Category Archives: Audiovisuals

One of the improvements Bible teachers can make when using low tech methodology to teach in a high-tech world, is to break out of the traditional way of using the various methods. That tends to get students’ attention since they’re accustomed to a constant influx of that which is new or innovative. Using “old” methods in “new” ways can have a similar effect.

Bible Teachers Using Low Tech Need to Expand the Way They Teach

We need to break out of teaching ruts which will require us to …

• Think creatively rather than be satisfied with status quo.

• Look at alternative approaches, asking “what if” questions.

Help with Expansion of Teaching Methods

The Bible Learning Activities for Children Training Download contains a section under each of the following low tech methods with ideas for expanding their use. It could be a helpful tool for getting your children’s teachers thinking this way. You can order it as a unit using the above link or as separate one-page documents by clicking on the links below.

Books
Crafts
Dramatic Play
Games
Manipulatives (blocks, puzzles, other)
Music
Pictures

Many of the methods more appropriate for youth and adults can also be varied or expanded in their use. The Sharpening Your Bible Teaching Methods Resource provides ways to expand the use of many of the traditional methods.

Not all churches can keep up with media/technology, especially in classrooms. They consequently might fear that the teaching ministry in their church won’t effectively reach today’s students so accustomed to technological knowledge and tools.

As observed in a previous post, low tech teaching in a high-tech world does face challenges which can be combatted by making some improvements to our teaching. Even more important, Bible teachers need to maintain perspective.

The Perspective Bible Teachers Need in a High-Tech World Need

Bible teachers need to understand that their teaching is about students getting to know God, and seeing their lives changed. Remember these truths:

• Jesus saves, not technology.

• The Holy Spirit helps people walk the walk, not high-tech teaching.

• God brings the growth, not technology.

If these statements are true, then one must conclude that God can use any means, even low tech teaching, to reach people. That doesn’t mean we never use high-tech methodology but rather that we don’t depend on it.

Remember the Apostle Paul’s words, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Cor. 9:22).

Paul also said, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power” (1 Cor. 2:4-5). We could probably remain true to the text to substitute “words” for however we are trying to teach such as … “not with wise and persuasive technology, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”

In the final analysis, it’s what God does that matters, not what we do. This is the perspective Bible teachers need to maintain in a high-tech world.

We live in a high-tech world. Bible teachers who can’t use technology/media in their classrooms can still engage students. They may simply need to make a few improvements in the way they teach to combat the challenges living in a high-tech world produces.

Improvements to Make When Using Low Tech Means of Teaching

1. In a high-tech world, teachers might see lower attention spans due to the quantity of content and images bombarding their students every day.

Improvements Needed to Combat Low Attention Spans:

• variety in the way the lesson is presented
• short segments with the same means
• use of visuals to present content
• lots of student involvement
• relevancy to students’ lives
• varying the pace by switching between low and high energy methods

2. In a high-tech world, Bible teachers might see higher expectations from their students because of the quality of professional media games and videos with which they are accustomed every day.

Improvements Needed to Combat High Expectations:

• preparedness in order to do the best with what a teacher has
• excellence in the details that build up to a big picture
• skillful use of whatever methods or visuals the teacher employs

Examine How You Can Improve

Low tech teaching will face some challenges in a high-tech world but Bible teachers who make the necessary adjustments will still make an impact.

If you are a Bible teacher reading this, ask yourself this question: Am I willing to make the improvements needed to reach today’s students?

If you are a leader reading this, ask this question: Do I train teachers in ways that help them make the improvements needed to effectively teach in a high-tech world?

Next consider the perspective needed when using low tech teaching in a high-tech world.

How easy it can be for teachers to fall into the trap of using media or technology for Bible lessons in order to compete with the world to get students’ attention. When they do, teaching can become more about entertaining than learning.

Use Media in Ways That Get Beyond Entertainment

• Diversification to awaken

Using a variety of methods and audiovisuals to teach, not always technological, taps into different learning styles and challenges the senses in ways that can help them see truths differently.

• Direction to prep

Prefacing the experience with the purpose for watching it and/or expectations of what they are to watch or listen for will help prepare students for learning and understand that it is about more than entertainment.

• Discussion to engage

Getting students to think and talk about what they have watched or heard helps them see the implications and application of it for their lives and keeps the lesson relational.

• Debriefing to clarify

Exploring the feelings of students about what they just saw or heard identifies misunderstandings, further needs about the issues, and lets you know where to go from there.

• Development to involve

Allowing students to be producers of classroom media takes them to higher levels of learning than merely watching or listening and builds ownership into the learning process.