233 – Digital Storytelling

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we define Digital Storytelling in education and share tools and examples of this creative expression format.

The discussion:

Tell me a story – Gail Potratz, WELSTech’s semi-regular classroom technology correspondent from Emanuel in New London, WI, joins Martin and Sallie and the discussion focus is digital storytelling including its definition and the many resources available to help students create in this popular format.

Ministry resources:

(25:20) Should Your Church Have a Blog

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(47:24) Episode 234 – Just in time for the many graduation and summer vacation photos opportunities, Martin and Sallie countdown the 7 Best Photo Organizing and Editing Tools.  (Release date – 05/02/12)

The featured artist:

(49:01) We close the podcast with the instrumental music of In His Service (www.adagioconcepts.com) – Send Me from their CD titled “In His Time”

Get involved:

232 – WELSTech Hangout

Experience something different this week on the WELSTech Podcast, our first ever live show using Google Hangouts.

The discussion:

Kicking the tires – As promised, this week’s podcast was kicked off in a Google Hangout, and we have video of the experience to share.  Martin and Sallie were joined by listeners Perry Lund, Gail Potratz and Jason Schmidt as we tried out the platform, experiencing video chat, screen sharing, apps and more (hmmm … pirate Jason??). The audio of the session is integrated into this week’s podcast, but if you want to see the Hangout fun and not just listen, check out the archived video posted below.

 

Picks of the week:

The interview:

(31:01) Web sites done right – Mark and Lesley Bergemann, husband and wife webmasters at Good Shepherd’s in West Allis, WI, talk with Martin and Sallie about the communication strategy behind their church web site and updates they regularly make to support that strategy and track its effectiveness.

Of interest:

(52:06) Faith Building 2012 Conference – April 27th in Kimberly, WI

7 Best:

(54:18) On the May 2nd episode of WELSTech we’ll countdown our next 7 Best list, and listeners can be part of the list creation.  Simply let us know your favorite

Photo Organizing and Editing Tools

You can pin an image and link on the WELSTech Pinterest board, tweet us using #WELSTech, write on our Facebook or Google+ wall, leave a voicemail (405-FOR-WELS), send an e-mail, leave a comment on the WELSTech site, mail it in on a carrier pigeon or whatever method you want to use.  Just let us know what you think is best!

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:01:47) Episode 233 – After seeing Gail in our hangout this week, Martin and Sallie are happy to welcome her back again next week as our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent to discuss digital story telling. (Release date – 04/25/12)

The featured artist:

(1:02:18) We close the podcast with the music of instrumentalist Joey Schumann (JoeySchumann.com | Joey on Facebook) – Americana Medley from his CD with the same title

Get involved:

231 – You Say Potato, I Say…

It is e-book discussion week on the WELSTech Podcast as we look at social media strategy for churches and schools.

The discussion:

A brand new e-book – For this month’s book discussion week Martin and Sallie turn to the pages of the Radian6 e-book How to Transform Your Small Business With Social Media.  Listen as they discuss the first 4 chapters of this quick read, including the 3 R’s and 3 D’s of social media conversations.

News in tech:

(17:25) Google Brings Churches Back into Nonprofit Program

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(32:22) FinalWeb training – This summer we’re offering online training on web site creation and maintenance using the FinalWeb system.   And, for the first time, we’ll be using Google Hangouts!

7 Best:

(34:33) On the May 2nd episode of WELSTech we’ll countdown our next 7 Best list, and listeners can be part of the list creation.  Simply let us know your favorite

Photo Organizing and Editing Tools

You can pin an image and link on the WELSTech Pinterest board, tweet us using #WELSTech, write on our Facebook or Google+ wall, leave a voicemail (405-FOR-WELS), send an e-mail, leave a comment on the WELSTech site, mail it in on a carrier pigeon or whatever method you want to use.  Just let us know what you think is best!

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(46:57) Episode 232 – Listeners are invited to join our LIVE WELSTech Google Hangout (about) to help us try out all the bells and whistles from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. CDT next Tuesday, April 17.  We’ll video the hangout and share it on our next show.

Here’s how to join:

We are also looking forward to a chat with Mark and Lesley Bergemann from Good Shepherd’s in West Allis,WI about the management of their church web site. (Release date – 04/18/12)

The featured artist:

(49:42) We close the podcast with the music of Corban Creek – Empty Grave from their CD titled “Could It Be Me”

Get involved:

230 – 7 Best E-mail Tools and Tips

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we countdown the 7 best e-mail productivity tools and tips.

The discussion:

Taming the Inbox – Martin and Sallie share productivity tips and tools to manage the avalanche of e-mail we all have to deal with.

E-mail Productivity Tools and Tips

  1. FollowUpThen – E-mail reminders
  2. Active Inbox – GTD addon for Gmail
  3. Xobni – Organize your address book
  4. Funnel all e-mail accounts through Gmail
  5. Typing shortcut utilities:
  6. GTD add ons for Outlook
  7. Set up rules, filter, colors and categories

Coming up in May … 7 Best E-mail Photo Organizing and Editing Tools

Ministry resources:

(30:03) Check out the Copy Matters series from Church Marketing Sucks for tips on Writing for the Web, Writing Better Emails, Writing for Social Media and much more

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(37:05) FinalWeb training – This summer we’re offering online training on web site creation and maintenance using the FinalWeb system.   And, for the first time, we’ll be using Google Hangouts!

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(51:31) Episode 231 – Martin and Sallie begin a discussion of the online e-book How to Transform Your Small Business With Social Media. (Release date – 04/11/12)

The featured artist:

(53:17) We close the podcast with the music of Michael Schroeder (www.michaelschroeder.com and on Facebook) – That’s My King from his CD titled “Worship

Get involved: