Not Your Grandpa’s Rangers: Integrating Modern Technology into your Weekly Meeting Facilitator – Stephen Nichols
Mar 31, 2015
Not Your Grandpa’s Rangers: Integrating
Modern Technology into your Weekly Meeting
Facilitator – Stephen Nichols
Traditional Ranger Meeting
Many merits require much writing and individual reports
Boys do work together in small groups to practice some skills, for example Knots and Lashing.
Leader presents a lot of information to boys in a lecture style format
Leader Centric Meeting format
Why Integrate Technology
When students are using technology as a tool or a support for communicating with others, they are in an active role rather than the passive role of recipient of information transmitted by a teacher, textbook, or broadcast.
The teacher's role changes as well. The teacher is no longer the center of attention as the dispenser of information, but rather plays the role of facilitator, setting project goals and providing guidelines and resources, moving from student to student or group to group, providing suggestions and support for student activity.
Boy Lead, Adult Facilitated Meeting
Technology Key
The key to using any type of technology in the classroom is careful planning and integration of the media into the lesson plan.
Never use a video or a computer game as a filler.
Meaningful Learning Environment
A meaningful integration of technology in a learning environment needs to be:
Active
Collaborative
Constructive
Authentic
Goal Directed
5 Levels of Technology Integration
Entry Level
Adoption Level
Adaptation Level
Infusion Level
Transformation Level
Prepare Ahead of time
If you Fail to Plan then Plan to Fail
Put Bible Study into PowerPoint
Prepare Videos to be shown
Have a set plan for your Electronic Presentation
Basic Classroom Technology
ComputerDesktop or LaptopDVD Drive and Sound card If using a desktop consider acquiring a Wireless Card
if your church has WiFi
Projector
Speakers
Take it a step Further
Extra Laptops
Wireless Projection
Tablets\iPads\iPod Touchs
Apple TV\Ruku\or similar Set Top device
BOYD
How to get the Hardware
Ask the Church Board to purchase it
Purchase it yourself
Have a fund raiser
2nd HandUse your own 2nd hand hardwareAsk the congregation to donate their
unused/unwanted hardware
Paper or Electronic Bible
PaperTestimonyPriceFewer DistractionsHandwritten NotesReal BookNo Strings Attached
Paper or Electronic Bible
ElectronicKids enjoy and are comfortable using digital devicesView 3 versions side by sideText to SpeechEasy to transportOnline ResourcesElectronic NotesSearchableSortable
Paper or Electronic Bible
Examples of best time to use each
PaperTelling a Bible StoryTeaching Respect and Honor for the Word for God
ElectronicTeaching about different VersionsMoving through Many Verses Quickly
REMEMBER
Remember, throughout the ages, Bible media has changed. The Ten Commandments were written on stone. Jesus read from a scroll written by a scribe. Paper Bibles were produced in mass after the invention of the printing press. In today’s digital world, Bibles are available electronically. Even though God’s Word has come in many different forms it stays the same throughout the ages……
Physical Skills
Technology can be a great instruction tool to present the skills
Technology can not replace practicing the skills
Use a Combination approach
Example: Rope CraftUse videos on a projector to introduce the boys to
the knots you will be teachingHave to boys break into traditional small groups and
practice the knots with each other
Recreation
Gold Point: A boy grows Physically
Boys need to be physically active. This is one of the fundamental areas of growth that is missing in many aspects of today’s culture
You should not use video games as Recreation in a MeetingMany boys already spend a lot of time playing video
games at home.The rare exception can be made on nights that are
not conducive to physical recreation
After Class
Group Text MessagesCell PhoneOnline service such as Class Pager
Weekly Group EmailsUpdates about the weekly meetings Include permission forms for upcoming events
Facebook/TwitterNot just for the boys, Invite the parents alsoKeeps the class communicating outside of the hour
weekly meeting
Parental Permission
Ask parents to complete a technology opt-in form to collect information such as email addresses, cell phone numbers, and permission to post pictures and videos of their children to the web.
You should never put names with likeness of any minor, even with parental permission
Of course, don’t bombard parents with digital communication but use it strategically
Security, Privacy, and Ethics
Antivirus Software
Physical Security
Strong Passwords
Proper Software Licensing