248 – Summer Software Showcase: FreeMind

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we look at the free, open-source mind mapping software, FreeMind.

The discussion:

For non-linear brains – Cross-platform FreeMind maps its way onto the Summer Software Showcase stage as Martin and Sallie discuss the basics of mind mapping and how a mind mapping tool can enhance your ministry efforts.

Ministry Uses

  1. Outline your sermons, devotions, Bible studies, text studies, etc.
  2. Lesson planning
  3. Presentations
  4. Meeting notes
  5. Brainstorming – capture ideas for student projects for school, church events, etc.

Other software options

Picks of the week:

7 Best:

(26:47) Send us your favorite Password Management Tips and Tools for inclusion in our September 7 Best list

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(40:23) Episode 249 – Next week’s Summer Software Showcase feature will be the GloBible. How will we possibly narrow the Ministry Uses list to just 5?? (Release date – 08/15/12)

The featured artist:

(40:50)  We close the podcast with the instrumental music of In His Service (www.adagioconcepts.com) – O Lord, Send Forth Your Spirit 

Get involved:

247 – 7 Best Ministry Gadgets

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we countdown the 7 best ministry gadgets.

The discussion:

Bright & Shiny – This month WELSTech-ers really chimed in to share their favorite Ministry Gadgets, and Martin and Sallie count down the top picks.

Ministry Gadgets

  1. Anything Free
  2. Scanner and other input devices
  3. Favorite tech buddy
  4. Mobile Wi-Fi
  5. Tablet
    • iPadsInMinistry
  6. Computer or laptop
  7. Smartphone

Coming up in September … 7 Best Password Management Tools and Tips

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(32:11) Episode 248 – The WELSTech Summer Software Showcase returns, and we look at 5 ministry uses of FreeMind, a free open-source mind mapping tool. (Release date – 08/08/12)

The featured artist:

(33:20) We close the podcast with the music of instrumentalist Joey Schumann (JoeySchumann.com | Joey on Facebook) – In You Is Gladness

Get involved:

246 – Summer Software Showcase: BatchGeo

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Taking the WELSTech Summer Software Showcase stage this week is BatchGeo, a Web 2.0 map generation tool.

The discussion:

Map It! – Harnessing the power of Google Maps to map a collection of data is just what this week’s Summer Software Showcase featured web site, BatchGeo, is good for.  Listen as Martin and Sallie discuss site features and ideas for use in ministry settings.  An added mapping bonus mention is made of Google Earth. Listen for more on Google Earth in the WELSTech archives – Episode 172.

Ministry Uses

  1. Map your church membership or school families
  2. Map ministry groups – for Elder assignment, small group Bible study and more
  3. Geo-locate addresses and import into other software such as Google Earth and various church management software
  4. Use in education – great for Geography and other Social Studies subjects as well as many others
  5. Map lists of prospective church members or school families for outreach

Sample Map

View WELS & ELS FinalWeb Customer Sites in a full screen map

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(40:07) Episode 247 – Next week Martin and Sallie countdown the 7 Best Ministry Gadgets. What is your favorite shiny thing? (Release date – 08/01/12)

The featured artist:

(42:40)  We close the podcast with the music of Corban Creek – It Seems To Be The Day 

Get involved:

245 – Summer Software Showcase: PicMonkey

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This week the WELSTech Podcast showcase software is online image editor, PicMonkey.

The discussion:

Online image editing – This week our Summer Software Showcase focus is PicMonkey, the easy, intuitive and fun image editor and flexible collage maker in the cloud.  Martin and Sallie share big old monkey grins as they contemplate the possibilities for ministry.

Ministry Uses

  1. Web site images
  2. Newsletters
  3. Presentations
  4. Pictorial directories
  5. Brochures and promotional material

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(29:24) Episode 246 – The Summer Software Showcase fun continues next week (Same bat time … Same bat channel!) as Martin and Sallie discuss the ministry uses of BatchGeo. (Release date – 07/25/12)

The featured artist:

(29:51)  We close the podcast with the music of Michael Schroeder (www.michaelschroeder.com and on Facebook) – John 3:16 

Get involved:

244 – Summer Software Showcase: Vimeo

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we look at the video hosting platform Vimeo.

The discussion:

Video Hosting – Vimeo and Vimeo Plus are on the Summer Software Showcase stage as Martin and Sallie discuss many ministry uses and examples of the video hosting platform.

Ministry Uses

  1. Sermon videos
  2. Embed videos on your web site
  3. Promotional videos
  4. Bible class videos
  5. Flipped classroom

Picks of the week:

  • (12:20) TypingWeb
  • Browser Tab Switching Keyboard Shortcuts
    • Control + Tab – cycle through tabs
    • Control + Number – Go to a specific tab – In Safari use Command + Shilft + Left and Right Arrows
    • Control/Command + W – Close a tab
    • Control/Command + T – Opens a new tab

7 Best:

(19:52) Send us your favorite Ministry Gadgets for inclusion in our August 7 Best list

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(30:02) Episode 245 – Wear your biggest monkey grin to next week’s Summer Software Showcase podcast as Martin and Sallie talk about ministry uses for PicMonkey. (Release date – 07/18/12)

The featured artist:

(30:46)  We close the podcast with the music of  Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com and mikewestendorf on Twitter) – Come 

Get involved:

243 – 7 Best Webmaster Resources

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we countdown the 7 best webmaster resources.

The discussion:

A patriotic salute to webmasters  – Martin and Sallie celebrate the 4th of July with a countdown of the best-of-the-best tools for creating great web sites.

7 Best Webmaster ResourcesWebmaster Resources

  1. Kuler by Adobe
  2. Stock Photography
  3. PicMonkey
  4. Embed content
  5. RSS
  6. Code
  7. Content Management System (CMS)

Coming up in August … 7 Best Ministry Gadgets

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(39:11) Episode 244 – The WELSTech Summer Software Showcase returns, and we look at 5 ministry uses of the popular video hosting site Vimeo. (Release date – 07/11/12)

The featured artist:

(39:46) We close the podcast with the music of Stephen Bautista (www.stephenbautistamusic.com or stephenbautista on Twitter) – Grace Beyond My Need

Get involved:

242 – Summer Software Showcase: Schoology

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast the discussion covers the education management platform Schoology.

The discussion:

Learning Management – Martin and Sallie shine the Summer Software Showcase spotlight on the online learning management system Schoology.

Visit the WELSTech demo course by logging into Schoology

Ministry Uses

  1. Classroom course management
  2. Catechism class
  3. Online Bible study
  4. Study and faculty groups
  5. School communication

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(26:47) Episode 243 – Celebrate Independence Day with Martin and Sallie as we count down our latest 7 Best list.  This month we focus on the best webmaster resources. (Release date – 07/04/12)

The featured artist:

(27:58)  This week we close the podcast with the music of Kevin Loersch – When Love Is Found 

Get involved:

241 – Summer Software Showcase: Google Calendar

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we take an in-depth look at all the ways Google calendar can make life easier.

The discussion:

Calendaring – Continuing the 2012 Summer Software Showcase series, Martin and Sallie discuss the free Google Calendar tool and it’s many church, school and personal uses.

Ministry Uses

  1. Church and school event management and communication – web embed & print
  2. Meeting scheduling
  3. Resource scheduling
  4. Specialty calendaring
  5. Mobile access

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 242 – Next up in the WELSTech Summer Software Showcase is Schoology for online learning, classroom management and social networking. (Release date – 06/27/12)

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(27:37) FinalWeb training – This summer we’re offering online training on web site creation and maintenance using the FinalWeb system.   And, for the first time, we’ll be using Google Hangouts.  Hurry, registration closes July 24th!!

Community feedback:

The featured artist:

(42:18)  This week we close the podcast with the music of Koine (www.koinemusic.com | Facebook) – Built on the Rock 

Get involved:

240 – Summer Software Showcase: Jing

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we take an in-depth look at Jing screencasting software.

The discussion:

Let me count the ways – Martin and Sallie kick off the 2012 Summer Software Showcase series with a look at free screencasting software Jing from TechSmith.

Ministry Uses

  1. Web site tour
  2. Internal software demonstrations
  3. Flip your classroom
  4. Have students produce video projects
  5. Tech support

More ideas for using Jing

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

  • (25:36) Our next 7 Best list will be revealed on the 4th of July (how patriotic of us!), and listeners can be part of the list creation.  Simply let us know your favorite Webmaster Resources.
  • FinalWeb training – This summer we’re offering online training on web site creation and maintenance using the FinalWeb system.   And, for the first time, we’ll be using Google Hangouts.  Hurry, registration closes July 24th!!

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 241 – Oops!  We may not have announced it on the show, but next week the WELSTech Summer Software Showcase topic is Google Calendars. (Release date – 06/20/12)

The featured artist:

(50:30)  This week we close with the instrumental music of flutist Jeannine Dennis – Sheep May Safely Graze 

Get involved:

239 – 7 Best Bookmarking Tools

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we countdown the 7 best bookmarking tools.

The discussion:

Save that link – Martin and Sallie’s discussion today centers around recommendations for cloud-based bookmarking and organizing.

7 Best Bookmarking ToolsBookmarking Tools

  1. Pinboard.in
  2. StumbleUpon
  3. Chrome Syncing
  4. Pinterest – It’s All About the Image [Infographic]
  5. Xmarks
  6. Evernote
  7. Diigo

Coming up in July … 7 Best Webmaster Resources

Ministry resources:

(26:55) Power to the Pews: Internal Marketing from Church Marketing Sucks

Picks of the week:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(37:30) Episode 240 – The WELSTech Summer Software Showcase debut is on schedule for next week.  Don’t miss this in-depth look at a particular software and review of its ministry uses. (Release date – 06/13/12)

The featured artist:

(38:20) This week we close with the music of Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries – Dive Into God’s Word from their CD titled ”Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries”

Get involved: