LA MIRADA, CALIF., Nov. 1, 2012 — Students will power off at Biola University Nov. 11-16 to experience life without technology. The awareness week, titled “On/Off: The Power of Choice,” will focus on the intersection of faith and technology and invite students to experience life without the technology Gen Y’ers are used to having at their fingertips.

“Engaging our students in conversations connecting their Christian faith and their daily use of technology is critical in the 21st century,” said associate dean of students Matthew Hooper. “The constant evolution and pervasive use of modern technologies (cell phones, computers) and their applications (Facebook, Twitter) have made our students' tech-related choices a primary focus of our character development efforts.”  

Psychologist Doreen Dodgen-Magee and poet Dana Gioia will speak throughout the week on the correlation between the use of technology, faith and everyday life. Other speakers include Andrew Hartman, Danielle Thomas, and a panel of Biola professors.

Sponsored by Biola's Division of Student Development, the Faith & Technology awareness week aims to challenge students to think more deeply and act more responsibly as Christians using technology on a day-to-day basis.

Doreen Dodgen-Magee, a licensed psychologist and Biola alumna, will be participating in six different sessions. She will be speaking in three sessions on Nov. 14. The first session will discuss how technology is shaping every aspect of our lives today. The second will teach students about the four areas of their brain and how they all work together to create a person’s strengths. During the third session, she will provide practical tips to completely activate and engage oneself in the real world. Her Thursday sessions will include a panel on students’ use of technology in the classroom.

Dana Gioia, an American writer, critic, poet and businessman, will host a seminar at Biola’s Calvary Chapel on Wednesday titled, “Reflections on Faith and Technology.”

Andrew Hartman, a Senior Project Manager at Caliber Media group, and Danielle Thomas, a Division Director at Office Team, will speak on the topic of “Being a Savvy Tech in the Professional Arena.”

Kicking off the week at Midnight Madness, a student-wide pep rally, winners of the #TechFail Video Competition will be announced. For the contest, students were invited to create 90-second videos of funny, awkward or random technology fails they had experienced and win a grand prize of $500. Second and third place prizes will be awarded as well. Winners are chosen and judged on creativity, humor and wit.

View the event schedule.  

Contact Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Coordinator, for interviews with professors, students or more information at jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu or 562.777.4061.