Episode 034 – Aug 27 2008

This week on WELSTech Martin, Sallie and our semi-regular classroom correspondent, Gail Potratz, discuss congregation and school uses for wikis.  Also, we are joined by Maria Andersen as she shares how Web 2.0 leveled the playing field when it comes to teaching online.

The discussion:

• Wikis – Martin, Sallie and Gail give listeners a crash course on wikis, a very popular Web 2.0 tool which can be used for web-based collaboration in churches and schools.  Featuring easy set-up and update functions that anyone can do without HTML or other programming knowledge, wikis also allow for inclusion of all forms of multi-media content.
  • www.wikispaces.com
    • Gail’s sample WELSTech wiki – welstechwiki.wikispaces.com
  • www.pbwiki.com
    • Educator tools
  • www.wetpaint.com
    • Martin’s sample WELSTech wiki – welstech.wetpaint.com
  • Set up you own server-based wiki using open-source MediaWiki.org

The interview:

• Leveling the online education playing field (20:10) – Maria Andersen, who serves on the Math Faculty at Muskegon Community College, joins Martin and Sallie to discuss her experiences as an online calculus teacher and share how Web 2.0 tools allow all her students to communicate with her regardless of their software and hardware set-up.  You’ll even hear the story behind the purple calculus teacher avatar that Maria uses on her blog.
  • Visit Maria’s blog – tcmtechnologyblog.blogspot.com
  • www.jingproject.com

The tidbits:

• Picks of the week (39:05)
  • Podcast to your wiki – www.gcast.com
  • Teacher resources for Election 2008 – www.pbs.org/teachers/vote2008
  • Use your phone to e-mail messages – a free Jott replacement – www.reqall.com
  • The WELSTech Podcast store – www.cafepress.com/welstech
• WELS.net feature (50:00)
  • Through My Bible in 3 Years – a variety of flavors to suit every taste
    • Pamphlet from NPH
    • Read online or subscribe for e-mail or RSS delivery – www.wels.net/jump/bible3
    • Listen on your computer or MP3 player – www.wels.net/jump/bible3podcast
    • Display the RSS feeds on your web site
    • Combine it all into a Bible reading program for your congregation – Sample from St. John’s in Sleepy Eye, MN – www.stjohnsse.com/in-the-word
• Of interest (53:41)
  • WELS Marriage Retreats – www.wels.net/jump/marriageretreat
• Community feedback (54:40)
  • Joshua Schoeneck, Director of Technology at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School, followed up on Sallie’s pick of the week – YouConvertIt.com – to say that YouTube.com terms of use prohibit converting content from their site into other formats
  • Pastor Jeremiah Gumm from Cross of Christ in Liverpool, NY
    • Shared a link to his blog, The Shepherd’s Study, a source of encouragement, support & resources for busy Lutheran called workers and laypeople – shepherdstudy.wordpress.com
    • Uses Wordle.net to create tag clouds of his sermon text
  • Martin shared a link to Pastor Mark Cares blog on outreach to Mormons – markcares.wordpress.com

The featured artist:

• We close with the music WELS contemporary praise band, Koine (www.koinemusic.com) – Chief of Sinners Though I Be from their CD title Koine (59:42)

Get involved:

• Add a comment below
• E-mail: [email protected]
• Voice mail: 414-375-2334
• del.icio.us tag: welstech
• Join:
  • WELSTech listserve
  • WELSTech on facebook
• Shop the WELSTech store