164 – Picks of the Year

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we review the best and worst of 2010.

The discussion:

2010 Picks of the YearReflecting on 2010 – Martin and Sallie review the 2010 Picks of the Week and share their favorites as well as those picks which didn’t make the impact they anticipated that they would.

Coming up on WELSTech:

(38:02) Episode 165 – Next week we celebrate the three-year anniversary of the WELSTech Podcast and review Bible apps for mobile devices.   (Release date 01/05/11)

The featured artist:

(39:17) We close with the music of Koine (www.koinemusic.com | Facebook) – Joy to the World from their CD titled ”Anno Domini”

Get involved:

163 – Continuing Ed and a Contest Winner!

The WELSTech Podcast Christmas week episode includes an interview with Prof. Rich Gurgel on the topic of continuing education as well as our contest wrap up.

The interview:

Prof. Richard Gurgel(3:05) Grow in Grace – Prof. Rich Gurgel from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS) joins Martin and Sallie to talk about Grow in Grace, the Institute for Continuing Education at WLS.  Learn how technology is assisting with the efforts including a new web site and online course offerings.

Christmas 2010 WELSTech Scavenger Hunt:

(20:57) And the winner is Rachel Arnold! Congrats Rachel!  We’ll be in touch to get you your $25 Cafe Press gift certificate to the WELSTech Store.

Here’s the complete list of clues deciphered:

Clue 1 - The solution is found in the greatest book of all time = THE BIBLE

Clue 1 – The solution is found in the greatest book of all time = THE BIBLE

 

Clue 2 - You'll solve the mystery by thinking Greek not Hebrew = NEW TESTAMENT

Clue 2 – You’ll solve the mystery by thinking Greek not Hebrew = NEW TESTAMENT

 

Clue 3 - Look for the disciple whom Jesus loved = JOHN

Clue 3 – Look for the disciple whom Jesus loved = JOHN

Clue 4 - 0.3 + 0.7 = 1

Clue 4 – 0.3 + 0.7 = 1

 

Clue 5 - Number of tribes of Israel + 2 = 14

Clue 5 – Number of tribes of Israel + 2 = 14

And the mystery message is …

John 1:14 – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

A Christmas Message from President Schroeder

Coming up on WELSTech:

(25:37) Episode 164 – Martin and Sallie share their favs from 2010 in the annual “Picks of the Year” episode. (Release date 12/22/10)

The featured artist:

(26:45) We close the podcast with the piano music of Dawn Michelle Williams (www.dawnmichellewilliams.com | Twitter | Facebook | My Space) – Carol of the Bells from her CD titled ”Christmas Dreams”

Get involved:

162 – GTD Meets the Church Office

This week the WELSTech Podcast is all about Getting Things Done in the church and school office, and Staff Minister Jon Ruddat shares his productivity success story.

The discussion:

Office Productivity – Martin and Sallie share ideas for applying the personal Getting Things Done (GTD) productivity process to the church and school office using the 43 Folders technique and also ideas from Death by Meeting.

The interview:

Jon Ruddat(17:10) Star Student – Jon Ruddat, Staff Minister of Administration and Family Ministry at St. Matthew’s in Appleton, WI, was a past student in Martin’s Productivity Winterim session at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.  He shares the highlights of implementing the GTD system and some of his “Mind Like Water” moments.

Click image to view larger

Before & After GTD – Click image to view larger

Ministry resources:

News in Tech:

(40:35) Google Chrome Web Store and Pilot Chrome OS Netbooks

Picks of the week:

Christmas 2010 WELSTech Scavenger Hunt:

(49:38) Week 5 of our latest WELSTech contest is here, and we’ve hidden our “QR Code of the Week” somewhere on the WELSTech site.  Listen each week through December 15th as we reveal clues for finding 5 QR Codes which will point you to a mystery message. Following the December 15th show you can enter the mystery message for a chance to win a $25 Cafe Press gift certificate, where your WELSTech merchandise dreams can come true!  The winner will be selected from all correct entries and announced on our special Christmas week podcast airing December 22nd.

  • This week’s clue to the code location is … The Art of Productivity
  • Get the previous clues: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4
  • Remember, you can use your smartphone or an online decoder to decipher the message.  Have fun!

Solve the mystery message and enter the contest by 11:59 p.m. Monday, December 20, 2010 at

bit.ly/welstechcontest

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:07:50) Episode 163 – Christmas week arrives as we talk with Prof. Richard Gurgel about the WELS Continuing Education program, Grow in Grace, and we select our contest winner. (Release date 12/22/10)

The featured artist:

(1:08:55) We close the podcast with the music of Michael Schroeder (www.michaelschroeder.com and on Facebook) – The Reason for the Season from his CD also titled ”The Reason for the Season”

Get involved:

161 – You Too Can Be A Walking Jukebox!

This week the WELSTech Podcast is loaded with tech teaching tools to enhance your classroom planning.

The discussion:

More Tech Tools to Consider – Continuing the current WELSTech book discussion of Leading 21st Century Schools, Martin and Sallie highlight a few of the tech tools discussed in chapter 4 where the focus is on primary resources, peripheral devices and subject-specific resources.

The interview:

Ryan Rathje(19:24) Trinity Technology – Teacher Ryan Rathje from Trinity in Belle Plaine, MN joins Martin and Sallie to share tech integration ideas from the trenchs including new programs they have implemented with netbooks, iPods, an online gradebook and more.  Mac users will also appreciate Ryan’s list of favorite Mac teaching tools.

Ministry resources:

News in Tech:

(39:15) ROAMpay mobile credit card reader

Picks of the week:

Christmas 2010 WELSTech Scavenger Hunt:

(45:45) Week 4 of our latest WELSTech contest is here, and we’ve hidden our “QR Code of the Week” somewhere on the WELSTech site.  Listen each week through December 15th as we reveal clues for finding 5 QR Codes which will point you to a mystery message. Following the December 15th show you can enter the mystery message for a chance to win a $25 Cafe Press gift certificate, where your WELSTech merchandise dreams can come true!  The winner will be selected from all correct entries and announced on our special Christmas week podcast airing December 22nd.

  • This week’s clue to the code location is … Photography in the Classroom.
  • Get the previous clues: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3
  • Remember, you can use your smartphone or an online decoder to decipher the message.  Have fun!

Community feedback:

  • (47:15) Martin shared a link to The Great Bible Shift from Catalyst Space
  • Sallie shared Mashable’s 5 Innovative Classroom Management Tools that she had never heard of
  • Maren McPeak from St. Mark’s in Citrus Heights, CA tweeted a question for WELSTech-ers … “Anyone develop an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) for k-8 students that references use of network, Google App and/or Moodle accounts?”
  • David Schumann from Peace in Janesville, WI shared a caution about “Toner Pirates”

Coming up on WELSTech:

(54:25) Episode 162 – GTD (Getting Things Done) meets the church office on next week’s office administration podcast, and we interview Staff Minister Jon Ruddat. (Release date 12/15/10)

The featured artist:

(55:32) We close the podcast with the music of Kevin Loersch – Mary Did You Know from his CD titled ”O Holy Night”

Get involved:

160 – Diigo

This week the WELSTech Podcast round table includes two guest hosts, and the topic of the day is social bookmarking and more with Diigo.

The discussion:

Digging Diigo – Gail Potratz (gailpotratz on Twitter) from Emanuel in New London, WI and Jason Schmidt (jasonschmidt123 on Twitter) from Gethsemane in Omaha, NE  join Martin and Sallie to talk all things Diigo, the Web 2.0 social bookmarking and annotation tool that is so much more!

Gail Potratz and Jason Schmidt

Ministry resources:

(15:36) Shepherd’s Staff church management software year end process

Picks of the week:

Christmas 2010 WELSTech Scavenger Hunt:

(32:39) Week 3 of our latest WELSTech contest is here, and we’ve hidden our “QR Code of the Week” somewhere on the WELSTech site.  Listen each week through December 15th as we reveal clues for finding 5 QR Codes which will point you to a mystery message. Following the December 15th show you can enter the mystery message for a chance to win a $25 Cafe Press gift certificate, where your WELSTech merchandise dreams can come true!  The winner will be selected from all correct entries and announced on our special Christmas week podcast airing December 22nd.

  • This week’s clue to the code location is … Lighthouse Museum.
  • Get the previous clues: Week 1 | Week 2
  • Remember, you can use your smartphone or an online decoder to decipher the message.  Have fun!

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(42:23) Episode 161 – Our book discussion of Leading 21st Century Schools continues as we dig into Chapter 4. (Release date 12/08/10)

The featured artist:

(45:20) We close the podcast with the music of  Revelation, a music ministry of Wisconsin Lutheran College (www.revelationwlc.com) – A Voice Cries Out from their “Led by the Light” CD

Get involved:

159 – A "Show" of Intrigue

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we interview Vicar Donald Tilbury about web conferencing with distance catechism students.

The discussion:

Web Conferencing – Martin and Sallie look at the What, Why (from a ministry perspective) and How of web conferencing as they detail four free tools for desktop sharing.

The interview:

Vicar Donald Tilbury(16:15) The First WELSTech Vicar – Vicar Donald Tilbury who serves Gethsemane in Omaha, NE joined Martin and Sallie to share his catechism web conferencing success story and a cool new mapping tool as well.

Ministry resources:

  • (31:28) NIV 1984, the previous, widely used New International Version Bible translation, is available for FinalWeb customers

News in Tech:

(34:50) Google Code-in for Students launches

Picks of the week:

Christmas 2010 WELSTech Scavenger Hunt:

(48:23) Week 2 of our latest WELSTech contest is here, and we’ve hidden our “QR Code of the Week” somewhere on the WELSTech site.  Listen each week through December 15th as we reveal clues for finding 5 QR Codes which will point you to a mystery message. Following the December 15th show you can enter the mystery message for a chance to win a $25 Cafe Press gift certificate, where your WELSTech merchandise dreams can come true!  The winner will be selected from all correct entries and announced on our special Christmas week podcast airing December 22nd.

  • This week’s clue to the code location is … Mikogo.
  • Get the Week 1 clue.
  • Remember, you can use your smartphone or an online decoder to decipher the message.  Have fun!

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:01:58) Episode 160 – We double our host chatter with the welcome addition of Gail Potratz and Jason Schmidt, and the topic of the day is Diigo.  (Release date 12/01/10)

The featured artist:

(1:03:24) We close the podcast with the music of Stephen Bautista (www.stephenbautistamusic.com or stephenbautista on Twitter) – Brand New Day from his CD titled ”Abandon”

Get involved:

158 – Barcodes, Newsletters, and the NIV

This week the WELSTech Podcast returns to the church and school office to look at newsletter production.

The discussion:

Those newsy newsletters – Martin and Sallie share tips and tricks related to church and school newsletters, covering everything from software and templates to imagery and e-news services with a bit of discussion of frequency, audience and content as well.

The interview:

(18:55) Publishing the Good News – Naomi Henkel from Mt. Calvary in Redding, CA recently talked with Sallie about the production of her congregation’s newsletter.  She also shared ideas for creating a motivating congregational time and talent survey.

Ministry resources:

Picks of the week:

WELSTech contest:

(50:05) Beginning today and continuing each week through December 15th we’ll release a series of 5 clues in the WELSTech “Christmas 2010 Scavenger Hunt“.  Use these 5 clues to locate a mystery message and enter it for a chance to win a $25 Cafe Press gift certificate, where your WELSTech merchandise dreams can come true!  The winner will be selected from all correct entries and announced on our special Christmas week podcast airing December 22nd.

This week we’ll make it easy and post the first clue image on this page.  You’ll have to find the future clue images somewhere on the WELSTech web site.

 Clue #1

clue1

Remember, you can use your smartphone or an online decoder to decipher the message.  Have fun!

Community feedback:

  • (52:19) Kevin Smith from Christ in Zumbrota, MN shared information on their church basement audio project.  Look for details and equipment links on the WELSTech Wiki > Audio Equipment page.

Coming up on WELSTech:

(54:19) Episode 159 – We’ll delve into the topic of web conferencing and talk to Vicar Donald Tilbury about using the web to connect with long-distance catechism students.  (Release date 11/24/10)

The featured artist:

(55:15) We close the podcast with the music of Kevin Loersch – Advent Medley from his CD titled ”O Holy Night”

Get involved:

157 – Synapse

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we return to our Leading 21st Century Schools book discussion and interview Synapse game developer, Carol Laitinen.

The discussion:

Web 2.0 Tools for the Classroom – Martin and Sallie talk through chapter 3 of Leading 21st Century Schools, the current book discussion.  You can catch up on previous chapters in the podcast archive. In this chapter the book transitions from a theoretical look at the education environment of today to a practical look at some of the leading software resources that students can use for collaboration, communication and creation.

The interview:

Carol Laitinen(17:40) Teamwork at the Speed of Laughter – Carol Laitinen from St. John’s in New Ulm, MN joins Martin and Sallie to share the story of the development of her party game, Synapse.

News in tech:

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(52:20) View the live video stream of WELS Regional Choral Fest from Manitowoc Lutheran High School at wels.net/streams/live

  • Pops Concert – Friday, November 12 at 7 p.m. CST
  • Sacred Concert – Sunday, November 14 at 2 p.m. CST

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(57:49) Episode 158 – It’s “Office Administrator’s Week” again on WELSTech as we look at all things related to church newsletters and e-news.  (Release date 11/17/10)

The featured artist:

(58:50) This week we feature the music of  Koine (www.koinemusic.com | Facebook) – Built on the Rock from their CD titled ”Koine II”

Get involved:

156 – Microphones, Janet Jackson, and Milk

This week the WELSTech Podcast discussion includes congregation tech topics such as wireless microphones, projection solutions, electronic signs, online social media presence and more.

The discussion:

New Tech in Sleepy Eye – Martin and Sallie review the newest techie additions in Sallie’s congregation, St. John’s in Sleepy Eye, MN.

Rear Projection Screen

Tech Planning – Mark Salzwedel, a member of Christ in Eden Prairie, WI, wrote WELSTech because his congregation was looking for direction and contacts to assist with some technology planning they are undertaking.

Ministry resources:

News in tech:

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(32:15) View the live video stream of WELS Regional Choral Fest from Manitowoc Lutheran High School at wels.net/streams/live

  • Pops Concert – Friday, November 12 at 7 p.m. CST
  • Sacred Concert – Sunday, November 14 at 2 p.m. CST

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(44:55) Episode 157 – WELSTech hits the books as we look at chapter 3 of Leading 21st Century Schools.  (Release date 11/10/10)

The featured artist:

(46:05) This week we feature the music of Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries (http://www.crosswalkphoenix.com/worship/music.aspx) – You Are My World from their CD titled ”Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries”

Get involved:

155 – Teachers’ Conference Redux

The WELSTech Podcast conversation this week is around fall teachers’ conferences.

The discussion:

TeacherTech – The WELSTech semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, Gail Potratz, from Emanuel in New London, WI joins Martin and Sallie as we recap the recent Minnesota District Lutheran Teachers’ Conference.  Special thanks to Jason Hahn, Beth Fischer, Heidi Horak, Kay Abts, Andrea Hahm, and Justin Krause for adding their voices to today’s podcast!

MN District Lutheran Teachers Conference

Ministry resources:

Picks of the week:

WELS.net feature:

(43:12) WELS Locator Search geo-location files – Use your GPS or Google Earth to find any WELS church or school in the US & Canada

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(55:20) Episode 156 – Martin and Sallie talk about St. John’s, Sleepy Eye, new DIY rear projection screen and new wireless mics.  (Release date 11/03/10)

The featured artist:

(56:05) This week we feature the music of Branches Band (www.branchesband.com | Facebook) – Renew Me, O Eternal Light from their CD titled ”Light Eternal”

Get involved: