Reimagining Faith Formation with John Roberto

23-25 August – Learning Intensive: Engaging All Ages and Generations

An intensive teaching event with John Roberto with a focus on

• How formation and education are changing in today’s mission context
• Promising approaches to faith formation
• Thinking beyond the gathered congregation
• Learning within and across generations

Tues 23rd 2.00pm-9.00pm
Wed 24th 9.30am-5.00pm
Thu 25th 9.30am-5.00pm

26-28 August – National Conference: Formation and Mission in a Digital World

A three day event with John Roberto as keynote speaker, plus electives, a multimedia expo, panel discussion, interest group conversations, resource displays, and a short film festival.

• The impact of digital technology in a social world
• Blended faith formation in a digital world
• Curating learning experiences
• Resources and tools for faith formation

Fri 26th 2.00pm-9.00pm
Sat 27th 9.30am-9.00pm
Sun 28th 1.00pm-4.00pm

(Sunday morning includes the option of visiting a congregation using digital media in worship or education)

Opening address

Mr Greg Whitby
Executive Director of Schools, Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta.

Greg Whitby has led a system of Catholic schools in the Dioceses of Parramatta and Wollongong (Australia) over the past 15 years. He is recognised as an innovative educator who is passionate about rethinking the nature of schooling in today’s world and the role of learning environments and technology in supporting new pedagogies. In 2011, Greg was appointed to the Federal Government’s Digital Education Advisory Group. He is also the founding Chairman of CEnet (Catholic Education Network) – linking 745 schools across Australia on a robust virtual private network. You can follow Greg via his blog bluyonder and Twitter.  He is also the author of Educating Gen Wi-fi, which argues for the need to radically rethink the nature of learning and teaching in a connected world.

Contributing Speakers

Dr Mary Hess

Mary Hess will be joining us online from the US where she is Professor of Educational Leadership at Luther Seminary in Minnesota. She has a strong interest in the role of media in faith formation, religious education and theological education. Mary has a keen interest in exploring how storytelling with digital media can assist in faith formation. She is a core member of the International Study Commission in Media, Religion and Culture.  meh.religioused.org

Dr Bex Lewis

Bex Lewis will be joining us online from Manchester, UK where she is Senior Lecturer in Digital Marketing at Manchester Metropolitan University. She is the author of the acclaimed “Raising Children in a Digital Age”. Bex is a researcher, writer and frequent speaker in relation to digital culture with particular interest in Christian faith. She has worked on a range of significant projects including “The Big Bible Project” and “Digital Fingerprint.” drbexl.co.uk

Rev Dr Lynne Baab

Lynne Baab will be joining us from Dunedin, New Zealand. She is a Lecurer in Pastoral Theology at the University of Otago. Lynne has written numerous books, particularly in the area of spirituality and spiritual disciplines, including “Friending: Real Relationships in a Virtual World.” She has a lively interest in how spirituality is expressed through practices and relationships.www.lynnebaab.com

Mr Steve Watt

Steve is a Regional Vice President for Blackboard International, the preferred online learning platform for the majority of Australian universities and many other educational institutions. Steve has worked in multimedia since 2000 and in the online learning field since 2004. He leads an international team of 35 who have embraced a mission to reimagine education. Steve previously studied and worked in children, youth and family ministry in the Uniting Church.

Elective Sessions include

• Developing engaging websites
• Engaging young people with multimedia
• Social activism & social media
• Online learning to grow disciples and leaders
• Reimagining school religious education
• Raising digital children
• Sharing your church’s story with social media
• Reimagining Sunday worship
• Spiritual disciplines in a 24/7 wired world
• Using multimedia in all-age worship & learning
• Engaging tertiary students online
• Understanding Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
• Starting a blog
• Media advertising and spirituality
• Steps to better digital photography

Multimedia Expo includes

• Design and branding for churches
• Mobile Apps for spiritual growth and mission
• Multimedia resources for growing disciples
• “How to” sessions on graphic design, social media tools, making videos.

Communities of Practice groups include

• Digital Storytelling
• Creative worship using multimedia
• Promotion and marketing
• Online Learning
• Social transformation through digital communication
• Multimedia production
• Lifelong Faith formation

Registration Costs

23-25 August: Learning Intensive with John Roberto $330 inc GST
(Dinner 23 August included)
Lunches 24 and 25 August (optional) @ $18 each

26-28 August: National Conference $300 inc GST
(Dinner 26 August included)
Lunch 27 August (optional) @ $18
(Dinner 27 August is BYO. Local options provided.)

Both events: Learning Intensive and National Conference $550 inc GST
Lunches 24 and 25 August (optional) @ $18 each
Lunch 27 August (optional) @ $18

Tuesday evening 23 August only $25
For other part-time registration costs please contact us

Onsite Accommodation
(Bed & continental self serve breakfast)

• Deluxe Single Room $114
• Deluxe Double Room $129

Accommodation is limited and on a first-come basis.

Registration information will be available from early May at reimaginefaith2016.com

For more information contact craigm@nat.uca.org.au