064 – Who needs an encyclopedia?

This week on WELSTech Martin, Sallie and Gail discuss Personal Learning Networks (PLNs) and Patti Ullsperger from Lenovo updates us on exciting new classroom technology.

Podcast: Download (29.4MB)

The discussion:

Defining PLNs – Gail Potratz, our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent and Technology Coordinator at Emanuel in New London, joins Martin and Sallie for a look at Personal Learning Networks – what they are and how to start your own.
- Personal Learning Networks – The Beginning from David Warlick
- 5 Things You Can Do to Begin Developing Your Personal Learning Network from the Innovative Educator blog

The interview:

Classroom technology by Lenovo (22:58) – Patti Ullsperger from computer maker and ShopWELS.net vendor Lenovo joins Martin and Sallie to share information on the newest technologies Lenovo offers to enhance classroom learning.
- Lenovo deals for WELS

The tidbits:

Picks of the week (37:19)
- Desktop app for Twitter – www.twhirl.org
  - Follow us on Twitter – gailpotratz, welstechtrainer & mspriggs
- Presentation Mind Map by Maria Anderson – There’s more to the Web than Facebook!
  - For starters, check out the Classroom 2.0 links (Quizlet) and Supplementing Your Learning links (Wolfgram Demonstrations)
  - Listen to our interview with Maria
  - Read Maria’s blog – www.teachingcollegemath.com
  - Follow Maria on Twitter – busynessgirl
- Exercise and nutrition with a social twist – www.gyminee.com
New technology showcase (46:15)
- Internet Explorer 8 – www.microsoft.com/ie8
Community feedback (52:56)
- The PDF conversation started in our last episode continues:
  - Joshua Schoeneck, Director of Technology at Kettle Moraine LHS, cautioned that some users don’t have the PDF reader, particularly in foreign countries
  - Perry Lund from Grace in Oskaloosa, IA shared a link to PDF Shrink, a Mac PDF tool for optimization
  - Rob Benson, our own WELS Security Administrator, agreed that free PDF solutions can solve many needs. His comment was on Sallie’s facebook post about the podcast. Why not share today’s podcast on your favorite social sites using the row of icons at the bottom of today’s show notes?
  - Pastor Dan Witte from Risen Savior in Lakewood Ranch, FL reminded us to consider encryption and password protection of sensitive PDF docs
- Pastor Tim Wagner of Abiding Peace in Elgin, IL asked how to create an RSS feed of a web page that doesn’t have a feed. Try www.ponyfish.com.
Coming up on WELSTech (1:00:04)
- Episode 065 – Tune in to our April Fool’s Day broadcast for a new contest announcement and a security discussion with Rob Benson

The featured artist:

We close with the music of WELS insrumentalist In His Service (www.adagioconcepts.com) – Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow from their fourth CD titled In Our Hearts (1:01:54)