269 – 7 Best Picks of 2012

This week WELSTech welcomes 2013 with a countdown of Martin & Sallie’s 7 Best Picks of the Year 2012. How many of these hardware, software, web and mobile apps do you use?

The discussion:

Best of the Best – To kick off the new year, Martin and Sallie share their annual picks of the year for 2012 in “7 Best” style.

Sallie’s Picks

  1. Pomodoro Productivity | Focus Time app
  1. Raspberry Pi
  1. Logitech Tablet Keyboard for iPad
  1. FreeBibleImages.org
  1. MathCounts
  1. Pinterest
  1. PicMonkey

Martin’s Picks

  1. Camtasia Studio
  1. Samsung Galaxy S III
  1. Google 2-Step Verification
  1. Google Drive
  1. Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad
  1. Presentation Zen
  1. Google Hangouts

Coming up on WELSTech:

(43:48) Episode 270 – Join Martin and Sallie for the start of year 6 of WELSTech and chapter 5 of our WELSTech book discussion of Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds. (Release date – 01/08/13)

The featured artist:

Get involved:

265 – 7 Best Mobile Tips

On this final WELSTech 7 Best countdown of 2012 we share Mobile Device (a.k.a. tablets & smartphones) Computing Tips covering productivity, security, and much more. Also on the podcast, there’s news from Google, a couple of live streamed Christmas concert opportunities and even a Pinterest-worthy infographic.

The discussion:

Make the most of your mobile device – Martin and Sallie countdown the best tips, accessories and apps for tablets and smartphones.

  1. Accessories
  1. Security
  1. Maps
  1. Productivity
  1. Note Taking
  1. Cloud Services for File Syncing
  1. Bible Apps

But we aren’t done with 7 Best list yet. Join us on January 1st for our 7 Best Picks of 2012!

News in tech:

(29:50) Gmail, meet Google Drive … and behold 10GB file transfers

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(38:30) View the live stream of

  • Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary’s “Sing a Song of Christmas” concert on December 9th at 3:00 or 7:00 p.m.
  • Martin Luther College’s Christmas Concert on MLC TV on December 8th at 7:30 p.m. and December 9th at 4:00 p.m.

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(58:05) Episode 266 – We continue the current WELSTech book discussion of Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds, this time looking at Chapter 4, Crafting the Story. (Release date – 12/11/12)

The featured artist:

(59:25) We close the podcast with the music of a new Japanese addition to our WELS artist lineup, Kaori Egawa – Angels’ Christmas Carol

Get involved:

261 – 7 Best Conferencing Tools

This week on WELSTech we countdown the 7 Best Video and Webconferencing Tools, useful for sharing the Good News from a distance. There’s also discussion of news in the tech world, a live streaming event and many great ideas from the WELSTech community.

The discussion:

We’re counting down again – This month’s 7 Best list focuses on video and webconferencing tools. These tools are great for anything which needs to get done at a distance – Bible class, meetings, tech support, etc. Martin and Sallie share a list of freebies that can take care of your needs.

  1. TinyChat
  1. Mikogo
  1. Vyew
  1. Oovoo
  1. Join.me
  1. Google Hangouts
  1. Skype – Skype and Messenger Coming Together

Coming up in December … 7 Best Mobile Computing TipsShare your favorite hardware, apps and tips for a productive mobile experience.

News in tech:

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(33:25)  Live streaming of the WELS 2012 East Regional Choralfest

  • Pops Concert – Friday, November 9 at 7 p.m. Central
  • Sacred Concert – Sunday, November 11 at 2 p.m. Central

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(47:19) Episode 262 – We continue the current WELSTech book discussion of Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds, this time looking at Chapter 3, Planning Analog. (Release date – 11/13/12)

The featured artist:

(48:27) We close the podcast with the music of Corban Creek – Epitaph

Get involved:

260 – East Meets West

Join us for a very special WELSTech Podcast as we span the globe with Martin joining from Hong Kong and guest host Jason Schmidt along with Sallie in the U.S. Our edtech chat this week covers the Moodle Learning Management System (LMS) as well as an interview with John Dorn about the Edmodo LMS.

Note: With our WELSTech Audio/Video Engineer (a.k.a., Martin Spriggs) out of the office exploring the opposite side of the world and presenting at a translator’s conference, today’s video podcast is posted in two parts – the primary show and the interview. We look forward to supplying the normal single video format upon Martin’s return.  Thanks for understanding!

 

 

The discussion:

Moodle mania – Jason Schmidt, Technology Coordinator at Bennington ISD in the Omaha, NE area and guest edtech correspondent for WELSTech, talks with Martin and Sallie about the popular open-source, free Learning Management System, Moodle.  Watch as Sallie demonstrates a Softaculous automated install of Moodle in under 3 minutes!

The interview:

(15:20) Edmodo in action – Science and Technology Teacher John Dorn from Illinois Lutheran Schools in Crete, IL talked with Martin and Sallie recently about  his schools adoption of the Edmodo Learning Management System.  John shares tips and tricks he’s learned through training and experimentation with the system, such as setting up a consistent user naming scheme.

News in tech:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(59:19) Episode 261 – Martin and Sallie countdown the 7 Best Video and Webconferencing Tools for connecting with others. Note the special recording date and time (11/07/12 at 2:00 p.m. CST) means the podcast release will be delayed a bit.

The featured artist:

(1:00:55) We close the podcast with the music of The Branches Band (www.branchesband.com|Facebook) – Nothing But the Blood

Get involved:

256 – It Is All About The Data

This week on WELSTech we countdown the 7 Best Data Management Tools and Tips to handle your church, school, day care or prospect list. We also share some good news about making files available in Facebook…via Dropbox.

The discussion:

Countdown time – Church and school office workers are tasked with maintaining a lot of information so Martin and Sallie share some proven tools for effective management of members, prospects and students.

  1. Daycare and After School Care management
  1. Contact management
  1. Do-It-Yourself solutions
  1. Spreadsheets
  1. Online forms for data submission
  1. Student information systems
  1. Church management software

Coming up in November … 7 Best Video and Webconferencing ToolsShare your favorite tools for video creation and connecting with others.

Ministry resources:

(22:25) Prayer Notebook | Prayer Notebook Lite for iOS

News in tech:

(25:29) Stunning undersea panoramas now on Google Street View

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(45:15) Episode 257 – We continue the current WELSTech book discussion of Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds, this time looking at Chapter 2. (Release date – 10/09/12)

The featured artist:

(46:35) This week we close the podcast with the music of Koine (www.koinemusic.com | Facebook) – If God Had Not Been On Our Side

Get involved:

252 – 7 Best Password Tools and Tips

We’re counting down the 7 best password management tools and tips this week on WELSTech.  We also return to our school year show format as we share ministry resources, details about an upcoming tech-in-missions conference and much more!

The discussion:

Secure passwords – Along with all of the digital tools which we use daily to enhance our personal and public ministries, comes a mountain of password requirements to manage. In this month’s 7 Best countdown Martin and Sallie share password management tips and tools.

  1. Use a “Pass Phrase” – Password mnemonic generator
  2. 2-Step Verification – Google
  3. 1 Password for Mac
  4. Don’t use the same password on multiple sites
  5. KeePass
  6. Make passwords at least 8 to 10 characters
  7. LastPass

Coming up in October … 7 Best Member, Prospect & Student Management Tools

Ministry resources:

(23:00) Proclaim cloud-based church presentation software now supports multiple monitors

Picks of the week:

WELS.net feature:

(34:07) Check out the WELS.net home page redesign

Of interest:

(34:55) Media in World Missions Conference

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(51:28) Episode 253 – Next week begins the latest WELSTech book discussion of Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds. Listeners are invited to read along and tune in as Martin and Sallie cover a section of the book each month. (Release date – 09/11/12)

The featured artist:

(53:21) We  close the podcast with the music of Dawn Michelle Williams (www.dawnmichellewilliams.com | Twitter | Facebook | My Space) – Mine For The Taking

Get involved:

247 – 7 Best Ministry Gadgets

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we countdown the 7 best ministry gadgets.

The discussion:

Bright & Shiny – This month WELSTech-ers really chimed in to share their favorite Ministry Gadgets, and Martin and Sallie count down the top picks.

Ministry Gadgets

  1. Anything Free
  2. Scanner and other input devices
  3. Favorite tech buddy
  4. Mobile Wi-Fi
  5. Tablet
  6. Computer or laptop
  7. Smartphone

Coming up in September … 7 Best Password Management Tools and Tips

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(32:11) Episode 248 – The WELSTech Summer Software Showcase returns, and we look at 5 ministry uses of FreeMind, a free open-source mind mapping tool. (Release date – 08/08/12)

The featured artist:

(33:20) We close the podcast with the music of instrumentalist Joey Schumann (JoeySchumann.com | Joey on Facebook) – In You Is Gladness

Get involved:

243 – 7 Best Webmaster Resources

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we countdown the 7 best webmaster resources.

The discussion:

A patriotic salute to webmasters  – Martin and Sallie celebrate the 4th of July with a countdown of the best-of-the-best tools for creating great web sites.

7 Best Webmaster ResourcesWebmaster Resources

  1. Kuler by Adobe
  2. Stock Photography
  3. PicMonkey
  4. Embed content
  5. RSS
  6. Code
  7. Content Management System (CMS)

Coming up in August … 7 Best Ministry Gadgets

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(39:11) Episode 244 – The WELSTech Summer Software Showcase returns, and we look at 5 ministry uses of the popular video hosting site Vimeo. (Release date – 07/11/12)

The featured artist:

(39:46) We close the podcast with the music of Stephen Bautista (www.stephenbautistamusic.com or stephenbautista on Twitter) – Grace Beyond My Need

Get involved:

239 – 7 Best Bookmarking Tools

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we countdown the 7 best bookmarking tools.

The discussion:

Save that link – Martin and Sallie’s discussion today centers around recommendations for cloud-based bookmarking and organizing.

7 Best Bookmarking ToolsBookmarking Tools

  1. Pinboard.in
  2. StumbleUpon
  3. Chrome Syncing
  4. Pinterest – It’s All About the Image [Infographic]
  5. Xmarks
  6. Evernote
  7. Diigo

Coming up in July … 7 Best Webmaster Resources

Ministry resources:

(26:55) Power to the Pews: Internal Marketing from Church Marketing Sucks

Picks of the week:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(37:30) Episode 240 – The WELSTech Summer Software Showcase debut is on schedule for next week.  Don’t miss this in-depth look at a particular software and review of its ministry uses. (Release date – 06/13/12)

The featured artist:

(38:20) This week we close with the music of Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries – Dive Into God’s Word from their CD titled ”Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries”

Get involved:

234 – Smile

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we countdown the 7 best photo organizing and editing tools.

The discussion:

Take my picture! – The 7 Best series is back and this month Martin and Sallie share their top picks for working with photos.

Photo Organizing and Editing Tools

  1. Aviary –Phoenix image editor and Raven vector editor
  2. Picasa
  3. Instagram
  4. Irfanview
  5. Flickr
  6. GIMP – Tutorials
  7. PicMonkey

Kudos to the WELSTech community for lots more great recommendations:

Coming up in June … 7 Best Bookmarking Tools and Tips

News in tech:

(24:44) Google Drive is live

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(44:25) Episode 235 – Martin and Sallie conclude their discussion of the online e-book How to Transform Your Small Business With Social Media, looking at Chapter 5 to the end. (Release date – 05/09/12)

The featured artist:

(45:38) We close the podcast with the music of Cross to Glory – One Name from their CD titled “Life’s Song

Get involved: