Professional Dissertations DMin

Date of Award

2019

Document Type

Project Report

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry

College

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Program

Doctor of Ministry DMin

First Advisor

Ronald M. Flowers

Second Advisor

May-Ellen Colon

Third Advisor

Richard Sylvester

Abstract

The Problem

The new wave of smartphones and other forms of mobile technology presents an always available Internet connection that is hard for many families to manage. Without sufficient awareness of technology's subtle impact on relationships and without appropriate boundaries, many suffer loss of face-to-face interaction, communication and intimacy within their family circles.

The Method

The purpose of this project was to investigate whether a five-session educational seminar would create greater awareness and motivate changes in mobile technology usage that is seen as beneficial to parents and family.

The Results

Of the 11 families who committed to coming to the five-session educational seminar, eight were able to attend all five sessions. A comparison of pre-interviews and post-interviews determined that the seminar was useful in raising awareness, stimulating more responsible use of mobile technology, and encouraging families toward deeper levels of intimacy. As a result of the many tools placed in the hands of the parents, members of each family made some type of change in their mobile technology usage and felt better equipped to talk with their children and each other about appropriate parameters.

Conclusions

This educational experience for the Hendersonville Seventh-day Adventist Church was useful in raising awareness regarding the advantages and dangers of mobile technology. Participants gained not only insights and practical skills in Internet management but greater understanding of their family dynamics as well as enhanced skill in dialogue and communication with each other.

Subject Area

Smartphones; Families--Effect of smartphones on; Families--North Carolina--Hendersonville; Hendersonville Seventh-day Adventist Church (Hendersonville, N.C.)

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.32597/dmin/734/

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