We've added some great new resources to the Faith Formation Learning Exchange in our April 2012 Update. You can access all of the new resources by clicking on the title of the resource. 

We are happy to announce two new team members for the Faith Formation Learning Exchange: Dorothy Linthicum and Lisa Kimball from The Center for the MInistry of Teaching at Virginia Theological Seminary. They will be using their considerable expertise and experience to identify new resources for inclusion on the Faith Formation Learning Exchange. Read about both of them in the About the Project Team section of the website.

New Featured Books

Check out the new books in our featured books section. 

New Online Resources 

New Media Project at Union Theological Seminary: http://blog.newmediaprojectatunion.org
Helping religious leaders become theologically savvy about technology

Congregational Resource Guide

• Adult Learning: http://congregationalresources.org/resources/adult-learning-congregations
  
• Children: http://congregationalresources.org/faith-formation-children
• Youth Ministry: http://congregationalresources.org/youth-enigma
  
• Spring Reading Suggestions: http://congregationalresources.org/reading-recommendations-spring-2012

Edutopia (The George Lukas Educational Foundation): www.edutopia.org
Twice yearly, Edutopia publishes free guides to education with current methods and resources applicable to all learning settings with children and adolescents, and have useful tips for teachers, parents, and coordinators. All of the guides are in a PDF format for easy printing. Among the 8 guides are: "A Parent's Guide to 21st Century Learning," "Six Tips for Brain-based Learning," and "Ten TIps for Using the New Media." 

• Go to Edutopia: http://www.edutopia.org/classroom-guides-downloads
  

Vacation Bible School Reviews 
(Center for the Ministry of Teaching, Virginia Theological Seminary)
The Center for the Ministry for Teaching reviews Vacation Bible School programs each year. On their website is a PDF file of their reviews. The CMT home page has direct links to publishers of our top picks and “Wisdom from the Field,” films of educators talking about different aspects of VBS. Their top picks merit serious consideration based on the following criteria: 1) Theology: the love of God is emphasized more than the sinfulness of humans; 2) Unity: a distinctive theme is supported by a cohesive program of developmentally-appropriate stories and activities; and 3) Inclusiveness: text and graphics represent all God’s people with respect and stereotypes are avoided.

• Center for the Ministry of Teaching website.
  

New Articles on the Learning Exchange

11 for 11: Ideas that Work - Ministry Innovations (Leadership Network, www.LeadNet.org)
Throughout 2011 Leadership Network profiled a specific ministry innovation (leadership, community engagement, creative ministry) each month with an introductory article, a more in depth report available as a 5-6 page paper, a 5-15 minute long video, and a 8-15 minute long podcast. 

• The online summary of 11 for 11: Ideas that Work can be found here: leadnet.org/resources/11for11
  
• You can watch all the videos here: http://bit.ly/vid6dg
  
• Download all the podcast episodes using this link: http://media.leadnet.org/11for11.xml,
  
• And download all the papers at once here: http://bit.ly/sYkUXx.

Children

• Articles: Bullying in Schools: An Overview - Ken Seeley, Martin L. Tombari, Laurie J. Bennett, and Jason B. Dunkle (U.S. Department of Justice, 2011) 
  
  

Adolescents

• Trends & Research: Teens, Kindness and Cruelty on Social Network Sites - Amanda Lenhart, Mary Madden, Aaron Smith, Kristen Purcell, Kathryn Zickuhr, Lee Rainie (Pew Internet & American Life Project)
• Articles: Characteristics of a Healthy Young Ministry - Kenda Creasy Dean (Lewis Center for Church Leadership)

Young Adults

Trends & Research: 

• The 8 Greatest Strengths of Generation Y - Online College 
  
• The Boomerang Generation: Feeling OK about Living with Mom and Dad - Kim Parker (Pew Research Center, 2012)
  
• The Surprising Benefits of ‘Boomerang Kids’ - Katherine Newman
  
• Boomerang Kids: When College Grads Move Back Home - A Video Interview with Katherine Newman
  
• The Accordion Family: Boomerang Kids, Anxious Parents, and the Private Toll of Global Competition by Katherine S. Newman 
• Five Myths about Young Adult Church Dropouts - Barna Research
  
• Six Reasons Young Christians Leave Church - Barna Research
  
• Video: Prodigals, Nomads, and Exiles - David Kinnaman
  
• The Rise of the Exiles - David Kinnaman

Older Adults

• Models, Practices, & Tools: Spiritual Vitality after 70: Theory & Practice - Lisa Kimball and Dorothy Linthicum (Center for the Ministry of Teaching, Virginia Theological Seminary)

Online & Digital Media

• Trends & Research: Virtually Religious: Technology and Internet Use in American Congregations - Scott Thumma (American Congregations 2010, Faith Communities Today)
• Trends & Research: Thinking Theologically about Using Social Media - Verity Jones (Faith and Leadership, Duke Divinity School)
  

Please give us your feedback on the Exchange and let us know how we can serve you better. Send an email to John Roberto, project coordinator, at jroberto@lifelongfaith.com.