373b – Christmas Around the World Part 2

On this week’s WELSTech, we close the books on another year of podcasting with the conclusion of our special globe-spanning, tech-in-world-missions interview! Happy New Year WELSTech-ers!!

The discussion:

christmas2Using all things – WELS World Missions Administrator Larry Schlomer along with Missionaries Brad Wordell from Tokyo, Japan and Mike Hartman from Leon, Mexico join Martin and Sallie for the conclusion of our tech-in-world-missions round table discussion. Check out Part 1 of the interview on WELSTech 373a.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 374 – Martin and Sallie celebrate WELSTech’s 8th anniversary with a look back at the best of 2014. (Broadcast date – 01/06/15)

Featured videos:

We close 2014 with a new addition to our Music playlist on YouTube – O Little Town of Bethlehem by Koiné

 

Get involved:

373a – Christmas Around the World Part 1

It’s Christmas week on WELSTech, and we’ve returned to our yearly tradition of bringing you a very special interview. This year’s guests include missionaries from Japan and Mexico as we enjoy a worldwide Christmas celebration of tech-in-ministry.

Ministry resources:

View and download the 12 Days of Christmas devotions from Martin Luther College

The discussion:

christmas1Tech in missions – As a special Christmas treat, Martin and Sallie span the globe (and 15 time zones) to connect with Missionaries Mike Hartman from Leon, Mexico and Brad Wordell from Tokyo, Japan as well as WELS World Missions Administrator, Rev. Larry Schlomer. Hear their first-hand accounts of the variety of ways technology is advancing the spread of the gospel and the training of native workers in WELS world mission fields.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 373b – Tune in for the final WELSTech of the year as we wrap up our global-tech-in-ministry discussion. (Broadcast date – 12/30/14)

Featured videos:

This week we feature a Christmas entry on the WELSTech “Like’s” list on Vimeo  – O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is by the Martin Luther College choirs

 

Get involved:

372 – Home Sweet Home

WELSTech goes mobile as Martin and Sallie share their smartphone home screen favorite apps. Plus there’s “Best of 2014” app selections from Google and Apple and mobile app academy resources to help teachers bring STEM to their classrooms.

The discussion:

Home Sweet Home ScreenWithin Thumbs Reach – Martin and Sallie reveal their most used smartphone apps as well as polar opposite strategies for organizing their prime real estate home screens. A few WELSTech-ers share their favorite apps as well.

Check out the master list of must-have smartphone apps on our new Mobile App Recommendations resource page!

Ministry resources:

A new series in WELS online Interactive Faith Bible Study begins Wednesday, January 7 with sessions offered at 6:00 and 8:00 pm Central weekly through February 11. Rev. David Scharf from Greenville, WI will lead the study of the book of Judges titled “Breaking the Cycle with Grace.” Learn more.

News in tech:

Best apps of 2014 from

WELS insider:

Christians Under Construction stewardship series

Need to know:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 373a – Martin and Sallie celebrate Christmas around the world with a special two-part episode featuring several tech-in-global-ministry friends. (Broadcast date – 12/23/14)

Featured videos:

Enjoy another new addition to our Music playlist on YouTube – Mary, Did You Know? by Pentatonix

 

Get involved:

371 – What Is My Purpose?

Two great topics are featured on today’s WELSTech – productivity and social media. Consider how the Gospel influences your personal mission statement, and learn how to engage social media “influencers” in your congregation and school as online ambassadors.

The discussion:

Design – The WELSTech book discussion topic this month is Part 3 of What’s Best Next by Matt Perman. Martin and Sallie roll up their sleeves and write mission, vision and goal statements as well as evaluate the various roles they perform.

The interview:

justinware145x125Going Viral – Justin Ware, Director of Interactive Communication at BWFSocial, shares ideas with Martin and Sallie about church and school use of social media channels, including the use of volunteers for an online ambassador program to share communication with wider circles.

Ministry resources:

31 Christmas Fellowship Ideas from Women’s Ministry Toolbox

News in tech:

Translate text into a different language as you typeTranslate Keyboard Pro for iOS

Tips & picks of the week:

WELS insider:

Streaming Christmas Concerts

Need to know:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 372 – Join Martin and Sallie for the great smartphone home screen reveal. (Broadcast date – 12/16/14)

Featured videos:

This week we’ve added a new video to our Music playlist on YouTube – Wonder 2014 Preview by Dawn Michelle Williams – Join Dawn live this Sunday, December 14 at 4:00 & 7:00 pm at the Duran Arts Council, PSI Theatre in Durham, NC – Learn more at Dawn’s website

 

Get involved:

370 – Badges

Turn it up for a WELSTech welcome to the new church year! The edtech discussion focus is implementation of badges plus there’s lots more tech-in-ministry ideas including an Advent Bible reading plan, helpful Google Chrome extensions, ideas for sharing event calendar invitations and lots of opportunities to enjoy Christmas concerts.

The discussion:

Credly-WELSTech-blank145x125Implementing Badges – Gail Potratz, Tech Coordinator at Emanuel in New London, WI and one of WELSTech’s semi-regular classroom technology correspondents, chats with Martin and Sallie about her new program using badges in middle grades Language Arts.

Ministry resources:

News in tech:

Tips & picks of the week:

WELS insider:

Streaming Christmas Concerts:

Need to know:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 371 – Martin and Sallie return to the current book discussion, What’s Best Next by Matt Perman, a discussion where productivity meets stewardship. (Broadcast date – 12/09/14)

Featured videos:

Keeping the Christmas concert theme going, this week we feature a new entry on the WELSTech “Like’s” list on Vimeo  – Koine: Christmas is Forgiving

 

Get involved:

369 – Shop Smart

Thanksgiving week on WELSTech brings many reasons to pause and give thanks, plus an interview with the good fellows at ShopWELS vendor Troxell, shopping online stewardship ideas, shopping apps to making your Black Friday (and every shopping day) a breeze, gift ideas and the best Black Friday deals. We’ve got everything but the pumpkin pie!

The interview:

troxellLogo145x125White Glove Treatment – Bob Berry and Chris Hunt from ShopWELS vendor, Troxell, joined Martin and Sallie to talk about their company and product line (including Chomebooks and Google licensing) and their commitment of support as schools transition to various degrees of device assisted learning.

The discussion:

Black Friday and Beyond – Martin and Sallie continue the shopping theme with a look at more of the ShopWELS.net site features as well as several ways to shop online and benefit the work of WELS. There are even some cool shopping-centric mobile apps that get a mention.

News in tech:

Ministry resources:

Tips & picks of the week:

WELS insider:

iPhone 4 Donations for Malawi

Need to know:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 370 – Edtech guest host, Gail Potratz, joins Martin and Sallie to share thoughts on her implementation of a badge system for digital assessment. (Broadcast date – 12/02/14)

Featured videos:

This week’s featured video was added to a brand new YouTube playlist, WELSTech Promo – Thanksgiving from Water of Life Lutheran Church in Las Vegas, NV

 

Get involved:

368 – The New Way To Learn

On WELSTech this week the discussion topic is online learning and we welcome a special guest, Dr. John Meyer, from Martin Luther College to tell us about their spring course offerings which range from one hour webinars for clock hours to 3 credit hour courses. Martin gives us the skinny on a brand new gadget and Sallie shares community feedback from the WELSTech audience.

The interview:

johnMeyer145x125Learning Online – Dr. John Meyer, Director of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education at Martin Luther College, joins Martin and Sallie to discuss the variety of offerings available in the area of online learning.

Ministry resources:

News in tech:

Tips & picks of the week:

WELS insider:

Need to know:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 369 – Join us on a special date and time – Monday, November 24 @ 11 am – for a look at ShopWELS.net offerings and an interview with ShopWELS vendor, Chris Hunt from Troxell. (Broadcast date – 11/24/14)

Featured videos:

This week we’ve added an entry on the WELSTech Presentation/Teaching Videos YouTube channelSalman Khan talk at TED 2011

 

Get involved:

367 – That Peaceful Productivity

On this week’s WELSTech we redefine our understanding of productivity as serving others, the work God gives us in his Word.  Martin and Sallie shares useful insights from Part 2 of Matt Perman’s book What’s’ Best Next. Listen also for ideas for churches use of Instagram and an overview of the newly released Logos 6.

The discussion:

opportunity145x125Gospel-Driven Productivity – In Part 2 of What’s Best Next, author Matt Perman equates being productive to living a life of service. Martin and Sallie discuss the book’s definition of productivity and how it relates to activities Christians do every day in every aspect of their lives.

Ministry resources:

News in tech:

Tips & picks of the week:

WELS insider:

Need to know:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 368 – Dr. John Meyer, Director of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education at Martin Luther College, joins Martin and Sallie as we share information on online learning opportunities. (Broadcast date – 11/18/14)

Featured videos:

Check out this week’s entries on the WELSTech “Like’s” list on Vimeo  – Jonah Interactive Bible Study

 

Get involved:

366 – Pastor Tech Part Two

It’s a happy day on WELSTech as we select the winner of our HymnSoft giveaway. Plus listen for mobile app, gadget and more recommendations courtesy of our Pastor’s Tech Survey.

The interview:

HymnSoft_logo2145x125HymnSoft – Carl Nolte, Editor of Sacred Music and Worship at Northwestern Publishing House (NPH), returns to WELSTech to share an update on HymnSoft including new features that will be released with the free update in Spring 2015.

As promised, we select the winner of a copy of HymSoft Player 3.0 (a $249 value) courtesy of NPH. Congrats to Pastor Emile Burgess!!

The discussion:

The survey says … – Last month Martin and Sallie shared some of the results from the recent WELSTech Survey. Today they share the remaining survey recommendations.

Ministry resources:

News in tech:

Tips & picks of the week:

WELS insider:

Need to know:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 367 – Having trouble determining What’s Best Next? Join Martin and Sallie for a discussion of part 2 of Matt Perman’s book on that topic focusing on Gospel Driven Productivity.  (Broadcast date – 11/11/14)

Featured videos:

Thanks to our Pastor Tech survey we learned about MuseScore and found an new video for the WELSTech Product Demos YouTube channel – Part 1 of MuseScore in 10 Easy Steps

 

Get involved:

365 – STEM on a Shoestring

This week on WELSTech we’re happy to welcome back Martin to the podcast host chair and also welcome Jason Schmidt to our edtech focused discussion. Learn how to introduce STEM in your school, even without a high dollar investment and keep listening for the latest tech invite-only buzz.

The discussion:

rubiks cube 145x125Kids LOVE it! – The WELSTech virtual studio is bursting at the seams this week as we welcome back Martin and are also joined by Jason Schmidt, Technology Coordinator for Bennington ISD. The discussion topic is STEM, a popular acronym in education for the integrated study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics with emphasis on creative problem solving. Often considered an expensive pond to dive into, there are many resources available to get started with a limited budget and students can’t get enough

Ministry resources:

News in tech:

Tips & picks of the week:

WELS insider:

Need to know:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 366 – Tune in next for a discussion of pastor tech tools and the giveaway of HymnSoft Player 3.0. Carl Nolte from Northwestern Publishing House joins the conversation.  (Broadcast date – 11/04/14)

Featured videos:

This week we’ve added three STEM focused videos to the WELSTech Instruction YouTube channel –

STEM Education Overview

 

STEM Integration in K-12 Education

 

STEM Education – Developing 21st century problem solvers

 

Get involved: