I got my introduction to technical education in the third grade. My elementary school recognized that the technical demands of filmstrips and reel-to-reel projectors stressed out most teachers.

So a handful of us got sent to the library to learn how to advance a filmstrip when the ‘ping’ sounded. The dawn of multimedia was upon us, and I must confess, I felt pretty cool whenever I threaded the projector.

The quantum leaps in multimedia technology have left many of us gasping for breath. As soon as we’ve mastered this piece of software, or that particular communication platform, the industry shifts again.

Audiences are demanding higher quality and creativity, and many churches are struggling to keep abreast of the trends – not to mention the costs – of modern communications.

The sheer number of commercial publications on the subject bears stark testimony. According to the National Association of Trade and Industry Publishers, 327 communication-related magazines, newsletters, electronic bulletins, and other publications are released each month. These span the gamut from the very specific Powerpoint Pro, to the broader Today’s Communicator.

Yet despite this sea of information overload, the average church technician, who’s generally a volunteer with another full-time job, can have a difficult time finding affordable opportunities for training and education.

Here, at least, are a few options.

ICIA resources
Some of the biggest, and most comprehensive, are the seminars, institutes, and on-line training academy offered by the International Communications Industries Association (ICIA). Through their well-rounded trade-show, Infocomm, the ICIA brings the leaders in communications technology together in a series of workshops geared toward the audio-visual and presentation professional.

Called "Institutes for Professional Development" the seminars are intensive training programs designed to educate technicians, managers, salespeople, principals and other professionals in the audio-video/presentations industry. Topics cover a range of issues from installation and gear maintenance to presentation techniques and trends.

Other seminars and workshops are held through out the year at the ICIA’s facility in Fairfax, Virginia. The ICIA offers Institutes for Professional Development twice a year in the United States, once in Australia, and in Singapore. Training seminars are also held in conjunction with the other Infocomm tradeshows held in Japan, Germany and Singapore.

Recently, ICIA has also added an internet training program to meet the growing demand for global access. Online courses combine text and testing on the internet with video, graphics and sound on a CD-ROM.

More cost-effective and convenient than site-specific classes, ICIA reports that their online academy is growing rapidly, and that accessibility to the internet provides unparalleled opportunities for growth. For more info, go to www.icia.org.

Getting inspired
More targeted at the church technician is the annual Inspiration trade show and conference sponsored by Technologies for Worship Ministries. This event, held annually in Atlanta, brings together church technicians and industry professionals for a five-day focus on communications trends in houses of worship.

Workshop topics generally cover audio, video, lighting, drama, and theatrical production, as well as some broader-range issues like church planning, trends in worship, team-building techniques, and tips for finding, managing and training volunteers.

The tradeshow showcases an impressive range of industry professionals, manufacturers, and dealers. Perhaps the greatest advantage Inspiration offers the church technician is focus. Here, exhibitors and presenters have already distilled information to a concentrated package specific to houses of worship. You can get information about Inspiration at the Technologies for Worship website www.tfwm.com.