Articles to Browse and Print
from Neil MacQueen, Sunday Software

Need Help? Click here to chat live with Neil (if I'm online at the moment). Or email neil@sundaysoftware.com

Looking for Software "Teaching Tips" -outlines and lesson materials for our specific CDs? They're in the Teaching Tips section of this website.

Starting a Lab? Read "Teaching with Computers in Christian Education"

Copyright: All these articles are copyright, Neil MacQueen. Permission granted to freely reprint or excerpt from these articles for non-commercial use -provided the website address is included along with copyright information.

Looking for our list of software? Go here.

Article Categories on this page:

Why Teach with Computers in C.E.

Kids, Computers
and Christian Education

This is the quintessential article from our ministry. This article was updated for publication in CLERGY JOURNAL in 2004. It was originally based on the article I wrote for PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK in April of 1997. Suitable for distribution to seminars, committees, boards, staff. May be excerpted for publication provided website and author info is included.

Nope, We're Not Drunk
Christian educators tell about their experiences with computers. From ALERT magazine.

Tell me again...Why are we teaching with computers in C.E.?
Four true stories: one about a Sunday School kid and his grandpa, another about Giga Pets, another about a Gameboy in church, and the fourth about a teacher of 20 years who admits she was wrong about computers in CE. Recently added to.

How Software can Improve Relational Teaching
Information >to> Transformation
 
-two important articles

Do Kids Need Computers? --"no" says this letter writer.

Why I Like Teaching in a Bible Computer Lab --Winning Essays from teachers who entered our Winter 2001 Contest.

Kids, Computers and Church Libraries --An article about the place and possibilities for computers in the Church Library. Written for Church and Synagogue Library Magazine.

Computers in C.E. vs. Computers in the Public School --the differences may surprise you.

Other Articles Related to Using Computers in Ministry
and

Articles about Creating Church Websites

Projecting Software to a Screen for Large Groups -Tips, Recommendations, and Cautions.

Software for Adult Christian Education

Creating a Web Page for Your Church --Design & Content ideas, dispelling myths, resources for/about church homepages. Some provocative ideas.

Examples of Good Church Websites and Bad Church Websites

Can You Use Photos on Your Church Website -without getting people's permission who are in the photo?  --Yes you can. This is an article which spells out the legal fair use of photos.

Innovative Ideas for Creating a Children or Youth Ministry Webpage

Using the Internet in your Ministry

Youth, Email & Internet Chat --An article for parents, grandparents, teachers, youth leaders and pastors about how to take advantage of these new technologies in your personal life and church youth ministry.

Getting Started?
Read the new version of our classic text
"Computer Kids and Christian Education"
re-titled:

"Teaching with Computers
in Christian Education."

My newest version of the book will give you an overview of what your lab can do, how to teach in the lab, what types of software you might use, recruiting and training teachers, and many other topics related to teaching with computers in Christian education. Look for it listed at the bottom of our Online Order Form

Who is Neil MacQueen...
...and why has he written these articles?

I am a Presbyterian minister, Christian educator, software designer, author, and teacher. My work, writings and seminar travel have brought me into contact and friendship with many educators, pastors, professors, and CE prophets from around the US and Canada. As one of the founders of the Sunday School Rotation Model movement, and having worked in the field of Christian education software world for many years, I have seen first hand how people and churches can change. I have also been a parish minister in two churches and I'm currently a parish associate in a third.

Many of these are articles are simply good advice from those who have gone before you. Others offer special insights which into Christian education subjects you rarely find people talking about. Several are personal research projects for which I make time to study and research, and gladly share those findings here with you.

Many of these articles continue to evolve as my understanding, experience, challenges, and information evolve. Feedback is an essential part of their improvement. I invite you to email me. <>< Neil

Learn more about Sunday Software Inc
 

Getting Started

If you're new to computers in C.E., read our book
"Teaching with Computers in Christian Education"
(formerly titled "Computers, Kids and Christian Education"). Learn from other's mistakes & successes.

Concept Before Construction ... A brief article about making sure your computer lab set-up isn't running counter to your teaching needs. If you only read one article before getting started, read this one.

Getting Started Advice ...for those about to compute on Sunday morning. Excerpts from the book "Teaching with Computers in Christian Education."

Ten Most Common Mistakes in Sunday School Computer Labs...and I've made them all --along with a bunch of you. Learn from "the experts."

Site Licensing, Networking? and Software Quantity Issues

Selecting Software for the Bible Computer Lab --Advice and philosophy for those getting started.

Links to Photos of computer labs --a great collection of photos from our customers' churches

Names for Computer Labs -a collection from our customers.

The Ten Computer Lab Commandments -a list of reminders to post in your lab for teachers and students to read.

2007 Summer Teacher Training Articles -new ways to kick off your lesson, Teens in the Lab, and more.

Computer Hardware

Our Latest Hardware Recommendations
The Right and Wrong Hardware to Get Started With

Sound Yes, Headphones No
--a.k.a "Get Thee Behind Me Headphones."
Multiple computers can create cacophony in a poorly designed computer lab. Here are many suggestions for combating competing computers.

Video Cards and Video RAM --how to tell how much have or need.

 Tips on Buying & Teaching with Software

Tips on Stretching Our Software "down" to Younger Children

Tips on S t r e t c h i n g your Software Budget

The Real Weekly Cost of Software in your Lab

How to save money when ordering from us

The Four Words that Define What an Adult Teachers does in the Computer Lab

Information to Transformation --tips on writing lesson plans that are Good News, not just "news." Also includes the short article: "How Software Improves Relational Teaching."

How to Capture Graphics from Your Computer Screen and Put Them in Your Lesson Worksheets

Two or Three Kids per Computer? ..how to make kid #3 feel included. Ten suggestions.

Teaching Teenagers with Software

Creative Ideas for Using Computers in Summer Sunday School

Teaching with Computers in a REALLY LARGE Lab
An article about Lee Engbretson's 27 computers at the Casas Adobe Church in Tucson.

Articles and Resources for those leading a seminar about Computers in CE

"OTHER"  Articles and Resources
by Neil MacQueen
Christian Education, the Church, Change, Translations, and additional resources...

Too Good to be True (but it is) ...Collection of research statistics pointing to the positive effects of active church participation in the lives of children and youth NOW and throughout their lives. (Part 1 of my CE research series)

Are Kids Too Busy for Sunday School? --some amazing research and thought provoking commentary. (Part 2 of my CE research series)

Characteristics of a New Ministry to Children -a draft of what Children and youth ministry might have to look like to be successful. (Part 3)

Innovating, Not Just Navigating -- What business can teach us about moving the Church forward in difficult times ...and... Ideas for Engaging Innovation in your church.

They All Laughed --disparaging remarks from history about innovative ideas and inventions.

Tips on Promoting Sunday School and Attracting New Members

A Brief Introduction to Teaching with Videos in Christian Education

Outline to Jesus Christ Superstar ~The Movie (pdf)
This is one of my all-time favorite movies and is great to teach children and youth with.

Copyright Issues for Software and Christian Education Materials --a plain English article written specifically for Sunday Schools and churches, with examples.

A New Design for Sunday School --The Workshop Rotation Model --My first computer lab was in a Sunday School that had multiple learning labs or workshops as we called them. Read this article! You'll be glad you did.

Tips on Hiring a Christian Educator (some edgy recommendations)

John Calvin on Sunday School --in his own words (as interpreted by Neil MacQueen)

Church Accounting and Membership Software --Listings from Neil MacQueen

Adam & Eve Reader's Script and Sermon  -script is from one of our programs, suitable for reading aloud in 4 parts as scripture reading. My sermon doc as well. Hope you enjoy it.

www.SUNDAYRESOURCES.NET  ~Neil's Ministry Blog ~  Articles about improving the church, church staff issues, new ideas, "Green Jesus" (church and energy issues), books I recommend, and other good stuff.

All articles copyright Neil MacQueen, unless otherwise noted. They may only be copied for non-commercial use.
Permission to reprint in church newsletters granted provided that the author and this website are cited.