FM Group and TV's and Libraries
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Re: FM Group and TV's and Libraries
The requirement is to teach by the Spirit. Many teachers are still learning how to do this.
The new lesson materials are wonderful. The audiovisual resources are magnificent and will aid in bringing the Spirit into the teaching situation. And we should do all that we can to make them available to our teachers and to help them be effective.
I attended a conference recently where the presenter discovered that the two videos she planned to show were not available through the Church firewall. She checked what was available and found two she thought would work even better. She showed one of them during her workshop.
Afterward, she said the one she showed was better than the first two she had planned to use. And then she said that she did not show the second one because the Spirit was so strong it was not needed, and she did not want to detract from the experience the workshop participants were having.
That's teaching by the Spirit.
While our teachers get to that point, they will be helped and more effective as they have available to them all of the wonderful approved materials that are out there. And that's what technology specialists have been asked to do.
The new lesson materials are wonderful. The audiovisual resources are magnificent and will aid in bringing the Spirit into the teaching situation. And we should do all that we can to make them available to our teachers and to help them be effective.
I attended a conference recently where the presenter discovered that the two videos she planned to show were not available through the Church firewall. She checked what was available and found two she thought would work even better. She showed one of them during her workshop.
Afterward, she said the one she showed was better than the first two she had planned to use. And then she said that she did not show the second one because the Spirit was so strong it was not needed, and she did not want to detract from the experience the workshop participants were having.
That's teaching by the Spirit.
While our teachers get to that point, they will be helped and more effective as they have available to them all of the wonderful approved materials that are out there. And that's what technology specialists have been asked to do.
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Re: FM Group and TV's and Libraries
I'd agree with that, but I'm sensing differing definitions of "we" and "all that we can".lajackson wrote:And we should do all that we can to make them available to our teachers and to help them be effective.

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Re: FM Group and TV's and Libraries
I hear you. I will take care of the teachers I am responsible to support. You can take care of yours.russellhltn wrote:I'd agree with that, but I'm sensing differing definitions of "we" and "all that we can".lajackson wrote:And we should do all that we can to make them available to our teachers and to help them be effective.
And because of this little thing called agency, "all that we can" for me ends at the point where I have done all I think I will be able to do to influence the next person in the process to help out, either directly with that person or by reaching out to others who might also influence that person.
It is not easy. In fact, it is very frustrating sometimes.
- gregwanderson
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Re: FM Group and TV's and Libraries
I think we're just dancing in circles around each other. The real issues are:
1-Are the downloadable video resources from the church useful and effective? Yes.
2-Is every building stocked with enough equipment to allow sufficient use of these resources? No.
3-Are the members who know about this problem frustrated about it? Absolutely yes.
4-Are the policies about obtaining new equipment clear (including whether it's purchased or donated)? Depends on whom you ask.
5-Are these policies easily found? No.
6-Are these policies in flux? Yes.
7-Are there cases where local leaders have said, "I guess there's nothing I can do about this" and have stopped trying improve access to videos and A/V equipment? Yes.
8-Is this acceptable? You decide.
9-What can the average "Ward Technology Specialist" do to improve the situation? Good question.
10-Shall we pass judgement on each other based on how we and/or our local leaders have responded to these concerns? Sure, why not?
1-Are the downloadable video resources from the church useful and effective? Yes.
2-Is every building stocked with enough equipment to allow sufficient use of these resources? No.
3-Are the members who know about this problem frustrated about it? Absolutely yes.
4-Are the policies about obtaining new equipment clear (including whether it's purchased or donated)? Depends on whom you ask.
5-Are these policies easily found? No.
6-Are these policies in flux? Yes.
7-Are there cases where local leaders have said, "I guess there's nothing I can do about this" and have stopped trying improve access to videos and A/V equipment? Yes.
8-Is this acceptable? You decide.
9-What can the average "Ward Technology Specialist" do to improve the situation? Good question.
10-Shall we pass judgement on each other based on how we and/or our local leaders have responded to these concerns? Sure, why not?
- johnshaw
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Re: FM Group and TV's and Libraries
One would think that the last two years of hinting around that the Church is coming up with some kind of process and knowing my own secret conversations I've had, something is bound to be coming out soon... Is our tech conference going to be the place we finally learn what we're going to be able to do in the 3rd year of Come Follow Me curriculum, and potentially a new curriculum focused on the Adults as well?
“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom.”
― Thomas Paine, Common Sense
― Thomas Paine, Common Sense
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Re: FM Group and TV's and Libraries
This has been an interesting exchange to follow. In case anyone thinks this is an isolated concern may I point out that I (stake Sunday School president) am struggling to find answers to all the same issues pointed out by mrrad. My impression is that the curriculum group has gotten well ahead of FM group policies. If anyone has heard of new policies which will fix this disconnect I would love to hear of them. In the absence of a coherent policy that bridges this gap we risk individual stakes spending sacred funds in a haphazard manner to address this issue. How sad if those funds are spent just as a new policy is about to emerge.
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Re: FM Group and TV's and Libraries
I've seen it twice before: Computers for MLS and Internet. First they were introduced and stake could opt in on their dime, then in about a year or two the church paid for it. My guess is it's a budgeting issue. For whatever reason, the budget needed for church-wide implementation doesn't "arrive" at the same time as the "program" that needs it.stevenbaxter wrote:TMy impression is that the curriculum group has gotten well ahead of FM group policies.
Needless to say, it does cause frustration.
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- jkentner
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Re: FM Group and TV's and Libraries
This might be of interest to this post. Particularly the section "Equipment and Furnishings". Look at the line for TVs...https://www.lds.org/callings/sunday-sch ... t?lang=eng
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Re: FM Group and TV's and Libraries
jkentner's reply was encouraging so I pushed an inquiry up to the local FM group. Their response shows no movement. It seems that any TV with even an RCA jack is considered adequate, including the old combo TV/VCR units in some of our libraries. Here's their response:
"I looked at the lds.org website location that Brother Baxter references. I see that the inventory appears to list two small TV’s per unit. I believe that is in error, based on the instruction we have had previously. I have copied you on my email to the Church Purchasing department asking for clarification.
Standard quantities of TV’s for meetinghouses are (unless this has been recently changed):
1 Large TV per building
1 Small TV per ward unit in the building
Each TV should be equipped with a VCR or DVD Player, depending on what the materials in the Material Center require.
Stake Centers are sometimes provided with two large TV’s, if an additional TV is needed to facilitate meetinghouse webcast broadcasts into overflow seating areas.
Older TV’s are not replaced just because they are older than the current approved standard TV. TV’s are replaced when they meet the replacement standard, which is basically that they no longer function. Older TV’s that only have coax cable input jacks can also be replaced. Please let me know if you feel that any of the TV’s in your stake meet replacement standards."
As you can see, their position doesn't provide any assistance on this issue.
"I looked at the lds.org website location that Brother Baxter references. I see that the inventory appears to list two small TV’s per unit. I believe that is in error, based on the instruction we have had previously. I have copied you on my email to the Church Purchasing department asking for clarification.
Standard quantities of TV’s for meetinghouses are (unless this has been recently changed):
1 Large TV per building
1 Small TV per ward unit in the building
Each TV should be equipped with a VCR or DVD Player, depending on what the materials in the Material Center require.
Stake Centers are sometimes provided with two large TV’s, if an additional TV is needed to facilitate meetinghouse webcast broadcasts into overflow seating areas.
Older TV’s are not replaced just because they are older than the current approved standard TV. TV’s are replaced when they meet the replacement standard, which is basically that they no longer function. Older TV’s that only have coax cable input jacks can also be replaced. Please let me know if you feel that any of the TV’s in your stake meet replacement standards."
As you can see, their position doesn't provide any assistance on this issue.
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Re: FM Group and TV's and Libraries
It is interesting that the FM community considers a 32-inch LCD TV as large. When we received the first such TV in our stake center, I started using it for presentations in the high council room. However, it is impractical to display the Calendar from lds.org on a 32-inch screen. I would use a projector, but we would have to turn off the lights in the room.
Dana Repouille, Plattsmouth, Nebraska