277 – You’re Gonna Flip!

This week we turn WELSTech upside down as we discuss the growing “flipped classroom” trend with our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, Gail Potratz.

The discussion:

Flipped Classrooms – The idea of providing instructional resources for students to consume at their own pace outside of the classroom and then dedicating classroom time to exploration and individual assistance on a topic is the concept behind “flipping” your classroom. Gail Potratz, Technology Coordinator at Emanuel in New London, WI, joins Martin and Sallie to discuss the basics for flipping lessons, tools to use and some early feedback on outcomes of this technique.

Ministry resources:

(23:47) WordPress for Classrooms

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(44:05) Episode 278 – Pastor Rob Guenther will join Martin and Sallie from Kenai, AK next week and share his tech-in-ministry success stories including his recent self-publishing efforts. (Release date – 03/05/13)

The featured artist:

(44:22) Another new WELS recording artist joins the WELSTech lineup today as we share the music of Michael Armstrong (pinemountainmusic.com) – Overwhelmed

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276 – Let’s Collaborate!

On this edition of the WELSTech Podcast we share many web-based (and often free) tools which assist with all types of collaboration including sharing documents and calendars, creating mind maps and wikis, and holding private conversations and video conference calls.

The discussion:

Working together online – Martin and Sallie share scenarios for online collaboration in church and school ministry and a list of web-based tools that can assist with that process.

The interview:

(21:24) Global collaboration – Pastor Brad Wordell, who serves our synod as Missionary to Japan as well as Coordinator of Asia Publications for Multi-Language Publications, sat down with Martin recently to talk about the management tasks involved in translating gospel resources into many new languages. That work is made easier with the use of online collaborative tools.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(45:08) Episode 277 – You’ll flip over next weeks edtech discussion of flipped classrooms, featuring Gail Potratz in the guest host chair. (Release date – 02/26/13)

The featured artist:

(45:45) We close the podcast with the debut of a new WELS artist, pianist Kirk Meyer (www.kirkmeyer.com) – Chief of Sinners Though I Be

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275 – Before and After

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we review key design principles for effective presentations and talk about a new web find for easy project management.

The discussion:

Design Principles – Martin and Sallie return to their book discussion of  Presentation Zen, by Garr Reynolds, with a look at chapter 6 of the book. This chapter is “worth the price of admission” because of the many before and after slide transformations which are demonstrated.  Concepts of signal-to-noise ratio, respect for empty space, imagery, and concept alignment are discussed.

Sources for stock photography:

Ministry resources:

(15:43) Glo Bible 1.4.3 Update available to fix issues with notes, crashes and synchronization

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(40:17) Episode 276 – Next week’s podcast is dedicated to those who want to start collaborating online, and Martin interviews Missionary Brad Wordell about the collaborative work being done by translators through Multi-Language Publications. (Release date – 02/19/13)

The featured artist:

(41:30) We close the podcast with the music of Cross To Glory (www.facebook.com/crosstoglory) – Rescued

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274 – Digital Learning Day

Today the WELSTech Podcast celebrates Distance Learning Day with ideas for raising awareness of your school’s technology offerings as well as an interview with Profs. Jim Grunwald and Rich Gurgel about the synod school’s online offerings.

The discussion:

Worth celebrating – February 6 is Digital Learning Day, and Martin and Sallie share ideas for celebrating the many ways education is changing as more and more schools integrate technology.

The interview:

(12:04) Profs. in Digital Ed – Dr. Jim Grunwald from Martin Luther College and Pastor Richard Gurgel from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary join Martin and Sallie to discuss the current distance education initiatives being offered by synod schools.

News in tech:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(48:28) Episode 275 – Martin and Sallie return to their current book discussion, looking at chapter 6 of Presentation Zen. (Release date – 02/12/13)

The featured artist:

(49:20) We close the podcast with the instrumental music of In His Service (www.adagioconcepts.com) – Go To Dark Gethsemane

Get involved: