Rotation Model Workshop: Computer Lab
APC Computer Lab and Rotation Model Chuch School
In 2003, with the help of an anonymous donor,
Abington Presbyterian Church established a computer lab for
children, youth and adults. Children from kindergarten through
fourth grade use computers with Bible-based software as part of
their Sunday school studies. Since its inception, the computer lab
has become one of the most popular features of the Sunday Church
School.
"The days of film strips and flannel boards are long gone.
Children work with computers all the time at school during the
week. Why not at Church School? We are grateful we can
present and teach the biblical story using technology", said The
Reverend Scott D. Nowack, Associate Pastor for Education at
Abington Church. "These tools enhance our ability to share the
Gospel with our children. It's a win-win!"
Established in 2001, the computer lab is part of a rotation
model of learning that allows kids to move to a different activity
each week while following one biblically-based theme for 4-5 weeks.
In addition to the computer lab, the workshops include
storytelling, movie viewing, craft making, drama, music, dance, and
many more. The rotation model allows kids to learn the same concept
in a variety of ways and addresses differing learning styles in
young children.
When the computer lab was established, the
computers were donated by different families in the church. "They
were all different," said Rev. Nowack about the older model
computers. "Each of them ran on different operating systems. This
made it difficult to run many of the educational software programs
our teachers needed to use." Something needed to be done, but we
couldn't afford all new computers."
That's when Pastor Scott received an unexpected phone call. "The
voice on the phone said their family wanted to buy all new
computers for our church school computer lab. I was speechless! I
couldn't believe it! What a marvelous gift!" Within a few weeks,
the new computers arrived just in time for Christmas.