Following up on WELSTech Episode 027, Martin and Sallie discuss systems for implementing Getting Things Done(GTD) productivity principles and wrap up their interview with Prof. David Sellnow on the hybrid classroom.

Listen now or download Episode 028 (44:37)

The discussion:

• Time Management Systems - Martin and Sallie continue their discussion of the productivity principles outlined in David Allen’s Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (listen to Part 1) and explore options for the “trusted system” or tool to store and organize your task list. 
  • GTD systems
    • Thinking Rock
    • MonkeyGTD
    • Remember the Milk
    • David Ornstein’s Blog - Getting Things Done using Outlook 2007
    • iGTD for Mac
    • 43 Folders
  • Additional GTD resources
    • Lifehacker.com blog
    • Precision Change podcast - Recent interviews with David Allen
      • Episode 8 - Getting Things Done 201, with David Allen
      • Episode 9 - David Allen Can Make Time Disappear
      • Episode 10 - David Allen Asks, What Are You Here To Do?

The interview:

• The Hybrid Classroom (17:44) - Today Martin and Sallie conclude their interview with Prof. David Sellnow of Martin Luther College (listen to Part 1).  Prof. Sellnow shares ideas and cautions for getting started with blended courses and also looks into the future at where our synod may go with online education offerings.

The tidbits:

• Picks of the week (31:00)
  • Microsoft Online Training - office.microsoft.com/en-us/training
  • GOOG-411 - www.google.com/goog411
• WELS.net feature (35:55)
  • WELS Links - www.wels.net/jump/links
• Of interest (37:19)
  • National Educational Computing Conference video archive

The featured artist:

• We close with music of WELS artist, Kevin Loersch - O Sacred Head Now Wounded from his CD titled Abide With Me (39:50)

Get involved:

• Add a comment below
• E-mail: welstech@wels.net
• Voice mail: 414-375-2334
• del.icio.us tag: welstech
• Join:
  • WELSTech listserve
  • WELSTech on facebook

This week Martin and Sallie discuss the Getting Things Done organization system for improving personal productivity.  They also interview Prof. David Sellnow about blending traditional and online education.

Listen now or download Episode 027 (1:06:50)

The discussion:

• Time Management and Productivity - In this technology rich age, we are daily bombarded from all directions with things to do.  Listen as Martin and Sallie share the popular productivity principles of Getting Things Done (GTD) and how the GTD methods can help even our busy pastors and teachers have “Mind Like Water”. 
  • Think Before You Voicemail from TechCrunch.com
  • Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
  • David Allen’s Web site - www.davidco.com
    • Free downloads
    • Podcast

The interview:

• The Hybrid Classroom (28:05) - In the first of a two-part interview, Prof. David Sellnow of Martin Luther College joins Martin and Sallie to share insight into the benefits of blending traditional classroom activities with online activities.  Prof. Sellnow has successfully blended his course offerings at MLC and suggests that similar blending could accentuate courses at the high school and even elementary school levels.

The tidbits:

• Picks of the week (43:36)
  • Provider for Google Calendar
  • Pandora Internet radio - www.pandora.com
• WELS.net feature (53:23)
  • Explore the Bible - www.whataboutjesus-explorethebible.com
• Of interest (55:03)
  • Leadership Conference video archive on Streams
• Community feedback - Mass e-mail recommendations via the WELSTech listserve (56:27)
  • Michael Plocher from St. Paul’s in New Ulm recommends server-based PHP List - www.phplist.com
  • Cindy Krueger from Shepherd of the Hills in Lansing, MI maintains two Yahoo groups, one for members and one for prospects
  • Sue Fager uses Mail Loop on the job - www.marketingtips.com/mailloop
  • Jason Petoskey uses the FinalWeb group e-mail address feature
  • Joshua Schoeneck from Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School in Jackson, WI uses another server-based solution called LISTSERV (free & lite versions available)

The featured artist:

• We close with music of WELS artist, WendySue Fluegge (www.wendysue.com) - Time from her CD titled Everyday Christian (1:00:45)

Get involved:

• Add a comment below
• E-mail: welstech@wels.net
• Voice mail: 414-375-2334
• del.icio.us tag: welstech
• Join:
  • WELSTech listserve
  • WELSTech on facebook

At the one-half year of podcasting milestone, Martin and Sallie share solutions for mass e-mail and interview Lakeside LHS teacher Ted Klug about protecting and educating students on the blessings and dangers of social networking.

Listen now or download Episode 026 (1:00:17)

The discussion:

• Mass E-mail - Martin and Sallie discuss considerations and resources for communicating electronically with congregation or school families using mass e-mail, thus reducing cost and manpower demands and increasing the efficiency and speed of communication. 
  • Sample congregation privacy policy from St. Peter in Modesto, CA (.pdf)
  • Google Groups
  • Yahoo Groups
  • ConstantContact.com
  • iContact.com
  • Member Connect
  • Mailman

The interview:

• Students and Social Networks (22:00) - Ted Klug, Technology Director at Lakeside Lutheran High School in Lake Mills, WI joins Martin and Sallie to discuss the blessings and dangers of social networks and to share ideas for educating and protecting our students.
  • Learn more at these recommended sites:
    • WiredSafety.org
    • MediaFamily.org
    • OnGuardOnline.gov
  • Ted’s Leadership Conference presentation(.pdf)

The tidbits:

• Picks of the week (43:27)
  • E-mail, calendar & task list solution - Thunderbird & Lightning
  • Organize Outlook - www.xobni.com
• WELS.net feature (49:05)
  • Daily Devotion - www.wels.net/jump/dailydevotion
• Of interest (49:53)
  • Worship Conference - www.wels.net/jump/worship-conf
• Community feedback (51:32)
  • Cindy Krueger, member of Shepherd of the Hills in Lansing, MI, shared a link to a government site on cyber security
  • Pastor Dan Witte from Risen Savior in Bradenton, FL shared a link to wordle.net

The featured artist:

• We close with music of WELS praise band, Koine (www.koinemusic.com) - Jesus Priceless Treasure from their CD titled Koine II (55:13)

Get involved:

• Add a comment below
• E-mail: welstech@wels.net
• Voice mail: 414-375-2334
• del.icio.us tag: welstech
• Join:
  • WELSTech listserve
  • WELSTech on facebook

This week guest host Gail Potratz joins Martin and Sallie to discuss project-based learning in the Web 2.0 world. The interview segment focuses on the student-management software tool, PowerSchool.

Listen now or download Episode 025 (1:05:01)

The discussion:

• Web 2.0 in the Classroom - As we welcome back guest host Gail Potratz, Technology Coordinator and Teacher at Emanuel in New London, WI, we focus our discussion on technology and education.  We define Web 2.0 and talk about how the read/write web has changed technology usage in the classroom.  Gail also shares ideas for project-based learning using Web 2.0 tools.
  • Sample e-mail listserve focusing on veterans sharing their stories with students
  • WebQuest - www.questgarden.com
    • Sample WebQuest
      • Civil War
      • Cultures
    • Learn more about WebQuest and creator Bernie Dodge

The interview:

• PowerSchool (25:55) - Martin and Sallie are joined by Jeff Spiaser, Dean of Academics for Illinois Lutheran Schools, and Jim Brandt, Administrator for WELS Parish Schools to discuss PowerSchool student information system. Listen to learn how school personnel and parents can benefit from web-based student data management.
  • Learn more about Power School -
    www.wels.net/jump/powerschool

The tidbits:

• This week’s picks (49:06)
  • Voice Thread - www.voicethread.com
  • Gizmo’s Support Alert Newsletter
  • Stumble Upon - www.stumbleupon.com
• WELS.net feature (55:27)
  • Bulletin Board - www.wels.net/jump/bulletinboard
• Of interest (56:37)
  • Martin Luther College Alumni Reunion - www.mlc-wels.edu/home/alumni
• Community feedback (58:01) - from the WELSTech listserve
  • Printing calendars
  • School computer usage policies

The featured artist:

• This week we close with the music of Dawn Gehlhar - All Through the Night from her CD titled Inspirations (1:01:29)

Get involved:

• Add a comment below
• E-mail: welstech@wels.net
• Voice mail: 414-375-2334
• del.icio.us tag: welstech
• Join:
  • WELSTech listserve
  • WELSTech on facebook

This week Martin and Sallie welcome back our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, Gail Potratz, and we focus our discussion on the changing classroom environment as teachers adjust to accommodate today’s digital learners.

Listen now or download Episode 021 (39:15)

The discussion:

• Digital Learners (01:55) - Listen as Gail, Martin and Sallie discuss the challenges of teaching a generation of students whose brains are wired differently due to the influence of technology on their lives from birth.  You’ll hear practical tips for teachers to engage these students by integrating technology into the classroom
  • Read what David Warlick has to say about “The Dumbest Generation”
  • CNN Student News
  • Google Earth

The tidbits:

• This week’s picks (24:29)
  • Record Skype
    • eCamm for Mac
    • PowerGrammo for PC
  • Geocaching - www.geocaching.com
    • www.educaching.com
    • Minnesota State Park History Challenge
  • Send large files easily - www.yousendit.com
• WELS.net feature (32:05)
  • Church and school locator - wels.locatorsearch.com
• Of interest (33:33)
  • Worship, Music & the Arts Conference - www.wels.net/jump/worship-conf
    • July 28-31 @ Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter, MN 
    • Registration deadline is June 15 
• Community feedback (34:56)
  • Join the WELSTech listserve e-mail discussion on teaching keyboarding

The featured artist:

• This week we close with the music of In His Service featuring WELS musicians Dr. Patricia Backhaus and Valerie Floeter (www.adagioconcepts.com) - I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say from their In His Time CD (36:38)

Get involved:

• Add a comment below
• E-mail: welstech@wels.net
• Voice mail: 414-375-2334
• del.icio.us tag: welstech
• Join:
  • WELSTech listserve
  • WELSTech on facebook