Getting Started with Computers in Christian Education

1. DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Read the book Teaching with Computers in Christian Education. Learn from the mistakes and successes of those who have gone before you. Using computers in the Sunday School is different than using computers in the public schools. Over the years I've saved churches from making purchasing mistakes and wasting hundreds of dollars. Before you start spending serious money or somebody's time (which has its own cost), read my book.

Click here to view the Table of Contents from my book. Order a copy for $18 on our online order form. It will save you from making mistakes and wasting money (and appearing stupid in front of your volunteers and staff). If you read the book, and then don't think it was worth the $18, send it back for a full refund. You won't.

2. DO AN EXPERIMENT
We recommend creating a small controlled experiment. An experiment consists of a handful of kids, a teacher who can commit to several Sundays in a row, a GOOD borrowed computer or office computer, and two or three different pieces of software. Let them loose for a month or two. Validate our advice and see what it's REALLY LIKE to teach with software.   Learn from your experiment what teaching with software is like, and whether or not it is for you. Check out our "TOP PICKS" for some good programs to do your experiment with.

3. BE SERIOUS ABOUT HARDWARE, NOT WISHFUL
Realize from the start that you need decent multimedia capable Windows-based computers. Getting started with computers that are five years old is OK, but won't let you experience the best this medium has to offer. Getting started with computer that are more than 6 years old IS NOT WISE. Jump over to our TECHIE FAQs (frequently asked questions) for specific advice on buying or upgrading hardware. Beware those old boat anchors someone dumped at your doorstep.

Read our Techie FAQs and Hardware Recommendations.

4. GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE INVOLVED
Find someone who likes to teach to lead this project. Do not hand over your lab to a techie who can't teach. Once the computers are operational, the computer lab becomes a classroom. You will need people who know how to share their faith, ask good questions, create a lesson plan, and know WHEN to shut off the computers --not just HOW.  The book has a lot of great material you can copy from it to discuss with your lead teacher.

5. GET ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS
How many kids per computer? What kind of computers should I get?  Should I network my computers? Can I copy one piece of software to several computers? How do I set up my room? How do I train my teachers? The answers to these questions are given in detail in our book. Our answers may surprise you.  Read the book. It comes spiral bound so you can lay it flat on a copier and copy the pages from it you need to share with others and train teachers. The SHORT answers to the above questions can also be found in our online articles.

In short... 2 kids per computer, computers that are 6 years old or newer, you'll need one CD per computer, and you should set up your room to maximize sound-reduction and avoid the use of headphones. Our book discusses each issue in detail.

6. GET YOUR NUMBERS RIGHT
It saddens me to see churches get MORE computers than they need based on false assumptions about how they think the lab will work. Sometimes they get a large donation of good used equipment, and their lab sinks under the weight of expectations and frustration. Read the book and online articles please!

7. PICK THE RIGHT SOFTWARE TO START WITH
"Selecting Software for your Start-Up" -- Our book has some great advice on this subject. You can also read a brief article about what software to choose first.

Any couple of our TOP recommendations is what we recommend --IF you don't already have a curriculum you need to follow and can freewheel it for a while.

If you have a curriculum you must follow, feel free to EMAIL me a list of your "scope and sequence" for the coming year. I'll email back a list of software I'd do it with.

 

8. Don't Underestimate the Importance of Correct Set-up and Lab Lay-out 
Stacking your computers like cordwood is wrong. Space them out and put up low dividers between them so sound is blocked between them, but teachers can see what's going on. The book discusses these issues IN DETAIL. Some info can also be found in our online articles.

Good Setup Pictured Right:  Dividers reduce the spray of volume coming from speakers, but do not reduce the teacher's line of vision.

9. Take our advice...
I've been teaching with software in Sunday School since 1990 and stand ready to share not only my experience, but that of the thousands of churches who have gone before you teaching with with software in a myriad of ways. I'm a techie, so I can talk hardware. I'm a  Presbyterian minister with a background in C.E. and Youth ministry, so we can talk about teaching and your curriculum. Christian software development and support is now my full-time validated ministry, so I am available as much as you need!

Neil MacQueen, Sunday Software
neil@sundaysoftware.com  

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