This is a short version of the list found in the book
Teaching with Computers in Christian Education

Don't feel bad if you've made some or all of these 10 mistakes -or were about to. I've made some too. There are other less obvious mistakes you can make, but the following 10 are ones that concern me the most. If you need help, ideas or have comments, send me some email. You can always read my book too. My book will get you off to a good start.

Teaching with computer in Christian Education is fun and rewarding, but it isn't a cakewalk. <>< Neil

1. Too many kids, not enough computers.

2. Too many computers, not enough teachers.

Fools rush in without help, without money, and without research. 

*. Too many teachers? ...nope, you can't have too many teachers.

You've got 40-50 minutes a week at best in the average Sunday School. Maximize it.

*. Too many computers and not enough kids.

Believe it or not, there are churches who get used (or new) equipment by the truckload, or buy their computers thinking "one computer per kid" only to discover later they didn't need all the equipment, (and that bigger labs require more teachers and bigger software budgets). Then they wonder why no sane teacher will set foot in such a lab -where the computers are lined up all in a row and the kids all have headphones on.  Get your numbers right.

3.  Believing this is easy, and settling for "happy"

You can't just turn on software and expect learning to happen.

Yes, the kids will be happy to plow through your software (and miss half its content doing so). And they'll look forward to the lab the next time, and the next. But "happy" isn't what we're after with computers, it's merely where we begin. We're after teacher-student sharing & reflection. That happens AS you go through the software with your kids, -not when you sit back and watch.

4. Mis-judging software before trying it out in the classroom.      

You should immediately assume that most children's software is not built to appeal to you. It's about how they enjoy it. We test each program with real kids. More than once I've been surprised by what my students like or grab onto in a program. And because I'm right there with them as that moment arrives, I can run with it.

Quite often, the difference between "happy kids at the computer," and "happy kids who are learning at the computer" is what the TEACHER brings to the lesson.

5. Putting your computers too close together.

When you stack computers too close together, the music, sound effects and narration wash over each other and create cacophony. Start with an adequately sized room and place computer about 5 feet apart with dividers between them. If you stick headphones on your kids, it's because either, a) you aren't really teaching them anyway; or  b) you have nothing to say to them and they couldn't hear you if you did; or  c) you have left for coffee;  or d) you need a bigger space but are afraid to ask for it. 

Read my article about reducing sound cacophony in a lab. www.sundaysoftware.com/sound.htm

6. Not having enough software, and not being able to choose the right software for the lesson.

I continue to hear from well-meaning but ignorant people who expect us to have one program that will teach all their stories on a 233mhz dinosaur. Or complain they don't have any money for software that matches their upcoming lessons because they just spent $2000 on new equipment.

Then there are those who are "surprised" that they can't copy one program to all their computers. A few years ago it was possible to mis-understand this. But it's the 21st Century now, and anyone who reads the newspaper or watches television knows that copying is pirating. 

8. Not having a lesson plan and not being prepared.

If you're not previewing, preparing and going into class with a lesson plan, PLEASE let somebody else teach my kids. Print our free Teaching Tips and Guides for nearly every program at www.sundaysoftware.com/tips

9. Thinking those six year old computers are fantastic!

Well, they are fantastic --compared to nothing. But the screaming fact is that you can't teach with the screen-saver. You teach with the software. And if your computers can't run MOST of the Christian software available, then there's a fundamental flaw in your lab concept.

10. Too Many Good Computers (!)

I know it sounds unbelievable, but I regularly encounter churches who get TOO MANY COMPUTERS --good ones too. Then they can't afford all the software they really need. And the computers crowd the room -which then creates a noise problem. And now your real teachers want nothing to do with the lab. 

** Hey, if you have more mistakes you'd like to caution others about, drop me some email. <><Neil

Ten Most Common...Copyright 1999-2006. This list may be copied for non-commercial teaching use only.