322 – The Best of 2013

Don’t miss this last WELSTech Podcast of 2013 as Martin and Sallie review the entire year of WELSTech content and share some of their favorite moments. From Pinterest to Bread for Beggars, The Shallows to new smartphones, WELSTech Camp to MathCounts and healthy doses of Google Apps for Education and Chromebooks to boot, the past year didn’t disappoint in terms of tech-in-ministry progress.

The discussion:

What a year – Martin and Sallie look back at 2013, a very full year of WELSTech goodness including memorable interviews, new tech-enhanced ministry efforts, outstanding picks, reviews and episodes and face-to-face meetings with members of the WELSTech community. There were even cupcakes as we celebrated the 300th WELSTech episode. Join us for a trip down memory lane!

(2:30) Favorite events

(8:15) New and notable WELS tech-in-ministry
(15:55) Favorite episodes

Coming up on WELSTech:

(49:25) Episode 323 – Join Martin and Sallie as we start year 7 of the WELSTech Podcast with a look ahead at WELSTech in 2014. (Release date – 01/07/14)

Music download:

(49:49) We continue to celebrate the Christmas season with a free music download from CrossWalk (YouTube | iTunes) – He Is The Life

Get involved:

321 – Christmas Eve With A Good Book

Celebrate Christmas Eve with a special WELSTech interview.  Martin and Sallie talk with the new president of Northwestern Publishing House, Bill Ziche, about his immediate and long range vision for NPH. Merry Christmas WELSTech-ers!

The interview:

Within WELS and beyond –  Martin and Sallie interview with Bill Ziche, President of Northwestern Publishing House, about his first 6 months on the job and his goal of making NPH relevant today and into the future in hopes of spreading the gospel message to all.

Coming up on WELSTech:

(21:13) Episode 322 – Martin and Sallie head down memory lane to review the best episodes, events, interviews, picks, reviews and more from WELSTech 2013. (Release date – 12/31/13)

Music download:

(21:45) As a special treat on Christmas Eve, enjoy a free download from pianist Dawn Michelle Williams (www.dawnmichellewilliams.com | Twitter | Facebook) – Away In A Manger

Get involved:

320 – Getting Mobile With Ministry

As 2013 winds down, Martin and Sallie share the last regular WELSTech episode of the year with a focus on in-your-pocket mobile technology which reaches all corners of the world and which can be used for personal spiritual growth and to enhance gospel outreach efforts locally and around the world.

The interview:

(3:42) Worldwide mobile outreach – Pastor Tom Kuster, Director of the Christ in Media Institute (CIMI) at Bethany Lutheran College, talks with Martin and Sallie about their current Christian Smart-Phone Project for world mission mobile outreach.

The discussion:

(20:14) Favorite mobile apps – It’s show-and-tell time as Martin and Sallie share some of their favorite mobile apps, with a focus on those that enhance personal and public ministry efforts. We’d love to hear from you about any of your favorite apps which we failed to mention!

Personal

Pastoral

Education

Productivity

Other Favs

Social

Tech tips:

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(52:50) Tune in for the streamed Christmas concert, Emmanuel Lux by Koine – December 19 at 7:00 pm via WELS Streams

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:06:25) Episode 321 – Join Martin and Sallie for the WELSTech Christmas Eve special interview with Bill Ziche, President of Northwestern Publishing House. (Release date – 12/24/13)

Music download:

(1:07:20) This week enjoy a free Christmas music download from WELS artist Kevin Loersch, arranged by Linda Moeller  – O Come, Little Children

Get involved:

319 – eBooks For All … Even Ding-A-Lings

On WELSTech today we look at how ebooks are changing the way we read as we return to our current book discussion of The Shallows by Nicholar Carr. HymnSoft Version 3 was recently released so we talk with folks behind the project and take a look at the software in action. Also there is much to share in the Community Feedback mailbag including a fantastic video that was recently released by Lakeside Lutheran High School. Sallie is dingy, and Martin does something never before done on WELSTech. Don’t miss it!

The discussion:

The great eBook debate – Chapter 6 of Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows, titled “The Very Image of a Book”, is the topic of this month’s book discussion. Martin and Sallie explore the subtle and not so subtle changes that have occurred with the progressive use of eBooks. Which do you prefer – print or eBook format?

The interview:

(23:06) HymnSoft Version 3 – Carl Nolte, Editor of Sacred Music and Worship at Northwestern Publishing House and Pastor Mike Schultz, Director of the WELS Hymnal Project, share a behind-the-scenes look at the newest version of HymnSoft which includes hymns and worship settings from Christian Worship, Christian Worship Supplement and Occasional Services.

Ministry resources:

  • (46:15) Ryan Rosenthal from Faith in Fond du Lac, WI shared ideas for using Dropbox.com cloud-based file storage to provide resources for students and parents
  • Share a helpful resource that makes a difference in your ministry, and you will ll be entered to win an Apple TV. Deadline for entry is May 31, 2014.

Tech tips:

Of interest:

Upcoming streamed Koine Christmas concert via WELS Streams – December 19 at 7:00 pm

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

 

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:15:50) Episode 320 – Martin and Sallie talk mobile apps for ministry and more and Prof. Tom Kuster joins the discussion to share details on this year’s Christ In Media Institute worldwide mobile outreach project. (Release date – 12/17/13)

Music download:

(1:16:20) Enjoy a free music download from WELS flutist Jeannine Dennis (jeanninedennis.com) – Silent Night

Get involved:

318 – Language Arts

Technology in education isn’t limited to math and science. Today we hear from Gail Potratz with many ideas for integrating technology into the Language Arts classroom. Manitowoc LHS Tech Director, Ryan Rathje, also chats with Sallie and Martin about edtech topics. Turn it up teachers, and let the WELSTech goodness flow!

The discussion:

Language Arts goes techie – Gail Potratz, our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent from Emmanuel in New London, MN, joins Martin and Sallie this week to share ideas for technology integration in the Language Art classroom.

The interview:

(28:36) Technology for new teachers (and seasoned veterans as well) – Ryan Rathje, Technology Director at Manitowoc Lutheran High School, shares highlights from his recent MLC Convocation presentation to education majors titled “Technology: Harder and Easier Than It Looks”.

Ministry resources:

  • (42:38) Paul Workentine shared links to Bible history sites Ferrell’s Travel Blog and BiblePlaces.com
  • Share a helpful resource that makes a difference in your ministry, and you will ll be entered to win an Apple TV. Deadline for entry is May 31, 2014.

Listener reviews:

  • (44:14) Ryan Rosenthal from Faith in Fond du Lac, WI reviews the Ziggi HD USB Document Camera
  • Share your review of software, hardware or web sites which assist with your personal or professional ministry efforts, and you will be entered to win a Nexus 7 tablet. Deadline for entry is May 31, 2014.

Tech tips:

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(1:06:30) Upcoming streamed Christmas concerts:

  • Via WELS Streams
    • Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary – December 8 at 3:00 pm
    • Koine – December 19 at 7:00 pm
  • Via MLC TV
    • Martin Luther College – December 7 at 7:30 pm & December 8 at 4:00 pm

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:07:41) Episode 319 – Tune in for chapter 6 of our current book discussion of Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows as well as the inside scoop on the new edition of HymnSoft with Carl Nolte and Michael Schultz. (Release date – 12/10/13)

Music download:

(1:09:05) Kick off your Advent with a free music download from WELS pianist Dawn Michelle Williams (www.dawnmichellewilliams.com | Twitter | Facebook) – Carol of the Bells

Get involved: