Sergiovanni, Thomas. (1996). Moral leadership: Getting to the heart of school improvement. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Forum Not previously published All audiences
 * Notes & Comments**