5th Grade "'GOOGLE Sunday School'"

I have taught Sunday School since 1986, through 2000, and then 2003 to the present, and have always used paper-based curriculum materials, until I began teaching at RCC.   Starting in 2010, the 5th grade class began using online computer- based resources from the curriculum called Sunday School that Clicks.  I have also used worship music videos in class, viewed using YouTube.  

In 2012, I have completed some training and have prepared to launch a greatly-upgraded technology support package for my teaching.  I have called it "Google Sunday School."   Both the 'Clicks' resources and the worship music videos are going to continue to be used.   Plus, I am adding a technology platform for communication via the web, using Google resources -- our class username is  rcc.5gr

"Google Sunday School"  implementation:

• During the Summer quarter, 2012, I am primarily rolling-out the communications-upgrade.   The key features for this are Google Sites, Blogger, and Gmail.  
• Beginning in the Fall, 2012, I will start the roll-out of the interactive-ED-Tech upgrade.  This will involve expanded use of Google Docs and Forms, our class's YouTube channel, and Gmail.   I already am using all of these except the private YouTube channel myself, but beginning in the Fall, the students will begin interactive in-class use of these features, when the tech usage fits into our lesson plans.
• Tech-use does not drive the class; our learning objectives govern what methods are used to present the lessons.   Tech-use is a tool.   It has benefits.   I believe it can be particularly important for students who are absent being able to catch-up on what they missed, and for special-needs students who want or require more contact-time than the one hour on Sunday.
• Google does not permit children under age 13 to have a Google account, so our 5th graders will not have their own class Google accounts.   For in-class use, the children will use my access to the account.  For out of class use, I will provide parents with the information they need to have access; the parents then can allow their children to have access, under the parents' supervision and control.
• Digital Literacy and Digital Citizenship  //  Technology Use Policy and Permissions:
• The students are probably as literate and capable regarding the use of technology as I am.   On the other hand, regarding Digital citizenship, including safety and privacy when online, it is necessary for the children to be taught about this.  They are not old enough or with enough life-experiences to even realize some of the hazards and safety issues.  Many parents have already taught their children, and they use online parental controls and filters at home.    In addition to this, I will be proposing that the 5th grade children also attend a Digital Citizenship class at the Church, scheduled on a weekend, but not during the Sunday School hour.   As this proposal is developed further, more details will be provided to the parents.   
• A Technology Use Policy for Children - for the Christian Education ministry - will be developed, and parents will have the opportunity to review this and to give permission for their child to participate.

I have very positive expectations for the results of implementing Google Sunday School.  Now is when the implementation work is the most time-consuming, but I anticipate a big payoff  -- with more learning and a greater level of discipleship occurring as a result.   I also feel that the technology platform greatly assists in communication with parents -- keeping the parents, the students, and myself, all "on the same page."

5th grade Sunday School moves up to the next level, in terms of depth of instruction and in the intensity of our presentation of the lessons.   The children are taught that a casual attitude toward the Christian faith (and not making any effort to be a young disciple of Jesus) - is unacceptable.   They are taught, by lessons and by example, to take their faith, the Christian life, and God's Word - the Holy Bible, seriously.   The Google Sunday School implementation will be one more step in showing our level of commitment to assisting parents in the Christian Education of their 5th graders.