Philippine E-Journals

Augustinian Practices for Learning and Teaching in a Technological World

Gary N. McCloskey

 

Abstract:

Cognizant that Saint Augustine’s world of Latin Antiquity is foreign to a technological world and that technology is not ethically neutral, this essay explores application of the 2 principal categories of the spirituality of Saint Augustine (Interiority and Communion) to practicing Augustinian Pedagogy in a technological world. An Augustinian Reflection Circle and Augustinian Dispositions of practicing humility, engaging out brokenness, strengthening courage and cheerfulness, as well as working with diligence are outlined for practicing Augustinian Interiority in an Augustinian Pedagogy context. Augustinian Communion is viewed as accompaniment in technological isolation, communities of compassion in a faceless virtual world, a spirituality of togetherness in a world of technological persuasion, and as reclaiming true friendship in cyberspace. These categories are explored for application to learning in a technological world of radical exteriority, pervasive persuasion, individualism, isolation, anonymity and the quest for fame.