Using a qualitative analysis of school artifacts, this article analyzes the documentary record of one Christian school system’s experience with technological change. It focuses on documentary evidence for how the concept of Christian discernment was deployed to situate new technologies within a Christian discourse. The idea of discernment shifted in emphasis as new technologies were implemented. The theologically rooted concept of discernment both shaped and was shaped by the ongoing effort to manage technological change. Examining this evolution offers an empirical contribution to discussions of how Christian schools can sustain an integrity of fit between faith and practice.
AppaduraiA (1996) Modernity at Large: Cultural Dimensions of Globalization, Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.
2.
AuerbachCESilversteinLB (2003) Qualitative Data: An Introduction to Coding and Analysis, New York: New York University Press.
3.
BoeremaA (2011) A research agenda for Christian schools. Journal of Research on Christian Education20: 28–45.
4.
BrowningP (2008) Moral discernment and mainline Protestantism: Toward a collaborative Christian ethic. Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics28(1): 109–132.
5.
CampbellHAGarnerS (2016) Networked Theology: Negotiating Faith in Digital Culture, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
6.
CarsonMS (2013) Stewardship, discernment and congregational decision making. The Covenant Quarterly71(3): 73–95.
7.
ChoiM (2016) A concept analysis of digital citizenship for democratic citizenship education in the internet age. Theory & Research in Social Education44(4): 565–607.
8.
ChoiMGlassmanMCristolD (2017) What it means to be a citizen in the internet age: Development of a reliable and valid digital citizenship scale. Computers & Education107: 100–112.
9.
CouldryNStephansenHFotopoulouAMacDonaldRClarkWDickensL (2014) Digital citizenship? Narrative exchange and the changing terms of civic culture. Citizenship Studies18(6–7): 615–629.
10.
CrossinJW (2015) Ecumenical reflections on moral discernment. Journal of Ecumenical Studies50(4): 561–582.
11.
EganA (2010) Conscience, spirit, discernment: The Holy Spirit, the spiritual exercises and the formation of moral conscience. Journal of Theology for Southern Africa138: 57–70.
HortonDJ (2009) Discerning spiritual discernment: Assessing current approaches for understanding God’s will. Journal of Youth Ministry7(2): 7–31.
14.
HullJ (2003) Aiming for Christian education, settling for Christians educating: The Christian School's replication of a public school paradigm. Christian Scholars Review32(2): 203–224.
15.
JonesLMMitchellKJ (2016) Defining and measuring youth digital citizenship. New Media and Society18(9): 2063–2079.
16.
KaakPLemasterGMuthiahR (2013) Integrative decision-making for Christian leaders: Prudence, organizational theory, and discernment practices. Journal of Religious Leadership12(2): 145–166.
17.
KropfM (2011) Cultivating a congregational climate of discernment. Vision12(2): 43–51.
18.
LieberEWeisnerTS (2010) Meeting the practical challenges of mixed methods research. In: TashakkoriATeddlieC (eds) SAGE Handbook of Mixed Methods in Social & Behavioral Research, Thousand Oaks: SAGE, pp. 559–579.
19.
LongfordG (2005) Pedagogies of digital citizenship and the politics of code. Techné: Research in Philosophy and Technology9: 1–17.
20.
McIntoshM (2004) Discernment and Truth, New York: Crossroad.
NoltSM (2015) “You hold the whole world in your hand”. Cell phones and discernment in Amish churches. Vision16(2): 27–37.
23.
NouwenH (2013) Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life, New York: HarperOne.
24.
OnwuegbuzieAJLeechNL (2007) Validity and qualitative research: An oxymoron?Quality & Quantity41(2): 233–249.
25.
RibbleMSBaileyGDRossTW (2004) Digital citizenship: Addressing appropriate technology behavior. Learning & Leading with Technology32(1): 6–11.
26.
SaldañaJ (2013) The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers, London: SAGE.
27.
SmithDISmithJ (2011) Teaching and Christian Practices: Reshaping Faith and Learning, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
28.
SmithDISevensmaKTerpstraMMcMullenS (in press) Digital Life Together: The Challenge of Technology for Christian Schools, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
29.
StraussACorbinJ (1998) Basics of Qualitative Research Techniques, Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
30.
TaylorC (2007) A Secular Age, Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
31.
VacekEC (2013) Discernment within a mutual love relationship with God: A new theological foundation. Theological Studies74: 683–710.
32.
VryhofSBrouwerJUlsteinSVander ArkD (1989) 12 Affirmations: Reformed Christian Schooling for the 21st Century, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.
33.
Waaijman K (2013) Discernment and biblical spirituality: An overview and evaluation of recent research. In: De Villiers PGR (ed.) The Spirit that Guides: Discernment in the Bible and Spirituality. Acta Theologica Supplementum, vol. 17, 1–12.
34.
WesterholmM (2014) On Christian discernment and the problem of the theological. International Journal of Systematic Theology16(4): 454–469.
35.
YoungD (2014) A 21st century model for teaching digital citizenship. Educational Horizons92(3): 9–12.
