282 – Going Beyond Cat Videos

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Today’s WELSTech Podcast covers ways to use your mobile photo or tablet photography in ministry. We also talk with designer Corissa Nelson about ways she lets her light shine through her online business, image donations to WELS and design work for her local congregation.

The discussion:

The best camera … – Martin and Sallie talk about the meteoric rise in prevalence of “pocketography” – using cameras on smartphones and tablets to easily capture and share images – and ways which these cameras can aid the work of churches, schools and individuals.

The interview:

(19:50) Letting Her Light Shine Through Art – Corissa Nelson, member of Our Savior in Grafton, WI, talks with Martin and Sallie about her design business and the ways she uses her gifts to God’s glory in her church, the synod and beyond.

News in tech:

(33:40) Grace Lutheran principal Peter Iles garners Google’s attention

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(40:57) WELSTech Camp will run from 8:30 AM until 4:00 PM and plans are for 4 one-hour discussion time slots plus lunch, snacks and giveaways. Join the conversation on September 14 at Martin Luther College!

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(45:02) Episode 283 – Connecting with an audience is important to any public speaker and the topic of next week’s podcast discussion as we continue reviewing Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds. (Release date – 04/09/13)

The featured artist:

(45:50) We close the podcast with the music of The Branches Band (www.branchesband.com|Facebook) – This Is The Day The Lord Has Made

Get involved:

281 – Classroom Video

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This week on WELSTech we welcome one of our semi-regular classroom technology correspondents, Jason Schmidt, and we share video resources for the classroom. There’s also a special announcement about an upcoming event which you won’t want to miss!

The discussion:

Video in K-12 – Martin and Sallie, along with guest host Jason Schmidt from Bennington ISD near Omaha, NE, talk about the many video resources for K-12 education available on the web, including several that are part of WELS Lutheran Schools annual subscription option.

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

  • (35:20) You are invited to be part of the first ever WELSTech Camp coming up September 14 at Martin Luther College

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(46:23) Episode 282 – Tune in next week for our interview with designer Corissa Nelson and a discussion of mobile photography. (Release date – 04/02/13)

The featured artist:

(47:20) We close the podcast with the music of Corban Creek – Empty Grave

Get involved:

280 – Where’d My Bible Go?

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This week the WELSTech Podcast says goodbye to two favorites; the NIV 84 Bible translation is no longer available digitally and Google announced they will be shuttering Google Reader on July 1. We look at what’s available to fill the gap these two great tools leave behind.

The interview & discussion:

(3:40) Pastor Jon Schroeder from Faith in Sharpsburg, GA and a member of the Translation Feasibility Study group talks with Martin and Sallie about Bible translations, including what choices the online/digital Bible reader has today.

Ministry resources:

(30:08) My Sunday Solutions

News in tech:

(32:52) Google Reader is Going Away July 1 – Alternatives:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(53:40) Episode 281 – Next week Jason Schmidt, one of our semi-regular classroom technology correspondents, joins the conversation with Martin and Sallie to talk about classroom video sites. (Release date – 03/26/13)

The featured artist:

(54:18) We  close the podcast with the music of Dawn Michelle Williams (www.dawnmichellewilliams.com | Twitter | Facebook) – Where I Belong

Get involved:

279 – Being In The Moment

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Today’s WELSTech Podcast features a continuation of the Presentation Zen book discussion and an interview with Prepared to Answer author Professor Mark Paustain. It’s all about being engaged in the moment, and sometimes that results in great ideas for WELS apps!

The discussion:

A double-header book discussion – Martin and Sallie hit the WELSTech book discussion again, this week looking at chapters 7 & 8 of Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds. Check out the links below for examples of great presentation visuals mentioned in chapter 7 and listen for tips of being an engaged presenter.

The interview:

(13:03) Answering with a story – Pastor and Communications Professor Mark Paustain from Martin Luther College joins Martin to talk about using narrative or storytelling as a memorable and indirect way to share important gospel truths. He also shares tips for communicating effectively with digital natives in the digital age.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(51:24) Episode 280 – Pastor Jon Schroeder from Faith in Sharpsburg, GA talks with Martin and Sallie about Bible translations. (Release date – 03/19/13)

The featured artist:

(52:46) We close the podcast with the music of  Revelation, a music ministry of Wisconsin Lutheran College – Via Dolorosa

Get involved:

278 – Author! Author!

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we talk with Pastor Rob Guenther, a long time WELSTech contributor, about his gospel outreach publishing efforts and Martin has a geeky RSS-to-bookmark-bar solution to share.

The interview & discussion:

(2:54) Hall of Fame – Pastor Rob Guenther from Grace in Kenai, AK talked with Martin and Sallie about his recent self-publishing efforts which resulted in both an Amazon paperback and e-book listing of a collection of his sermons titled In Their Sandals. Penning your own book isn’t as hard as it sounds thanks to some amazing (and free) web 2.0 tools.

Ministry resources:

(29:55) Study guides and reviews of The Bible miniseries created by Pastor Jon Schroeder from Faith in Sharpsburg, GA

News in tech:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(53:49) Episode 279 – Next week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie talk with Pastor and MLC Communications Professor Mark Paustian and look at chapter 7 of Presentation Zen. (Release date – 03/12/13)

The featured artist:

(54:40) We close the podcast with music and video from Koine’s new Footsteps to the Cross concert DVD (koinemusic.com | DVD info) – Jesus, Grant that Balm and Healing

Get involved:

277 – You’re Gonna Flip!

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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

Get involved:

276 – Let’s Collaborate!

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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

Get involved:

275 – Before and After

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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

Get involved:

274 – Digital Learning Day

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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:

273 – The Un-Conference

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast learn about EdCamp, a grass-roots, free conference format that is spreading across the country.  Chances are there is an un-conference EdCamp scheduled near you, and on today’s WELSTech you’ll hear about what to expect when you attend.

The interview & discussion:

(3:46) No red jello – Jason Schmidt, Tech Coordinator for Bennington ISD near Omaha, NE, returns to the edtech guest host chair to join Martin and Sallie for a discussion of the EdCamp “un-conference” format.  Emily Dittmar (@MsDittmar on Twitter), a Library Media Specialist in the Marshall, WI public school system and EdCamp organizer, also talks with us about her experience of collaboration and networking among all types of educators and administrators in a relaxed, unplanned structure at EdCamps.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(49:40) Episode 274 – Next week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie celebrate Digital Learning Day and talk with Jim Grunwald from Martin Luther College and Rich Gurgel from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary about WELS digital education. (Release date – 02/05/13)

The featured artist:

(50:36) We close the podcast with the music of Corban Creek – Home Above

Get involved: