1. Talk Now...

The teacher can also type in some comments or question ahead of time, and press "Say" at the appropriate time in the lesson to make their point.

Lesson Examples: The teacher might ask two students at the computer to share their favorite part of the story, or ask each other about how they might have acted in the Bible story. "What would you have done," etc. You might ask one student to play the role of "teacher" (or "monk" as seen in this graphic at the right) and tell the other student about the story, answering their questions. You might have one student "play the devil's advocate" and seriously question what the other student is trying to teach them about the story.  View more lesson examples here.

This is the most often used part of Let's Talk.  The teacher or students open up the Lesson Builder and create a Lesson Title and introduction, then add scripture, and/or their own words and comments. Then they can add up to three multiple choice quiz question and up to three discussion questions --all of which get played back and spoken aloud by the onscreen "teacher" they created.

The teacher can created these presentation, but most of the time it is your students who create their own presentations FOR EACH OTHER. During playback, students are presented with the quiz questions, followed by the discussion questions. The students then create their own spoken answers to the spoken discussion questions. Kids love to see other kids taking their quiz and responding to their discussion questions. It's a powerful way to get invested in the content and to learn.

Here's how easy it is to create a talking lesson in Let's Talk:

1. Pick a teacher character, voice style and background picture for your lesson.

2. Create a title that gets spoken aloud.

3. Create Introductory remarks.

4. Type Bible verses or story content that talks aloud when played.

5. Add a 3 question quiz that talks aloud when the lesson is played back.

6. Add 3 discussion questions which your students respond to by creating their own responses -which the lesson player will speak aloud for them. 

Let's Talk can be used all by itself as your lesson software. Or it can be used to follow up and provide additional content on other software you are using.

It's about whatever you make it. It does come with two sample lessons: Mary & Martha, and Psalm 8.

You could create a Let's Talk presentation on part of a Bible story, then have your students create their own presentations in the Lesson Builder. Or you could use Let's Talk to follow up your Bible study with a round of questions which they answer at the computer using the Talk Now module.

Or you could study a story, then use Conversation Now to have students 'instant message' through Conversation Now to role play various points of view or characters in the story.

Conversation Now is also a good way to get students practicing discussing the life application of the lesson. After students "Select a Lesson" and hear your content, they can hold a mock-conversation with someone who's never heard the story.  Let's Talk gets them practicing sharing their faith and knowledge in a format that's interesting to them --instant messaging (and it doesn't require an internet or network hookup, it happens all on the one screen).

Let's Talk enhances your other software's content and extends your students' time spent at the computer. I originally came up with the idea as a way to FOLLOW UP the use of other good software which was short on multimedia content to interact with. Thus,

Take Life of Christ CD for example. If you're like most of us, you cherry-pick maybe 10 minutes worth of content out of this excellent CD. But then what?  Let's Talk to the rescue!  Follow up a Life of Christ CD presentation with Talk Now module. Pose a series of life application questions about the lesson and have each of your computers speak back your student's answers.

This screenshot shows part of the Lesson Builder template.)

Other programs I would use Let's Talk with would include Sandals Bible Atlas, Ilumina Bible, Bibleland.com, and as a precursor to quiz programs like Fall of Jericho.

For learning to become TRANSFORMATIONAL, discussion and reflection needs to occur. But DISCUSSION is often the hardest thing for volunteer teachers to get going. 

• Let's Talk is a discussion, response, and reflection tool.
   
• It encourages students to express themselves aloud through the computer who otherwise might be quiet.
   
• It makes sharing fun.
   

• Let's Talk  is a CARROT on a STICK.

View more SCREENSHOTS from Let's Talk

Download a free Trial Version

View the Let's Talk Tech Page

View more Lesson Ideas for Let's Talk including lessons for Doubting Thomas and Mary & Martha

Let's Talk Reflection Quickies:

Create onscreen characters and conversations who...

» Imagine the conversation between Paul and his Philippi Jailer after the earthquake. What helped the man believe?

» Imagine what Peter was thinking as he sank. What part of YOUR life is sinking? And what does Jesus have to say to him/you about that?

» Imagine what the other officers said about Cornelius behind his back when Cornelius asked to be baptized. And how did he respond?

» Imagine you're at the cross... create an onscreen rebuttal to those who are hurling insults at Jesus. Defend him.

» You're Nicodemus asking Jesus to explain what he means by saying "born from above...water and spirit."

» Rewrite the Psalm!

» Have each student ask a question about the story to the entire class through their onscreen character.

View more Lesson Ideas for Let's Talk