291 – What The Internet Is Doing To Your Brain

Today on WELSTech we tackle a potentially scary topic – your brain on the Internet! David Tess joins us to calm our fears and talk about the new wiring that is going on in today’s brains. We also have a listener book review, some vacation tech ideas, a WELS.net feature and feedback from the awesome WELSTech community!

The interview and discussion:

(3:21) How You Think – Professor David Tess from Wisconsin Lutheran College talks with Martin and Sallie about his upcoming presentation for the Wisconsin Lutheran Teachers’ Conference on the effect of the Internet on brain development. Different connections are made in the brain today because of the massive amounts of information that is being processed. And with all of the information coming into the brain, it is extremely hard to have deep thought processes on most of it.

• The Shallows by Nicholas Carr
• Google is Making Us Stupid by Nicholas Carr
• How Does Online World Affect Your Thinking [Video] – interview with author Nicholas Carr
• Psychological effects of Internet use – Wikipedia

Listener reviews:

• (30:02) Pastor Geoff Kragen reviews two books on the Biblical translation process
• Also on Pastor Kragen’s blog, a WELSTech inspired post on the possibilities of “community” forming via social networks

Picks of the week:

• (33:17) Sallie’s Summer Vacation Tech Series #3 – Staying connected from the road
  • 4G Mobile Hotspot from T-Mobile
  • Twitter via SMS
• Google Music

WELS.net feature:

(41:20) Find a church or school using the WELS Locator online or in the WELS Mobile app. It’s a good idea to verify your own church or school listing and e-mail updates or photos to [email protected].

Community feedback:

• (44:12)Thanks Jimmy Holub for many updates on the WELSTech Wiki in the Event and Worship Technology area
• Christian Crowd Writing Discussion Forum – Christ In Media Institute
• Nancy Duarte interview on TechSmith’s “The Forge” podcast – TED Talk
• Write Box

Coming up on WELSTech:

(51:27) Episode 292 – Summer is officially ON for WELSTech next week as we kick off our summer “Church and School Website Content” series. Listen all summer as Martin and Sallie collaborate on an e-book on the topic. First up … The Home Page. (Release date – 06/11/13)

The featured artist:

(53:12) We close the podcast with the music of Cross To Glory (www.facebook.com/crosstoglory) – One Name

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