How can theological educators effectively engage Digital Natives in learning and formation? Traditional teaching methods often fail to connect with a generation that processes information differently, interacts with technology constantly, and learns in a non-linear way. This session, “Bloom’s Taxonomy: For Engaging Digital Natives in Theological Education,” explores how Bloom’s Taxonomy can be adapted for digital learners, providing educators with a structured framework for designing impactful lessons. Through practical examples and innovative approaches, this session will help theological educators bridge the gap between traditional learning and digital engagement.

Description

Bloom’s Taxonomy has long been a foundational model for structuring learning objectives and cognitive engagement. However, in today’s digital age, how can we apply this model to effectively teach Digital Natives? This session explores how educators can weave Bloom’s Taxonomy into theological education, particularly in an environment where students are constantly connected to digital devices.

Key discussions include:

• Understanding Bloom’s Taxonomy and its relevance to Digital Natives.
• Identifying characteristics of Digital Natives and how they process, engage with, and retain information differently from Digital Immigrants.
• Examining the role of Digital Immigrants in the learning space and addressing the challenges faced by educators who struggle to adapt (described as “Digital Dalits” or the “Digital Underprivileged”).
• Adapting Bloom’s Taxonomy for Digital Natives—practical strategies for each level of learning.
• Pointers for teachers and facilitators to create engaging, technology-integrated lessons.
• Example: Designing a lesson on the Resurrection using Bloom’s Taxonomy to demonstrate engagement at different cognitive levels.
• The TECH SMART Approach by Christopher McGilvery (2023)—a framework for integrating technology into theological education.
• Insights from Dr. Vizovonuo Chiesotsu’s quote, exploring how understanding the ‘language’ of Digital Natives is crucial for effective education.

This session is designed for theological educators seeking to integrate technology, rethink traditional teaching approaches, and create learning experiences that resonate with a digitally engaged generation.

Outcomes

By the end of this session, theological educators will:

1. Understand Bloom’s Taxonomy and its application in theological education.
2. Recognize the learning characteristics of Digital Natives and how they differ from Digital Immigrants.
3. Develop strategies to adapt Bloom’s Taxonomy for engaging digital learners.
4. Apply Bloom’s Taxonomy in lesson planning, with a case study on teaching the Resurrection.
5. Explore the TECH SMART Approach as a tool for integrating technology into theological education.
6. Reflect on the challenges Digital Immigrants face and develop solutions to bridge the digital gap.

Engage in personal or group discussion to reflect on practical ways to apply these insights in their teaching.