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Virtual Theology, Faith and Adult Education: An Interruptive Pedagogy
Author(s): Ros Stuart-Buttle (Author)
- Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
- Publication Date: 14 Jun. 2013
- Edition: 1st
- Language: English
- Print length: 270 pages
- ISBN-10: 1443847305
- ISBN-13: 9781443847308
Book Description
Online learning is a key feature of the contemporary educational landscape and has entered mainstream policy, provision and practice. But if online education is to reach mature development and evaluation, it must be open to critical appraisal. This book considers the implementation of online learning within adult theological education. This can be an area of challenge or contention, especially when established academic practices and cherished values are seen as threatened when handed over to online delivery. This opens questions about theology, pedagogy and online education. Does online teaching and learning bring or demand a new or transformed (disruptive) pedagogy or does it result in maintenance or replication (sustaining) of traditional values and existing practices? What might the opportunities and benefits be? Who stands to gain? Who stands to lose? And what evidence is there to evaluate the quality of ‘doing theology’ online? This book examines a long-standing programme of continuing professional development delivered fully online to adult practitioners working across Christian education and ministry settings. It builds upon the author’s international experience as an online educator for over a decade. Key themes relate adult learning to theological pedagogy, authority, and online community. The concept of interruptive pedagogy is presented as an interpretative model to critically appraise an approach to online education that draws on the best theological tradition yet also looks to the future.
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About the Author
Dr Ros Stuart-Buttle specialises in Theology and Education. Her extensive professional background and diverse experience includes teaching across primary and secondary schools, adult diocesan education, seminary outreach programmes, higher education (at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels), and continuing professional development for Christian teachers and ministers. She currently lectures at Liverpool Hope University, UK. Living and studying in the United States introduced Dr Stuart-Buttle to online education in its early days. Since then, she has built a successful nationwide programme of online adult theological education and completed a PhD in this field. Her consultancy and research has continued to develop and she has presented at national and international e-learning and research conferences. Dr Stuart-Buttle is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Board member for the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies for the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. She is married with three adult children and lives in Cheshire, England.
