185 – Summer Vacations

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast Gail Potratz joins the discussion as we look at summer professional development opportunities.

The discussion:

VacationMake a Plan – As the school year wraps up Gail Potratz, the WELSTech semi-regular classroom technology correspondent from Emanuel in New London, WI, joins Martin and Sallie to discuss ideas for summer enrichment, professional growth and even a little relaxation.

Ministry resources:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

  • (31:49) We basked in the Apple Day afterglow this week:
    • Maren McPeak from St. Mark in Citrus Heights, CA tweeted her favorite iPad app – Air Sketch
    • Philip Wels from St. Paul in New Ulm, MN is an AppleCare fan with experience
    • We made a Apple-WELS Connection with Amanda Voss, senior programmer for Apple, from Apostles in San Jose, CA
  • Via the WELSTech Diigo group we learned about
  • Adam Valleskey from Christ in Juneau, AK has an approved location-based facebook deal –  “Free gift of hearing God’s Word with every visit”
  • Debbie Spriggs from Peace in Hartford, WI recommended SnackTools website widgets
  • Kevin Smith from Christ in Zumbrota, MN pointed us to info on Microsoft Multipoint Server.  He learned of this from the Windows Weekly TWiT Podcast.

Coming up on WELSTech:

(47:05) Episode 186 – Martin and Sallie unveil the updated ShopWELS site as well as a chat with Tim Plath about the Area Lutheran High School Online pilot project. (Release date – 06/01/11)

The featured artist:

(48:22) We close the podcast with the music of Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com and mikewestendorf on Twitter) – Coming Soon from his CD titled “Undefined”

Get involved:

184 – Apple Day

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This week the WELSTech Podcast round table welcomes Apple “Geniuses” Bob Martens and Aaron Spriggs.

The discussion:

A bite of the Apple – Bob Martens and Aaron Spriggs, true Apple fan-boys, cozy up to the podcast microphone to chat with Martin and Sallie about the variety of products available from Apple and the many uses Apple products have in schools and churches.

Apple fans

Picks of the week (Apple-style):

News in tech:

(39:35) Google announces Chromebook

Community feedback:

  • (43:35) Pastor Phil Huebner from Christ the King in Palm Coast, FL gave us a tech update.  In just their 4th year of existence, Christ the King is an all Mac campus (anticipating 200 students next year) using Snap Grades for online grade management, posting sermon archives on Vimeo and considering adding live streaming of their services soon.
  • Join the WELSTech-er efforts to promote the hashtag “callday” on Twitter this week as WELS live streams graduation events from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.

Coming up on WELSTech:

(48:28) Episode 185 – Gail Potratz, our classroom technology diva, joins Martin and Sallie, and we talk about our summer plans for professional development and geeky fun. (Release date – 05/25/11)

The featured artist:

(49:01) We close the podcast with the music of Stephen Bautista (www.stephenbautistamusic.com or stephenbautista on Twitter) – Suddenly from his CD titled “Abandon”

Get involved:

183 – Security and Privacy and Fair Use, Oh My!

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we finish our current book discussion and chat with Greg Boggs about school privacy solutions.

The discussion:

It’s a wrap! – Martin and Sallie finish up their discussion of the current book selection, Leading 21st Century Schools by Lynne Schrum and Barbara B. Levin, with a look at chapters 8 and 9 of the book.  Topics include privacy, acceptable use policies, web site evaluation and the digital divide.

The interview:

Greg Boggs(21:45) Ask the expert – Greg Boggs, a member of St. Mark in Lincoln, NE, joins Martin and Sallie to share his experience with school network content filtering as well as wireless security concerns.

  • SmoothWall Guardian for Education

Ministry resources:

News in tech:

Picks of the week:

  • (50:32) Khan Academy
  • Kensington ComboSaver Master Coded Combination Notebook Lock

Of interest:

  • (54:36) Check out WELS live streaming schedule for the upcoming graduation and call season
  • FinalWeb Training in New Ulm, MN and Milwaukee, WI
    • FinalWeb for Teachers in New Ulm on June 27 and Milwaukee on August 1 – bit.ly/fw4teachers
    • FinalWeb for Dummies in New Ulm June 28-30 and Milwaukee August 2-4 – bit.ly/fw4dummies

Community feedback:

  • (57:00) Joanne Nemmers, school secretary at Calvary in Dallas, TX, is looking for After-School Care management software.  We suggested the open source solution, PHP Timeclock.  Do you have a recommendation?
  • Jonathan Favorite, staff minister at Crosswalk in Phoenix, AZ, suggested WELSTech model LifeHacker’s content delivery approach.
  • Martin shared a promo video for the new CPH graphic novel, Echoes of the Hammer.
  • Jason Schmidt, teacher at Gethsemane in Omaha, NE, shared a link to Haiku LMS (Learning Management System).
  • Sallie shared several links for ministry usage:
    • Sharing Stuff from The Table Project
    • InfoGraphic-a-Day by David Warlick
    • G.O.S.P.E.L. video

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:06:45) Episode 184 – On the menu is “All Things Apple” as Martin and Sallie are joined by Apple Geniuses, Bob and Aaron, to talk about ministry uses of Apple products. (Release date – 05/18/11)

The featured artist:

(1:07:59) We close the podcast with the music of Kevin Loersch – Children of the Heavenly Father from his CD titled “Abide With Me”

Get involved:

182 – Staff Ministry Recap

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we share the tech talk from last week’s 2011 WELS Conference of Staff Ministers.

The discussion:

Martin at the 2011 Staff Ministry ConferenceLots of intersections – Martin and Sallie recap the recent Staff Minister Conference and the various discussions they led for the multi-talented, multi-vocational audience.  It’s neat to see how technology is a thread which crosses the variety of ministry paths in which Staff Ministers are involved.

Ministry resources:

News in tech:

(32:30) Delicious lives

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

  • (40:20) Check out WELS live streaming schedule for the upcoming graduation and call season
  • FinalWeb Training in New Ulm, MN and Milwaukee, WI
    • FinalWeb for Teachers in New Ulm on June 27 and Milwaukee on August 1 – bit.ly/fw4teachers
    • FinalWeb for Dummies in New Ulm June 28-30 and Milwaukee August 2-4 – bit.ly/fw4dummies

Community feedback:

  • (42:10) Teacher Ryan Rosenthal from Faith in Fond du Lac, WI reviewed Meet Me At Midnight from the Smithsonian American Art Museum
  • Teacher Jason Schmidt from Gethsemane in Omaha, NE shared a link to Edutopia resources on assessment

Coming up on WELSTech:

(43:57) Episode 183 – We wrap up the current book discussion with a focus on privacy, reviewing chapters 8 & 9 of Leading 21st Century Schools. (Release date – 05/11/11)

The featured artist:

(44:40) We close the podcast with the music of Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries – You Are My World from their CD titled “Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries”

Get involved: