MSCM 8630: Information MSCM 8630: Information Technology (IT) for Church Technology (IT) for Church ManagementManagement

Fall 2008Dr. WagnerSept. 3 2008

Welcome to our ClassWelcome to our ClassBrand new class, new program25 students with wide variety of

backgroundsOverall goal

◦Not to turn everyone into to “super geeks”

◦Make better use of IT in your situation◦Feel more confident in talking about

and using technology◦Have fun with it!

Special Challenges?Special Challenges?Extreme variety of backgroundsDifferent interestsVariety of available applications I am not the expert This topic is all over the map!GOOD NEWS?

◦We have a great group of people, who are extremely motivated and interested in sharing with others

Results of IT SurveyResults of IT Survey13 responses

◦ 7 using Office 2003, 2 using 2007, Mac, Corel

Highest rated topics?◦ Collaboration tools◦ Database◦ Spreadsheets (basic)

Lowest◦ Spreadsheets (advanced)◦ Hardware evaluation◦ Security

Special Topics? – data recovery, mail merges, evaluation, meeting support, Element K, podcasting

Who am I?Who am I? Education

◦ Miami U. - Started as a Civil Engineering/Math major

◦ Ended up with 2 UG degrees; B. Phil and BA (ancient Greek/Latin)

◦ Worked on Agora Excavations in Athens

◦ America School (Athens)

◦ Masters in Classical Languages (U. of KY)

◦ MBA (U. of KY)◦ Ph.D. in MIS at U of KY◦ Villanova since 1991

Research/Professional Interests◦ Dissertation in Expert

Systems/ Applied AI◦ Published in a variety

of journals◦ Published first college

text on XML (2003- Phall)

◦ Published first text on Customer Relationship Management (2007)

◦ First at VU to teach class over Internet

◦ Coordinate SAP University Alliance

◦ Editorial Boards for several journals

Other things…Other things…Wife and 2 children

◦Son at U. Del and daughter at VU◦Wife doing Masters in Counseling at VU

Lu-Bhu◦Raised Lutheran but practicing

Bhuddhist meditation for last 25 yearsHistory buff

◦Founder of VU civil war round table◦Archeology and ancient history

Fixing up old farmhouse◦Gardener, camper, hiking, play on VU

faculty basketball team, etc.

Your turn…Your turn…Take a moment to introduce

yourselves◦I will call on you◦Tell us:

Who you are Where you are from What you would like to get out of this

class Something interesting about yourself?

Organization of CourseOrganization of CourseDivided into three main modules

◦IT for Personal Productivity How can IT help you and your office work

better?

◦IT for Church Communications How can IT help you and your church

communicate better?

◦IT for Church Operations How can IT help the overall church

organization function better?

Course ResourcesCourse ResourcesShort, new text by Tim Welch

Welch, Tim Technology Tools for Your Ministry, 2008, Twenty-Third Publications. 

Augmented with other readings. Mainly from Christian Computing magazine

Vendor demos (especially in last module)Element K tutorials for hands-on work

Check out web site and loginNote: Hold off on purchasing the

Expression Web text.

Assignments/GradingAssignments/GradingReadingsHands-on

◦IT inventory◦Spreadsheet report◦Database application◦Web site design◦Group collaboration project – design a

web portal for all things related to IT for Church MGT

Final Projects – research or applied use of IT

Assignment for next weekAssignment for next weekReach chapters 1 and 2 of Welch

book◦May also send you a brief CC article

Initialize and familiarize yourselves with the Element K site

Try to list all the main activities in your office (informal list)◦Be prepared to give 2 examples of tasks

that could be done better with IT◦We will meet next Thursday (9/11) at 7:30

p.m. (EST)

Questions?Questions?

Questions?Questions?

Go Cats!!