225 – Textbooks and Technologies

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It’s education week on the WELSTech Podcast, and Gail Potratz joins the discussion on the future of textbooks.

The discussion:

Is the textbook dead? – Teacher and technology coordinator Gail Potratz from Emanuel in New London, WI is back to talk with Martin and Sallie about the variety of options for one to one computing – from laptops and netbooks to Chromebooks and iPads – and the variety of electronic textbook options available.

Ministry resources:

(20:12) Bible Audio Pronunciation – (iOS app | Lite (Free) app | Overview Video)

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

  • (30:44) Links shared in the WELSTech Diigo group this week include …
    • 101+ ways to use Interactive White Board/SMART Board
    • Adobe Education Exchange
    • Evernote for Schools – Introductory Blog Post
    • Spongelab – A Global Science Community
    • OnLive Desktop – David Pogue’s Review
    • Rover
    • Shrink O’Matic

Coming up on WELSTech:

(40:00) Episode 226 – Tune in next week for more edtech goodies as Martin and Sallie count down the 7 Best Teacher Resource Sites. (Release date – 03/07/12)

The featured artist:

(41:07) This week we close with the music of Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries – You Are My World

Get involved:

224 – Internet Safety

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast the discussion topics are Internet Safety and Cyberbullying.

The discussion:

God-Pleasing Digital Citizens – Martin recently did an Internet Safety presentation for parents and students at Faith in Fond du Lac, WI and shares resources he developed for the presentation.

  • Martin’s Internet Safety resources:
  • A Parents’ Guide to Facebook Safety

The interview:

(15:07) Cyberbullying expert – Dr. Justin Patchin, Co-Director of the Cyberbullying Research Center and Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, shares tips with Martin and Sallie on combating cyberbullying proactively and dealing with cyberbullying incidents when they do occur.

Ministry resources:

(31:33) Use Pinterest to share the Christian Good News

Picks of the week:

7 Best:

(41:37) On the March 7th episode of WELSTech we’ll countdown our next 7 Best list, and listeners can be part of the list creation.  Simply let us know your favorite

Teacher Resource Sites

You can tweet us using #WELSTech, write on our Facebook or Google+ wall, leave a voicemail (405-FOR-WELS), send an e-mail, mail it in on a carrier pigeon or whatever method you want to use.  Just let us know what you think is best!

Community feedback:

  • (42:47) Tom Rosenow Principal of St. John’s, Pigeon, MI shared a link to Color Wizard for generating web page color schemes.
  • Gail Potratz from Emanuel in New London, WI phoned in her recommendation of Clea.nr for viewing YouTube safely.
  • Ryan Rosenthal from Faith in Fond du Lac, WI shared a link to an interesting edtech article entitled Using technology in the classroom requires experience and guidance
  • Pastor Rob Guenther from Grace in Kenai, AK shared a link to Gospel eBooks
  • Read the discussion about prospect database solutions on the In The WELS group boards at LinkedIn
  • Via the WELSTech Facebook page, Pastor Mark Parsons from Christ the King in Port Charlotte, FL shared a link to their Easter event page on Facebook, Journey to the Cross
  • Links shared in the WELSTech Diigo group this week include …

Coming up on WELSTech:

(54:05) Episode 225 – Next week we welcome guest host teacher Gail Potratz, and we discuss the future of textbooks on our ed-tech focused episode. (Release date – 02/29/12)

The featured artist:

(55:15) We close the podcast with the music of The Branches Band (www.branchesband.com|Facebook) – Nothing But the Blood from their “Sing, My Tongue” CD

Get involved:

223 – May I Introduce To You …

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On the WELSTech Podcast this week we look at ways to effectively introduce tech initiatives in your congregation.

The discussion:

The “techie” congregation guide – Martin and Sallie discuss ways to implement technology in the congregation (spoiler = SLOWLY!!) and identify areas that may be prime for the tech touch including electronic news, social networks and screencast tours of your web site.

The interview:

(19:25) Congregation e-Bible reading – Pastors Dan Witte (Risen Savior, Lakewood Ranch, FL) and Emile Burgess (Trinity, Caledonia, WI) join Martin and Sallie to talk about the electronic Bible reading projects they’ve each recently launched in their respective congregations.

Picks of the week:

7 Best:

(50:32) On the March 7th episode of WELSTech we’ll countdown our next 7 Best list, and listeners can be part of the list creation.  Simply let us know your favorite

Teacher Resources Web Sites

You can tweet us using #WELSTech, write on our Facebook or Google+ wall, leave a voicemail (405-FOR-WELS), send an e-mail, mail it in on a carrier pigeon or whatever method you want to use.  Just let us know what you think is best!

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(58:45) Episode 224 – Next week the WELSTech chatter is all about safety on the Internet – at home and at school. (Release date – 02/22/12)

The featured artist:

(59:47) We close the podcast with the music of Dawn Michelle Williams (www.dawnmichellewilliams.com | Twitter | Facebook | My Space) – Beautiful Savior with Canon in D from her CD titled ”Inspirations”

Get involved:

222 – Room 222

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It’s book discussion week on the WELSTech Podcast as we examine the adapted definition of “community”.

The discussion:

How do you define community? – Martin and Sallie trip down memory lane to the days of Room 222 as they discuss chapter 5 of Jesse Rice’s book, The Church of Facebook, and the sometimes generational differences in the definition of community.

Ministry resources:

  • (16:05) View sample congregational and school videos created using iMovie on an iPad. Do you have sample video projects to share?

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

7 Best:

(34:49) On the March 7th episode of WELSTech we’ll countdown our next 7 Best list, and listeners can be part of the list creation.  Simply let us know your favorite

Teacher Resources Web Sites

You can tweet us using #WELSTech, write on our Facebook or Google+ wall, leave a voicemail (405-FOR-WELS), send an e-mail, mail it in on a carrier pigeon or whatever method you want to use.  Just let us know what you think is best!

Coming up on WELSTech:

(35:36) Episode 223 – We’ll share tips for introducing your congregation to technology and talk with two pastors who are currentlyrunning successful e-mail Bible reading campaigns. (Release date – 02/15/12)

The featured artist:

(36:55) We close the podcast with the music of  Revelation, a music ministry of Wisconsin Lutheran College (www.revelationwlc.com) – Via Dolorosa from the CD titled “Once For All”

Get involved:

221 – 7 Best Digital Bible Study Tools

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This week the WELSTech Podcast features a discussion of our 7 Best Digital Bible Study Tools.

The discussion:

Something New – Pastor Aaron Frey joins Martin and Sallie as we countdown WELSTech’s first ever “7 Best” list.

Digital Bible Study Tools

  1. BibleGateway
  2. People’s Bible on Kindle, Nook and Logos
  3. Glo Bible
  4. WELS ONLINE mobile app for iOS and Android
  5. BibleWorks
  6. Logos
  7. YouVersion

Follow the development of PearlVault on Facebook.

The interview:

(28:45) From the Pastor’s perspective – Pastor Stephen Daley from Petra in Sauk Rapids, MN chats with Martin and Sallie about his favorite Bible study tools and shares a helpful tip for syncing BibleWorks notes across multiple devices.

Picks of the week:

  • (51:08) Great Treasures
  • Logitech Tablet Keyboard for iPad
  • Evernote Clearly

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:08:14) Episode 222 – We return to our discussion of The Church of Facebook – Chapter 5, Adaptation. (Release date – 02/08/12)

The featured artist:

(1:09:19) We close the podcast with the music of L. A. Miller – Flyin’ Free from the CD titled “Night and Day”

Get involved: