Tech Helps for On-Line College Ministry

As more colleges and universities either tell students not to return after Spring Break or are taking a two week pause, all of us in college ministry must continue to consider our options and prepare for the possibility of seeing our semester end weeks earlier than anticipated.  While some of us are very tech wise, this is a new world for others.  As I have also said, the silver lining in this first ever discussion, may be some thoughts and ideas of working with those college students who go to college all on line.

Following are some suggestions from a former student of mine, Tyler Isbell, who works in the tech world.

VIRTUAL MEETING IDEAS:

1.  Zoom -- Hereis a blog post & video on how to use Zoom to set up a meeting https://www.freetech4teachers.com/2020/03/how-to-host-online-meeting-with-zoom.html

2.  WebEx - Another  product similar to Zoom.  We use the paid version of this at work, but here are the specs on the free version:  http://cart.webex.com/sign-up-dg

WHAT ABOUT A HYPERDOC?

Google Doc/Hyperdoc -- https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/hyperdocs/
Hyperdocs are documents that contain (or link to) interactive elements, videos, reading materials, etc.  What if a weekly Bible study was a collection of YouTube videos (curated or created by the owner), links to verses in the Bible and commentary/blog posts about the verses, prompts for prayer/reflection, and an accompanied form to collect ideas, concerns, likes, wonders, prayer requests, etc?  Hyperdocs could also be a collection of resources for certain topics (This is what I have done to help my institution prepare for COVID-19---I've made three Hyperdocs to prepare faculty to move their stuff online!).  It could be a playlist of songs, podcasts, or videos for worship, study or relaxation

IN REGARDS TO PLANNING MEALS/RESOURCES FOR THOSE IN NEED:

1.  A share Google Doc/Sheet/Form can help coordinae volunteers or resources for a project or need, or create an agenda or lesson plan for an upcominng talk, Bible study, or teaching.  Editors of the doc can meet "virtually" within the doc and see each other's changes live as they are made.  No need to wait and pass along the doc through the mail.

2.  Take Them a Meal:  https://takethemameal.com/

3.  Meal Train:  https://www.mealtrain.com/

Just a few ideas/tools I know of off the top of my head!

In Christ,
Tyler

Please help keep this conversation going by sending your thoughts, questions ideas to me, posting them on line or using Collegiate Collective.  My email is arlissdickerson@gmail.com or 870.761.2235.

Arliss Dickerson is a part time college ministry consultant for Lifeway Christian Resources and is the author of five books on college ministry available in eBook and print at amazon.com (Type in Arliss Dickerson).