LDSTech Conference 2015 - What I'd like to see

I thought this might be a place that we could gather some thoughts around presentations we'd like to see from the conference, or ideas addressed. I'll start the list off:

As a note, it would be interesting to see others involved, like curriculum, priesthood committee, correlation, YW/YM General Presidencies, comments on technology and teaching, etc...Another might be stakes and wards and how they are improving training and teaching using media - success stories, etc... I see it's only 1 day now and not 2, but frankly, at this point, I'm more interested in the fusion between the technology and how its being used -- rather than a purely technical conference.


--What is the current status of the new webcast solution? Issues, responses, lessons learned, etc...

--What is the future of LDS Tools, Gospel Library - Not just what's coming up, but strategy, what is the overall goal of the app for members 1 year, 3 years, 5 years out?

--What is the future of showing media in meetinghouses as part of Teaching and Training? Are there enough TV's - Will we see devices for checkout in the Library? What are the barriers the Church sees to using the TV's in Libraries (my stake they basically gather dust)?

--What are stakes doing to successfully integrate technology with teaching and training? Stake Histories, producing movies/videos for youth conference, camp, scouting, etc... How are stakes using social media to 'get the word out' or 'inspire' etc...

--There is an injunction against using 'Cloud' data, how does a ward or stake, realistically, collaborate on documents, consider people, youth, etc.. without the ability to centrally store and use data. What is the future of collaboration for stakes and wards, how will the Church implement what they've basically set policy against without providing an alternative?

--What surveys and data collection have been asked of Stake Presidents and Bishops to determine the 'needs' regarding developing of online tools and online solutions?

--How is the continuing Globalization of the Church affecting Website design, App development, etc...

--What is the future of Newsletter?

--What is the future of showing media in meetinghouses as part of Teaching and Training? Are there enough TV's - Will we see devices for checkout in the Library? What are the barriers the Church sees to using the TV's in Libraries (my stake they basically gather dust)?

In my ward, I think that at least one TV is in use more than once a month for an adult class (but I've never seen more than 2 of the 4 in use except for conferences), combined YM/YW class or Primary sharing time. Smaller classes that these usually just use a member's device. Most often the TVs are used with a DVD or connected to a comptuer, but a few members have ventured into using the TV's media player features with a USB memory stick.

If I were in charge of the conference, I think I'd have one for the highly technical types (programmers, QA types) and another for users / trainers. The first could cover technical opportunities and ideas; the second could cover use, adoption, and what the general membership are asking for (the second would likely feed the first).

As for things I'd like to see:

1) Agree that a more detailed plan for the future of existing technology would be nice. I'd also like to know if there's an overall technology strategy, and if so, what is it.

2) Serious discussion about whether any existing technologies are competing with each other, and whether it wouldn't be better to focus resources to enhance one rather than maintain two which partly overlap. Sub-discussions could include things like individuals developing their own apps because a church app is missing one key feature: is there a way for people to communicate to the church what that feature is? Is there a way to invite that developer into the church project to enhance it rather than create something totally new?

3) Your TV question is interesting. I'd use a TV from the library, but my class is on the stage and there's no getting a TV up there. I bring my mini projector instead. I'd love to see screens permanently mounted in every room (someone will tell me that's a waste of money, and it may be; I still want it). Either way, a discussion of meetinghouse technology for "every Sunday" purposes (as opposed to occasional broadcasts) would be interesting - what do teachers want to do, what do students find most helpful in learning?
a) Only pseudo-related: why do we still have _chalk_ boards in the US, even in buildings built within the past 10 years!?

4) I'd really like to see more people discussing how to increase adoption of existing technology, and how to use technology for all purposes - personal study, teaching a class, participating in a class, filling a calling, etc. (Note: I think there are some things which ought not to be shifted to technology, but that should be part of the discussion.)

5) I'd like to see a discussion about the balance between development, awareness, and training efforts. In my mind, the first is getting a lot more attention than the other two. Why isn't there the same effort put into making members aware of technology, and into training members how to use the technology? (Or is there, and some of us just aren't seeing it?) All the development in the world won't help with the mission of the church if no one knows about the app, or no one knows how to make best use of it... (For example, why don't I see any "training module" or "app ad campaign" contests to go along with the app development contest?)

That's all I can think of at the moment.

Liz

Liz,
I really like all the points you make. As far as making members aware of technology tools, it seems like local units should be providing this; however, there doesn't seem to be a working strategy for making technology changes known to local leaders who are not proactively seeking the information. Sure, some enjoy lurking on these forums, but many don't even know they exist and many that do know of them may not have the time to check for useful information.

There is some good support/training material buried here:
https://www.lds.org/help/support/applications?lang=eng

(You can use the Help link at the bottom of LDS.org to get there, currently.)

What was mentioned about overlapping technology – I'd like to see the LDS.org Directory merge with Leader and Clerk Resources (with appropriate levels of access, of course). There are benefits of both, but also limitations. Why develop two separate systems that access the same database?

That help content is good, but I don't think it goes far enough. Also, IMO, screen captures and videos should be used more - too many people anymore can't seem to read (not that I approve of catering to that, but since the app isn't text-only, the help shouldn't be either). I personally don't generally want training (cuz I like to dig around and see what's there and I'm not afraid to go into unfamiliar territory), but I know too many people who either aren't curious, or don't realize it's OK to explore, or something - then as soon as I point out a feature, they're all excited and wanting to know how I found / did that. That's why I took it on myself to offer to do training for the ward and make videos.

Still, I wish there were more of that and a semi-official channel for it - ads on church bulletin boards, an announcement in church (in the program?) now and then, something. I know, individuals and wards can do a lot of their own volition; I'd just like to seem some more discussion, idea-sharing, encouragement, guidance for leadership, etc.

I have no idea, for example, if my stake/ward have technology specialists (I should go look in LDS Tools, I guess), and if they do, whether things like this are part of their calling, or if their calling is just the technology in the building, or what....

These are the kinds of things I think we should discuss more - and not just among a handful of geeks, but among the end-users, trainers, and leaders.

As I type this, I'm thinking up ideas for Gospel Library poster ads - like MormonAds - I could call them GLads... I think I need to go make some drawings...

Liz

I had been responsible for my ward bulletin for 4.5 years before I was called into the bishopric. I included annoucements encouraging members to add individual contact information to the directory when there was extra space availible. I agree that printed flyers for the bulletin board might be an apporopriate place to raise awareness of technology. It also might be nice if content to raise awareness of these tools was occasionally featured on the lds.org homepage.