You may have seen this video before: Brother Ansgar is introduced to the new technology called a 'book'.
It's always worth another look, but what is not so well known is a later conversation between the two monks, also based on a real event in history. There is no video, but fortunately a scroll was found and has been translated from the original Norwegian.
Ansgar comes into Morten's cell. Morten is reading.
Ansgar: I've got much more used to these books now. But I hear that the trainee monks will all be bringing their own books next year.
Morten: Yes, that's the new 1 to 1 programme. We're hoping that it will inspire the novices and the monks to teach and learn in new ways.
Ansgar: Yeees... but I'm not sure it's such a good idea. Just because the Abbot of Clervaux is doing it, doesn't mean we have to follow suit.
Morten: We were 1 to 1 at my previous monastery. I wasn't sure about it in the beginning, but I soon found that it allowed me to do things I couldn't do before in the schoolroom.
Ansgar: Ah yes, but you've always been a lover of new technology. What about the rest of us? I already teach my novices very well. I don't see the point of bringing something new and distracting into the lessons. If they all have a book with them, how do I know they are listening to me?
Morten: You tell them to close it. You are in charge. And you're right, Ansgar, you are a very good teacher and your students appreciate that. But the book is a new development which affects all areas of life. Education too. It is not fair on your novices to ignore it.
Ansgar: But I don't know where to start! You're asking me to do a completely different job...
Morten: That's not the way to look at it, Ansgar. First of all, you are already an expert. You know how to teach your subject; your students do very well and you know a good teaching idea when you see one. You are always looking for ways to improve how you teach. All a 1 to 1 book environment does is to give you new ways to engage the novices in addition to the excellent things you are already doing.
Ansgar: But where do I start? I'm not used to a 1 to 1 schoolroom. Suddenly I have to do every lesson in this new way.
Morten: No you don't. Don't listen to those who say that a revolution has occurred. You will evolve into a 1 to 1 monk at your own pace. Why would you throw away everything that works so well? But I know you are honest with yourself and you will see ways that you can teach your novices better using books: new ways you have waited your whole career to see made possible.
Ansgar: So it's OK to have lessons with no books?
Morten: Of course. There are many occasions when the old methods such as scrolls, plainsong or meditation are the most suitable. But it would be a mistake not to take advantage of what 1 to 1 books allow you to do which you could never do before. This monastery admires risk-takers, so try something new, but do it with your least successful unit where the stakes are not too high - not everything will go right the first time. Also, work with your colleagues; share ideas and experiences. And talk to the Book Facilitator; he will come to your cell with some ideas or he can meet your novices in the cloister and model a lesson with 1 to 1 books.
Ansgar: I'm afraid of what the novices will say. They already know so much about books.
Morten: It's easy to think that, but don't assume because they have their noses buried in a book all day they know how to use it in an academic situation. The novices are in a rut with their technology. They still need you and your teaching expertise to help them use the books to understand your subject. The role of the good monk has always been to take the novices out of their comfort zone, to bring them to higher levels of thinking. The beauty of 1 to 1 books is that you have more possibilities than before to do just that. All of your novices now have access to knowledge when they need it and at the speed that they can learn. That leaves your hands free to help individuals, suggest another book or give them different tasks.
Ansgar: I don't even need to use the books all lesson, it could just be one activity...
Morten: Exactly.
Ansgar: But sometimes things will go wrong...
Morten: That's life, Ansgar. Saint Sirken has preached: "If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original".
Ansgar: But I'm so busy...
Morten: I'm not going to tell you that you won't have to do some work and spend some time learning new ways with 1 to 1 books, but there are many ways to be efficient and effective: working with your fellow monks, Ecclesiastical Development, getting ideas from colleagues at other monasteries. You are not afraid of a bit of hard labour, Brother Ansgar. The important thing is to be motivated and to see that you are not being asked to change completely; the monastery wants you to apply your expertise to the new tool and become an even better teacher for your novices. You may even enjoy the journey.
Ansgar: Well if you put it like that...
Morten: And now I must leave you: the Abbot was reading in the refectory and has spilt mead on his scroll.
Both: God be with you, brother!
Ansgar comes into Morten's cell. Morten is reading.
Ansgar: I've got much more used to these books now. But I hear that the trainee monks will all be bringing their own books next year.
Morten: Yes, that's the new 1 to 1 programme. We're hoping that it will inspire the novices and the monks to teach and learn in new ways.
Morten: We were 1 to 1 at my previous monastery. I wasn't sure about it in the beginning, but I soon found that it allowed me to do things I couldn't do before in the schoolroom.
Ansgar: Ah yes, but you've always been a lover of new technology. What about the rest of us? I already teach my novices very well. I don't see the point of bringing something new and distracting into the lessons. If they all have a book with them, how do I know they are listening to me?
Morten: You tell them to close it. You are in charge. And you're right, Ansgar, you are a very good teacher and your students appreciate that. But the book is a new development which affects all areas of life. Education too. It is not fair on your novices to ignore it.
Ansgar: But I don't know where to start! You're asking me to do a completely different job...
Morten: That's not the way to look at it, Ansgar. First of all, you are already an expert. You know how to teach your subject; your students do very well and you know a good teaching idea when you see one. You are always looking for ways to improve how you teach. All a 1 to 1 book environment does is to give you new ways to engage the novices in addition to the excellent things you are already doing.
Ansgar: But where do I start? I'm not used to a 1 to 1 schoolroom. Suddenly I have to do every lesson in this new way.
Morten: No you don't. Don't listen to those who say that a revolution has occurred. You will evolve into a 1 to 1 monk at your own pace. Why would you throw away everything that works so well? But I know you are honest with yourself and you will see ways that you can teach your novices better using books: new ways you have waited your whole career to see made possible.Ansgar: So it's OK to have lessons with no books?
Morten: Of course. There are many occasions when the old methods such as scrolls, plainsong or meditation are the most suitable. But it would be a mistake not to take advantage of what 1 to 1 books allow you to do which you could never do before. This monastery admires risk-takers, so try something new, but do it with your least successful unit where the stakes are not too high - not everything will go right the first time. Also, work with your colleagues; share ideas and experiences. And talk to the Book Facilitator; he will come to your cell with some ideas or he can meet your novices in the cloister and model a lesson with 1 to 1 books.
Ansgar: I'm afraid of what the novices will say. They already know so much about books.
Morten: It's easy to think that, but don't assume because they have their noses buried in a book all day they know how to use it in an academic situation. The novices are in a rut with their technology. They still need you and your teaching expertise to help them use the books to understand your subject. The role of the good monk has always been to take the novices out of their comfort zone, to bring them to higher levels of thinking. The beauty of 1 to 1 books is that you have more possibilities than before to do just that. All of your novices now have access to knowledge when they need it and at the speed that they can learn. That leaves your hands free to help individuals, suggest another book or give them different tasks.Ansgar: I don't even need to use the books all lesson, it could just be one activity...
Morten: Exactly.
Ansgar: But sometimes things will go wrong...
Morten: That's life, Ansgar. Saint Sirken has preached: "If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original".Ansgar: But I'm so busy...
Morten: I'm not going to tell you that you won't have to do some work and spend some time learning new ways with 1 to 1 books, but there are many ways to be efficient and effective: working with your fellow monks, Ecclesiastical Development, getting ideas from colleagues at other monasteries. You are not afraid of a bit of hard labour, Brother Ansgar. The important thing is to be motivated and to see that you are not being asked to change completely; the monastery wants you to apply your expertise to the new tool and become an even better teacher for your novices. You may even enjoy the journey.
Ansgar: Well if you put it like that...
Morten: And now I must leave you: the Abbot was reading in the refectory and has spilt mead on his scroll.
Both: God be with you, brother!
