Artifact: Case Study on Spirituality and Technology (ETEC 511)

Reflecting on the connection between Dudeism, Spirituality, and Technology
This project was completed in ETEC 511, Foundations of Educational Technology. For me, taking ETEC 511 in my first term was a good choice, as it truly laid the foundation of my understanding of Educational Technology. When I entered into the program, I understood technology as many people do, as science, computers, tablets, phones, etc. but now I see technology as a problem solver, as a "means to an end" (Heideggar, 1977). It is possible that technology, as we know it, will eventually cease to exist, but technology will still continue to be a means to an end. While, as I reflect, I will admit that it is usually comfortable to consider technology as things with wires, electricity, viewable screens, etc., (and I utilize these common technologies and terms in my educational solutions), but I still recognize that the understanding of technology's "essence" is critical to successful educational technology designs and solutions (Heidegger, 1977, p. 4). I realize that this view of technology may be unfamiliar to some of the viewers that may be viewing my ePortfolio, but it is important to first look at the definition of technology and the origin of the word in order to begin understanding what Heideggar was trying to explain.

I thoroughly enjoyed this group project while exploring the connection between spirituality and technology. Prior to MET I completed a minor in Religious Studies - something I'm passionate about. The study of Religion and Spirituality is not only a study of texts and practices, it is largely a study of human nature. When I first went into MET, I did not see how I would be able to connect the two, but after this project I am able to recognize the similarities between technology and spirituality - as both can reveal and lead to discovery (Heidegger, 1977).

Click on the image below to view our project website: blogs.ubc.ca/etec511spiritualityandtechnology

This project is essentially a case study, but presented digitally through a Wordpress site. This was the first website I helped to build within the MET program. Through our site we guide viewers through pre-activities (survey and exercises), a timeline of past to future spirituality in technology, and in-depth look at our case study.

​ I was first exposed to Dudeism during my Minor studies and I was excited to revisit it, as it is a great case study in how spirituality and technology can become interconnected. ​To add to this fun project, we were able to get in touch with the "Dudely Lama," the head of the Church of Dude, to ask him his thoughts on the connection between tech and spirituality; you can read his insightful responses on our site. 

Overall I think that this project was a great exercise in being able to better understand that technology is not just simply computers, tablets, phones, etc.

Technology is a "revealing" (Heidegger, 1977) - it is something that leads to discovery. When you view technology in this way you realize that the possibilities of creation and implementation for Educational Technologists is much broader than what might originally be anticipated as computer systems and tablet applications. Through considering the connection between technology and spirituality, I experienced cognitive dissonance - a change in understanding (Festinger, 1957).