Professor Sugata Mitra is an Indian academic who observed Indian slum children figure out computers for themselves.  Watch his story in this TED lecture. (Read more on Professor Mitra and his work.)

Children are “wired” by God to learn.  What will it be like when affordable tablets are available to include even many relatively poor children globally in basic and higher education?

The Mission Challenge

Professor Mitra’s experiments should cause those of us in missions to be willing to re-think what we could be doing.  After watching the video, should we make some major paradigm shifts ?  Here’s some thoughts I had.  Please share yours.

• The children didn’t need to be trained how to use the technology.
• The children did well even with a language barrier and with difficult subjects.
• Repeatedly, Professor Mitra gave absolutely no instructions.
• The children learned in groups.
• They were positively reinforced, using Skype, by British grandmothers!
• We already work in schools.
• We already have The Story of Jesus for Children in over 130 languages for free download.
• It’s very possible that many of these children could already have access to a mobile phone.

What would Jesus say to us about including children in our evangelistic plans?

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them,“Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.  I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”   Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.

~  Mark 10: 13 – 16 NLT

COMING SOON: Visual story, as video shorts, will be a major part of this, so you may be interested in an opportunity to explore digital media evangelism with others November 29 to December 3, 2011 in Los Angeles.

Read the  original post on Digital Evangelism Issues
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