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

Digital Natives

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

Technology is not always best

Bibles

Physical Skills

Recreation

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

Questions & Discussion