The Need for Technological Skill in the Salesian Vocation

[Brittany]

from the FMA website Day of Formation to Communication
24/3/2008 - Rome (Italy)

It is important to form ourselves, to study and get to know the Internet places where young people meet, but above all to understand the networks of words that chatacterise their communication in the interconnected web of the Net.

This was the aim of the study and reflection day in which 110 students of the four communities that depend on Mother General (Auxilium, Casa Canta, Casa Valsé, Casa Generalizia) took part on March 17th. The aim was reached through moments of listening, group sharing and assembly.

They started from the fact that often we do not know the complexity of the Internet, with all its potential and risks. Consequently we do not fully understand the ways in which young people express themselves in blogs, in ning, why they access Second Life, the meaning of the music they download from the Net through eMule, listen to and share with their friends on their iPods. What can, perhaps, scare us is the rapidity with which the new communications technologies evolve and change, the ease with which they can be used and the all-prevasiveness the Net has assumed in the life of the very young and of people. And that is not all.

We note, on the one hand the fascination of the Net and the opportunities it offers to religious life, but we are also a that, if it is not approached from an educational perspective, not only do we not know how to educate young people, but we risk becoming ‘shipwrecked’ rather that navigators and companions to young people on their journey and in their life.


The initial input by Sr. Giuseppina Teruggi, General Councillor for Social Communications, presented a Salesian reading of the challenges that the communications culture poses for education. She also revisited the lives of Don Bosco and Maria Domenica Mazzarello as wise communicators for the good of the young. This was followed by two different workshops, co-ordinated Sr. Maria Antonia Chinello and Sr. Enrica Ottone, a lecturer at the Auxilium Faculty, and by Sr. Anna Rita Cristaino and Sr. Lucy Roces of the Social Communications Sector. In them the Sisters were able to reflect on the demands made by the choice of networking in education: using the mind, heart and will. They were also led to reflect on the implications and consequences of the diffusion of the Internet and to identify criteria that will allow one, in the face of the accumulation of risults, to search for information and content on the Net. An exploration of the different expressions of the more specifically social dimensions of virtual environments helped them to grasp the lines of convergence, continuity and rapid innovation.

The convictions that the group reached and shared in the closing assembly and, in particular, the open questions, showed how urgently it is to develop programmes of formation and self-formation to the new technologies; to listen to young people and know their language; to collaborate with the laity in order to strengthen educational processes and involve the family. The hypothesis for future programmes should reveal the value of the journey that has been started: to move from the consumption of the media to the educational use of communication mediated by the new technologies. How to do this is for the future.

[Sean]

Great post Brittany! I wonder if we could talk about this idea of being "shipwrecked" what does this mean? Does it mean that if we don't know this language that it could actually hurt us and our ministry in a serious way?

This statement has powerful implications because it seems to say that knowing this field and knowing it well enough to educate the young in it, is necessary meanwhile do you have the impression that some Salesians see the internet, blogs, ipods as extras and not as essential to our ministry?

In my mind, these are the new "playgrounds," how can we best make ourselves present there?

[Ian]

I think the use of the internet is both situational and conditional and has a much larger span of possibilities than just education. For one, education through the internet is a good idea, but you could also use the internet as a medium to raise money for Salesian missions across the world. Of course the minimal cost of maintaining a website should not necessarily bother the Salesians, as long as everything they advertise is just on that website. OTherwise by making multiple websites, the cost increases.

I think such as this one are very beneficial to the Salesians without a doubt. Community-type websites that the Salesians can run on their own are one of the best ways to advertise the Salesians. A site like this helps those like myself, who are unsure of their vocation, learn more and learn new things that help them to think in a light that will help them discern their vocation. That's why I am so active on here.

Anyway, as to being stranded, I know for one that at my school I think almost every kid has a computer of their own and access to the internet almost 24/7. There are few Salesians there that are very good with computers. They can use them - they know which programs they need to use in order to do grades, make tests, etc. But (call me cynical) I find it hard to believe that a decent number are competent in the workings of a computer or internet slang. There are a couple I could see being competent in this are but I stress, only a couple.

I for one think that the internet and blogs are not necessarily extras in a situation like the one at my school. iPods are definitely extras for anyone. No one needs an iPod. And yes I have the impression that some of the Salesians at my school do not see the internet as being necessary, which it isn't, yet.

Obviously in less affluent situations the use of the internet is not recommended because few might benefit from it. Although, one might say that just for the sake of those few that the internet is justified in which case I can understand that argument fully well.

And yes, the internet is the new "playground." Bullying, teasing, friend-making/finding and much more occurs on it. Plenty of websites are around that are solely devoted to humiliating a particular person and making their life miserable. (As Vice-President of Peer Mediation at DBP I have to be aware of all this and make sure none of it occurs.)

[Brittany]

I think perhaps it means that we run the risk of being overwhelmed and stranded by technology, rather than being the people who are able to guide its right use and assist the young in making good choices in relation to it.

I do not think it means that every Salesian must have an iPod, laptop, digital camera, cell phone, etc... but I do not think those who can use those things in their ministry should be denied them either, if the province can afford it and it will be well utilized. I know that I my digital camera and laptop all the time for teaching and ministry.

I think, for Salesians, if we are not aware of the language, which we know is an expression of a culture and something much bigger than simply being a "tech" thing, we are not able to relate and be as present.

To understand technology's trends, to some extend, know how to work the things that kids carry on them on a daily basis and use regularly makes us better able to accompany. It is a part of youth culture... we do not necessarily need to have it, but we cannot say "well, I'm an adult, so I do not need to be as aware as, say, a teenager within the group would be." If we are really going about it in a Salesian way, it would seem to me that we would want to be able to relate to the young people on their level and meet them where they are at. Being aware of technology and somewhat internet savvy helps.

Given the translation of this article does not appear to be fantastic, I do not think it is saying every Salesian has to be capable of teaching technology; but they cannot shun it, either. Everyone has a different personality, so at least having a basic understanding and grasp would be important and those Salesians who want to further their understanding could only be an asset, for they could help the young people and their community with navigating choices related to it.

I do have the impression that some Salesians see these things as not essential to our ministry. I think different generations of Salesians have different world views and people of different backgrounds and cultures think differently. I know that the high schools and places I have been there is a need for technological comprehension, but in many places where the Sisters work the people are too poor to afford the internet or computer... but at least in the schools we should be able to provide what we can to keep up with the times. Don Bosco always tried to provide whatever could help his kids get good jobs in the future. In the past it was printing presses and now it is computers. Computers are not the key to everything, but it definitely affects our sense of the global world and are an important part of what kids are being presented with everyday. Hey, if they cannot find technological companionship with us, they will go elsewhere.

They are definitely the new playgrounds.

Look, I see it as a way of staying relevant. There are many issues that relate to staying relevant to youth culture. I am sure that Bro Al Vu could add a lot of thoughts because he is very well read and had a lot of experience, as he is the West's Province YM... but I KNOW he would agree that technology is important.

Another discussion could be the psychological/emotional affects of growing up in such a technology driven culture which removes a sense of physical presence, because I do not think we could ever abandon our physical presence with the young people and go totally internet. God forbid. Yet, I think that the internet presence compliments well the work we do well elsewhere. If people look at Salesian internet presence and think we do a good job here, we should always be able to say to them, "Wait till you see us in person!"

[Bro Jim]

It is in this area that I feel torn. It is certainly needed to have at least a remedial (and I think more is needed) undertanding and practical ability to use the latest in communication tech. This is the way that kids are communicating, and we are to work with kids, so we should know how they communicate. At the same time I agree with Canadian philosopher George Grant in his Lament for a Nation, who says that "technology becomes ontology" - that is that technology becomes a way of being over actual, really being. The more we we teach youth to engage in tech, the more we justify this "lament".

Yet, again, Don Bosco was not interested in philosophy as he was in the concrete life of youth "today". And on the other hand I think that a technological approach to life does lead to isolation and unhappiness if taken to the Nth degree.

I am genuinely torn, what thinkest thou?

[Brittany]

Those are all great thoughts, Bro Jim. We definitely need to help guide the young in their technological choices because it can become a consuming trend among young people. Always being hooked up to some form of electrical something is not good.

Yet, and with all due respect to your experience, I feel that it is irrelevant to say that the more we teach them technology the more responsible we are for the lament about technology. That would be true if we simply taught them technology, but Salesian education is more holistic than that; we form the whole person - intellectually, morally, physically, spiritually... I think technology is a great way to shape even a sense of social justice and a spirituality related to a technological culture.

This is definitely a topic in which we all need to dialogue because it will be and is a big part of the lives of the young people whom we serve. Everyone's thoughts have been great! Thank you!

[Bro Jim]

I appreciate your much more optomistic position, I think you have a good reason to call it a more Salesian position to respect technological advances as a true way to educate. Indeed, thius is something good on which to dialogue. Cheers.

[Ian]

I'm quite torn with you Bro Jim. For one I know a good percentage of my social life (as a teenager) relies on the internet despite the fact that I refuse to use Myspace and rarely use the Facebook that I actually have. I am probably one of my only friends that does not text, but still knows how to. If I am going to use my phone to communicate I'd rather call than send a text message.

I think if we (and I am not sure why I incorporate myself with the Salesians as I am not yet one and not yet sure if God is calling me to be one) encourage technology there will most certainly be a isolation from real life, God and society. If we teach how to use and benefit from technology instead of teaching how to live through it (which I think is what you fear more Bro Jim and which I cannot see any Salesian doing) then we will be keeping current and feeding the mind.

I think what man has created through the grace of God is amazing. And that since technology and the advances and opportunities it affords the Salesians should most definitely take some part and education in it so they can stay current.

[Sean]

Don Bosco would always go to where the youth were, meeting them there, winning their friendship and admiration, but that was only the first step and he would hopefully bring many of them to the Oratory where he would continue the conversation. He would use that meeting and that friendship to lead them to a deeper relationship with Jesus and to a greater awareness about their duty to be a good Christian and honorable citizen.

I think it has to be the same with Salesians nowadays. (and Ian even though you don't know where God is calling you in the future, as a Salesian student you are part of the Salesian family, you may not be a consecrated, but you are certainly a Salesian)

The use of these technological tools and meeting places have to be one part of our presence where we meet and interact with young people, but it can't stop there. Hopefully from this it will lead to an Oratorian experience (home, school, church, playground) or some kind of experience where they can continue the conversation without the use these tools.

[Brittany]

"The use of these technological tools and meeting places have to be one part of our presence where we meet and interact with young people, but it can't stop there. Hopefully from this it will lead to an Oratorian experience (home, school, church, playground) or some kind of experience where they can continue the conversation without the use these tools."

--- Exactly. It is a medium to use to draw young people in, interact with them, show them God (yes, even through technology) but it cannot stop at that. It has to come full circle. Virtual "presence" will never replace the traditional salesian physical presence that we experience through the oratory model.

[Ian]

I whole-heartedly agree Brittany.

[Bro Jim]

Yes, Ian - I think you hit what I wanted to express right on the head. Teach how to use techology well as a tool rather than live through as a way of being. Kudos!