Sunday Software’s Email Newsletter
June 2008
From Neil MacQueen
1. On Sale this June…
Fluffy and God’s Amazing Christmas Adventure CD
Ilumina Bible Gold Premium CD/DVD
View Sale Page details at www.sundaysoftware.com/sale.htm
2. Mid July Ordering –Shipping Discount…
Jim our stockroom guy will be taking a long overdue “vacation of a lifetime” the first two weeks in August. We will be shipping ON A LIMITED BASIS while he’s gone. To help alleviate the Fall Ordering Crunch which starts in August, we will be offering a special JULY SHIPPING DISCOUNT at our website. Look for details in our late June email update and at our website.
Here’s an “Order Form Secret”
Type your “need by” date in the “Special Instructions” box on our online order form to get priority treatment.
3. Zombie Release Imminent!
Attack of the Sunday School Zombies CD should start shipping June 12th. As with all our first-releases, I’m eager for your feedback, and already contemplating some tweaks.
Zombies is a fun modest 3-D game about the “right attitude and reasons” for going to church and worship. Super Kenz the Bible Kid uses scripture to counter stereotypical COMPLAINTS and EXCUSES that “zombie” children and “zombie” adults make about church.
The game takes place in a “virtual 3D church” with lots of surprises. “Super Kenz the Bible Kid” freezes the zombies by whapping them with chocolate covered donuts –then they talk. It creates quite a mess.
Zombies CD has a special Zombies site license that allows you to burn your own copies of the program to give to your students for home use.
5 Days Left to order Zombies CD at the pre-publication discount.
See the Zombies webpage for details. www.sundaysoftware.com/zombies
4. Exodus Upgrade in the Works!
We’ll release a free update to Exodus Adventures CD in early August. The fabled ‘third game’ will finally appear. And we’re making NUMEROUS TWEAKS to the first two adventures easier for younger players and a bit quicker to play.
The update will be available as a free download at our site. Watch our July and August Email Newsletters for details. Those ordering the program in June and July from our website will automatically receive a free update CD in the mail when it’s ready. www.sundaysoftware.com/Exodus
Have you seen the
New
Mission Handouts ~ Student Worksheets for Exodus Adventures?
www.sundaysoftware.com/tips
5. Fall of Jericho CD in Vista
I’ve recently posted details for how to solve a Vista compatibility issue when creating your own question sets in the Fall of Jericho game. Apparently the security settings on some Vista installed computers are not allowing NEW question sets to be accessed after you create them. Go to www.sundaysoftware.com/techie2.htm for the simple solution.
Vista Compatibility Notes for all our software can be found at www.sundaysoftware.com/vista-list.htm
6. Attention Ohio Customers! …or anyone passing through Central Ohio this June
I have a very large and nearly brand new PROJECTION SCREEN that I am no longer in need of. It’s the largest “stand” variety they make. It’s about 7 feet high and 6 feet wide and FREE for the asking. You just have to come pick it up.
See a picture of it at www.sundaysoftware.com/sale.htm then email me at neil@sundaysoftware.com.
7. OVERSTOCK Sale on Interactive Parables CD
Tim the developer-owner of Interactive Parables CD accidentally shipped us WAY too many last month. So rather than send them back, he’s given us permission to run a special sale.
The next 100 copies of Interactive Parables CD are up to 40% off depending on your quantity. Use the special order form to order them at this overstock price.
Interactive Parables is the new 3D game in which you select a quiz adventure game to play about one of Jesus’ parables. There are 24 parables to choose from. You roam a fun 3D game landscape, collecting points, avoiding things, collecting gems, and answering questions about the parable. Each quiz game can take 35 to 45 minutes, -depending how good you are at playing the game. Might not fit in to your typical class time. Optimally for grades 4 and up. Take a look at this fun new program at www.sundaysoftware.com/IP-special.htm
EXCERPTS...
Sunday Software’s Email Newsletter
April 2008
From Neil MacQueen
Need a copy of our new catalog? Go to www.sundaysoftware.com/catalog.htm
2.
New Bongo Loves the Bible CD
Resource….
I’ve put together a printable version of the Bongo Bible Background Game. It shows you where the Bible background stands are, and shows you what’s on them. The pdf also lists the optional discussion questions found in the panels. It’s on the last page of the pdf so you can print it for your students.
View/print a copy of the Bongo Bible Background Game panels from www.sundaysoftware.com/bongo/bongobackground.pdf
Details: Bongo Loves the Bible CD has four games “about the Bible” including “How the Bible Came to Be.” Bongo must find the info, read it, and use it to answer questions at the end of the jungle path. Of course, the Bad Boy Bongo-eating Plants and Sid the Surf Mummy try to stop him from doing that! Fortunately, Bongo is quick and can sling bananas at them. I wrote the content for this Bible background game with older elementary and younger youth in mind. I wrote it for Confirmation classes as well. www.sundaysoftware.com/bongo for more info.
3. Sunday School Computer Options What do you need? And what don’t you need?
XP or
Vista?
You can still get new computers with XP on them, and many are doing just that.
Just remember, if you get Vista, you’re going to need internet access to keep it
up to date. The average lab doesn’t need all the Vista bells and whistles.
Dualcore chips?
Though they’re quickly becoming the standard, you don’t need to spend the extra
money on them for Sunday School use if you can avoid it. We’re not crunching big
numbers or running multiple programs at the same time.
Harddrive size
…average size is fine.
Speakers
… average low-end (these
days) is fine.
Monitor size and quality…
average low-end (these days) is fine. 19” flat panels are good for 3 kids.
Word?
…not necessary for Sunday School computing. Plus, your office’s site license may
extend to your lab.
Internet access…
it’s a good idea to have occasional if not permanent net access for new
computers (especially Vista).
Wireless
mouse and keyboard?
No…it’s better to have equipment tethered to your table.
Color
Printers: ink vs laser
If you’re going to do a lot of color printing, laser color is cheaper in the
long run.
How many computers do you need? Smaller labs are more manageable, easier to staff, and cheaper to run. I tell folks to concentrate their computer firepower on their upper elementary kids –who need more reasons to be excited about coming to church! And because their class sizes are typically smaller, your lab can be smaller too.
I’m available to talk about your computer needs. Call me at 1-800-678-1948. <>< Neil
4. Teacher Realities and Training Help…
Teaching with computers isn’t hard, it’s just different, but some of our volunteers don’t like “different.”
I was reminded of this by a long-time customer who’s current lab teachers aren’t enjoying their lab experience. Let’s admit it, there are easier ways to volunteer or teach. Some prefer a nice safe old-fashioned Bible study (teacher-centered Q & A) followed by “an activity” such as a game or art project. Neither takes a lot of planning or lesson management skill.
I wish every volunteer would prepare and do a great job, but we don’t live in that kind of a world. But strangely enough, this is one of the reasons I LIKE teaching with software, even if my volunteer teachers aren’t up to snuff….
1) Even on your worst day in the computer lab, the kids still want to come back.
2) At least the software delivers good content when teacher doesn’t
…You can’t say that about a lot of the lessons that get taught in the Sunday School. Lame teachers and content turn into lame students.
Truth: A teacher who’s “comfortable” leading a boring Bible study and lame craft, is a lot worse than an uncomfortable teacher letting excited kids use content-rich software they can’t get enough of.
Because the kids LOVE the computer lab, and because most software delivers the content, this medium is more “Mediocre Teacher Resistant.” Now imagine what it can be like when we teach WELL with it!
The latest version of my book, Teaching with Computers in Christian Education, has A LOT of classroom help and training advice. Just lay it flat on your copier and copy away! www.sundaysoftware.com/book.htm
But RATHER THAN just handing it to your teachers, read it, then go in there yourself and become the teacher. We talk about the teacher being the “Guide by the Side.” But that’s also an excellent way to train your volunteers.
Get in them with them.
6. Pentecost Warning! …it’s early this year: May 11th.
Pentecost isn’t really the navel-gazing birthday celebration of us that some have turned it into. It’s about being empowered to SHARE the Gospel in new and amazing ways.
Comes see my “Pentecost Pirates” lesson plan and other good Pentecost ideas at www.sundaysoftware.com/pentecos.htm
Btw…. Did you know that the Jews celebrated Pentecost by putting LEAVEN in their bread? There’s a baking project for you.