Earlier this week I listened in on the “Technology and Jewish Education” conference organized by the Lippman Kanfer Institute, held at the JESNA offices in New York. I heard many familiar themes: Jewish education is underfunded, and in particular Jewish educators lack both resources and training to take advantage of technology. At the same time, the environment in which students today learn seems to rely increasingly on mobile devices and Facebook feeds—even more than my generation relied on bulky film projectors and film strip readers (both of which proved difficult for some teachers, who relied on us students to make the machinery work). Funding is also lacking to develop tools key to teaching Jewish subjects—to develop specialized software, for instance, or ensure access to significant Jewish texts, with translation(s).
Lisa Colton of Darim Online reminded us that technology should be the means, not the end—the real goal must remain one of Jewish education.
Meredith Lewis, of MyJewishLearning.com, spoke of how her site helps people looking for answers to specific questions, often phrased in ways that make it clear that the person asking has no understanding of Jewish traditions or cultures. In this she sees few signs of specific “Jewish learning,” if the term implies some engagement with Jewish life and continuity.
Read the full post at the Jewish Women's Archive blog, Jewesses with Attitude...
