RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM ANALYSIS

One method you can use is to fill in the outline at the same time you are preparing to perform the task. If the task is new or if it is a complex one, you should actually perform it, slowly, one step at a time, to determine how to describe it. At each step, ask the following questions:

l Is this the most efficient way to perform this step?

l Is this the quickest way?

l What safeguards can I stress?

l IS this the most economical way?

l Is this program all-encompassing of other faith groups?

l What related facts should be given? The diagrammed analysis shown

in figure 3-2 shows an outline that has been filled in for a skill that is primarily computational in nature. The task diagramed in figure 3-2 is compiling data on Jewish religious education attendance. Notice how the RP has filled in the different categories in the outline.

Figure 3-2.-Diagrammed analysis of a skill.

TRAINING RELIGIOUS EDUCATION VOLUNTEERS IN THE USE OF AUDIOVISUAL/MEDIA AIDS

You must provide your religious education volunteers with specific training in audiovisual media and equipment. Training and practice will allow your volunteers to be able to use these important training aids confidently and successfully. Do not overwhelm your volunteer teachers by demonstrating a variety of procedures during one session. Instead, take time to teach your volunteers one procedure at a time. In this way, your volunteer teachers can master one skill before moving on to the next.

COORDINATING LOGISTICS SUPPORT

RPs help those who minister to religious education by providing needed logistics support services. To be adequate, religious education programs need support. Among these logistics support services are the library, media center, curriculum materials and supplies, records and reports, budgeting and purchasing, equipment and facilities, and office support. Coordination means these support services include the right things, in the right place, at the right time, in the right quantity, and ready for appropriate use. In the following paragraphs, let's look at some of the ways in which you will become involved in logistics support services.

Library

We will cover the role of the library in greater detail in a subsequent chapter in this manual. The religious education library will differ little from your general library. For both libraries, tasks such as classifying, cataloging, labeling, displaying, repairing, filing, shelving, and circulating materials will be the same. The major difference, of course, is that your religious education library will specialize in religion and its related fields.

Media Center

You should design the media center to involve media in the life of the religious education volunteers, teachers, chaplains, lay readers, and members and in the work within the RMF. Your responsibility will be to educate persons in the use of media and to provide the necessary media and media services to support the CRP in the achievement of its targets and goals.

As an RP assigned to the media center, you will report and recommend to the command chaplain or RMF chaplains concerning the following matters:

Evaluation of current and special media equipment or programs

Problems and shortcomings

Ways to improve activities

Special needs-particularly in the areas of space, furniture, budget, or policies

Plans for new support services and special projects

Instruction on media training resources

Your primary role is to provide the support services necessary for the enhancement of your CRP's religious education program.

Curriculum Materials

The area of curriculum materials is as basic to the life and growth of the various faith groups, chaplains, and ministers of religious education as breathing is to the human body. Curriculum materials vary from faith group to faith group and even within particular faith groups. The faith group chaplain, the lay reader, or teachers of religious education normally recommend curriculum materials. In all cases, it is critical that the curriculum be chosen wisely.

Curriculum publishers provide ordering forms, information about their materials, and a listing of items available with emphasis on new materials and easy ordering. Publishers announce new items and include special order blanks and instructions for ordering. Study the information catalogs and order forms before you start to order the materials. Remember to order early. One person should handle all ordering. Seek help from your supply clerk representative. You must be accurate and complete in filling out the order forms. Try to order adequately but not excessively. Always open and check packages upon receipt and distribute the material where it is to be used as soon as you can.

Resources

Those items needed to support the religious education ministries such as supplies, equipment, and facilities require exact management. RPs are the suppliers, purchasing agents, distributors, inventory clerks, and, in some instances, trainers and follow-through supervisors with regard to each of these areas.