Oodles of Moodle

This is a shameless plug to spread awareness of the NC Conference’s new online learning site. We are using Moodle as one method of implementing distance learning.  Moodle is open-source software for producing internet-based courses and websites.  Moodle provides us the capability to design, create and administer online classes for clergy and laity. With distance learning students and teachers can save time and money by not having to meet in one location and each can participate as their schedule allows. There are more than 60,000 Moodle sites in over 220 countries around the world.

If you are interested in learning about what classes are offered, teaching an existing class or creating a Moodle class at the NCCUMC, visit learning.nccumc.org. There is a Moodle class available on how to use Moodle. If you have more specific questions contact Dr. Christine Harman at charman@nccumc.org

 

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Come To The Table

I was at a conference last weekend and saw a project mentioned that I had heard about before, but didn’t really know much about what it did. When I first heard of the program, it was in beta and there wasn’t much information available on it’s actual purpose.

After hearing more about it, including me asking tons of questions to wrap my mind around what it does, I thought it might be a great resource to feature here. It’s called Continue reading

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Things to Remember in Media Ministry

Techie people in churches end up dealing with a variety of headaches that come with the territory.  What do you do when things don’t go according to plan?  What can you expect to always go wrong and what can you do about it?  What can’t you do about it?

Constance Stella, Director of Media Ministries at Church of the Resurrection (Leawood, KS), has written an excellent resource on media ministries called Video Ministry: Using Media in Worship Without Going Hollywood.  She has some great pointers – a “survival kit,” if you will – for pastors and others incorporating media into worship: Continue reading

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ifttt: A Recipe for Social Media Management

As the reach of social media continues to grow, it is easy to become overwhelmed by managing all the places where our digital lives take place.  Tweets on Twitter, status updates on Facebook, files in Dropbox, ideas in Evernote, pictures in Instagram – just to mention a few.  In some cases, the framework exists to link things together, like a check-in on Foursquare being tweeted out, or a tweet being automatically sent to Facebook, but even then every possibility may not be handled and things slip through the cracks.  One part of your digital persona gets updated or changed while others may not. Continue reading

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I’m not on Fire, I’m roamin’ the Galaxy

As the fall progressed, we saw the launches of both the Kindle Fire and B&N Nook Tablet. I asked, “Are You on (Kindle) Fire”? As it turns out, I just received my answer yesterday. I went with the Galaxy Tab by Samsung (Samsung Galaxy Tab SCH-I800 2GB).
Why did I end up with this one? For me, there were a couple of things that led the Galaxy to the top: expandable memory, non-exclusive content, WI-FI ready, ease of use, and ports. I waited until after Christmas, picked up a couldn’t-even-tell-it’d-been-used-at-all-used unit from eBay. I got it for just over $210. The unit was as crisp as brand-new, and it came with a 16G smart card already installed. Since I do not need it for roaming data, I did not get it activated with Verizon, though I could do that if I ever want to. Most of the places I’ll use it, I’ll use the Wi-fi. If I need the data, I’ll just use my phone. Continue reading

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A Simple Case for Using Projectors in Worship

The sanctuary in which I help lead worship is fairly old. Its oldest section was completed in 1857, and the newest parts of over 100 years old. Renovations have focused on replacing pews, adding a pipe organ, and installing a console for the sound system, but in appearance, it’s old. Dark wood, off-white plaster walls, and 110 year old stained glass round it out. It is a beautiful, traditional setting, and not one that lends itself easily to any of the latest trends.
And to be honest, modern worship or really most points on the spectrum of “contemporary worship” don’t seem to fit here. It’s not an amplified guitar and drums space; it’s a violin and trumpet and 700+ pipes-in-the-organ space. While we’ve done well working toward blended worship, incorporating some newer music, this is a place people come because when they think about church, they picture it looking like this.
So why are we using a projector for the order of service, hymns, scripture readings, etc? Continue reading

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InSync: A DropBox for Google Docs

Google Docs is a powerful and wonderful tool for sharing, collaborating, and publishing myriad files among friends, teams, and groups. Google Docs has so many pluses that I was thrilled to hear about InSync, a desktop application for syncing files and folders with Google Docs; there is also a web client. TechCrunch called InSync the Dropbox for Google Users. The best part is now the software is FREE for download.

Read more about InSync from TechCrunch:

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Using Technology To Solve Your Technology Problem

I’m not trying confuse anyone or engage in circular reasoning.  But a couple of useful skills to have when dealing with technology issues are how to use a search engine and how to ask a questions on a web forum.  These skills not only make you smarter (Studies have been done to verify this.  Google it if you’re interested.) and asking your question on a forum in a way that provides the information necessary for someone to help you.

Because technology is changing at an increasing rate we must all learn how to learn. Google or your favorite search engine is your friend here. It’s one more thing to learn, but once you do you can answer most technology questions for yourself. Most, if not all people who work in IT do this every day. Luckily, someone has probably had your same problem before and has either solved it for themselves and posted the solution or posted the question in the appropriate forum and was solved by someone else. Asking a question in a way that gets a good answer is also a useful skill to learn.  See this excellent guide. Continue reading

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A Little Christmas Fun

So, today I thought I would bring you a little something fun. You could call it an early Christmas present. Especially for those stuck inside at their desk or in a tropical climate. Continue reading

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Posting e-Documents on Websites (Issuu)

I don’t remember how I came across it, but there is a free web-app that lets you upload any document (.docx, .pdf, etc.) and create a screen-readable version for free, complete with page turns, zoom, and links…..just like magazine publishers do with their e-zines.

It’s called Issuu.  If you upload a document there, it will create a page where your document can be read.  It will also create a plug-in text that you can paste into a webpage.  Here’s a good example of how I’ve used it for the Durham District Directory.  Try clicking on “Expand” and you’ll see what I mean.

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Mass Emailing

With the continuing increase in postage, paper mail is becoming less and less an option for churches to send mass mail such as newsletters and neighorhood invitations. One alternative is mass emailing with web products like MailChimp, iContact, or Constant Contact. All three, and these are not the only three on the market, allow a user (church) to upload and manage email contacts then do regular e-mailings. Adding contacts can be done by the user through the website or by adding a subscriber link to your webpage or Facebook page. Non-profits are generally offered discounting pricing or even free packages which could serve a majority of needs well. Continue reading

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Are You Updated?

A security software company named Secunia has produced an excellent software patching service. We have all been trained (hopefully) to patch our computers every month using Microsoft’s Windows Update service. This software is built into all modern versions of Windows now and has become almost second nature.

This software is a good companion service to the fabled Windows Update. The Secunia Personal Vulnerability Scanner scans all of the software on your computer that the Microsoft updates miss. Continue reading

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Who Is Snooping Your Smart Phone?

I wrote an article over on the Information Technology Office blog describing the recent Carrier IQ fiasco. If you have a smart phone then you have probably heard all about this issue. There is a lot of FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) going around about this issue when it really isn’t as bad as it sounds. You should take a few moments to look over the article, familiarize yourself with this issue and remove the software from your phone if it is installed. It’s always a good idea to be safe!

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No interview, but some just-for-fun links

Well, my interview hasn’t come together as we’d hoped. I will keep trying on that one, and will post it as soon as I can.
In the meantime, I’ve got a few thoughts on technology and the holidays. It has not escaped my notice that my email is filling up with a greatly increased volume of advertisements. I think I’ve had double my usual rate of emails per day. It doesn’t help that I do a lot of shopping online, I suppose. And it’s easy to let all that distract me from the season of Advent. Continue reading

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F&T Back After Surgery

Readers,

So sorry our blog went quiet for over a week.  Yours truly, moderator of this here blog, had an unexpected need to have his gallbladder surgically removed.  Thankfully, all went well.  And we’re back with a post coming up very soon (probably today).

Regards,

Taylor Mills

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You Get What You Pay For

My church has recently reviewed it’s technology related services.  It has become quite a patchwork over the last few years and we are trying to come up with a more comprehensive, well integrated system.  One part of which we are considering is Google Apps.  Not just because it’s been a blessing to the IT Office here, but Conference staff appreciate it as well.  So, is it right for your church?  It depends on the church’s needs, people and what services are already being used.  I wrote down the basic process we’re using that should work for just about any church.

  1. First determine what the churches needs are regarding technology in general.  This may require much discussion because in most organizations technological needs and solutions can change greatly over a short time.  The technology committee should have a “big picture view” of the churches current needs and meet every so often to ensure that those needs are still met.  Then will Google Apps fill or partially fill those needs.  One church deciding if Google Apps was the correct solution raised these issues.
  1. Use a search engine to find out what other churches did or are considering doing and why. Continue reading
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Assisted Listening Devices: Putting the Word in Their Ears

OK, I admit it.  When I came to my first church, I told them about wireless assisted listening devices for their sanctuary and I got TONS of brownie points for that.  You would have thought I invented the things.  Suddenly, all these folks started saying, “These last few years I didn’t realize how much of the service I was missing until I started wearing one of these little things in my ear.”  Score!

But really, it should be a no-brainer that some people – particularly populations with hearing loss – will benefit immensely from a hearing assistance system.  Getting some of them to use the thing?  That’s a different story.

I remember growing up in a downtown church that was wealthy enough to afford some of the second-generation versions of these devices.  (I call them second-generation because I imagine the first generation ones being a big cone people used to hold up to their ear before electricity was used.)  The old ones in my church growing up had a wand that the user held in one hand and on the end of the wand was what looked like the speaker part of a telephone receiver.  These were hardwired in so, of course, the users all had to sit on the one or two rows where the devices were installed.  Good for the times but obviously not ideal.

Then along came wireless technology.  For the first few generations of these new systems they were prone to interference from CB radios, your local fire department, and any number of other signals.  But they were still an improvement.

In my last church, the sound guy decided to “value engineer” our own hearing assistance devices.  He bought a low-power FM transmitter kit online and assembled it.  Then he bought a bunch of little transistor radios and gave them out already tuned to the frequency he was using.

Pros: It was cheap.  And we could broadcast the signal to the nursery in a whole other building where they could use a regular radio to pick it up.

Cons: The receivers would come off of tuning because people either got the volume knob confused with the tuning knob or they were tuning in the big game during the sermon.  (Also, we pushed the limit on how much power we could pump through the broadcast antenna without an FCC license.)

Now, however, the cost has come down on many units and the quality has continued to go up.  Here are some things to look for when shopping for an assisted listening device system:

  • Individual volume controls.
  • Strong user reviews about a system’s quality and range.
  • An easily “expandable” system.  (A reasonable cost for additional receivers, etc.)
  • Anti-interference technology.
  • Comfortable earpieces.  Think about this, though:
    • Over-the-head headphones are not discreet but might be best for people who cannot wear ear buds because of hearing aids.
    • In-ear buds are probably best but they have foam covers that need to be routinely cleaned to prevent the spread of germs.
    • Some new models hang under the chin and look like stethoscopes.  Consider the aesthetics before buying.
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Email Marketing Tips

Recently, I attended a Non-profit Workshop at iContact on email marketing. They taught me some helpful tips about successful email campaigns and I thought I would share a few items that I thought were helpful.

We have talked about electronic vs. print newsletters in the past on this site so you might want to check that out, but in this post we will focus on the email side. Now, on to the tips! Continue reading

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Are you on (Kindle) Fire?

I’ve been checking out the Kindle Fire as a possible pick up as part of my “tech support”. I have to admit that I have been on the tablet sidelines, waiting for that product that makes it a “must have”. For me, that means it would be affordable, versatile, have a number of uses for me both pastorally and personally, and be affordable. And, since good stewardship is important to me, it has to be affordable. In other words, it doesn’t just have to “wow” me- a lot of tech gadgets do- it also has to be something I can justify in spending the $$$ to add it.

$500 for an iPad is, to me, not affordable. $200 for a Kindle Fire? hmmmm. Continue reading

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Guest contributor: Julie Brown on Committee-itis

Julie Brown is a freelance writer/editor/publisher and all around awesome person who helps out Conference communications ministry with many projects including the NC Christian Advocate.  We’re working out a wrinkle in making her a full-fledged contributor on here.  But in the meantime, here’s her first contribution:

Committee-itis? Have we got the elephant for you! Continue reading

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