330 – Earn Your Badge

This week the WELSTech web site is all new, after a major upgrade and relocation, and the WELSTech goodness abounds. Guest host Gail Potratz, along with Tyler Shadick, bring us up to speed on the emerging trend of digital badges for assessment in education. We even dole out a few of the first-ever WELSTech badges. FinalWeb training registration is unveiled, plus much more.

The interview and discussion:

Tyler_Shadick145x125Endorse, Honor and Certify! – Badges in education are changing the way teachers assess and motivating students to achieve. Gail Potratz, WELSTech’s semi-regular classroom technology correspondent from Emanuel in New London, WI and Tyler Shadick, Online Learning Systems Analyst from Concordia University, Wisconsin, talk with Martin and Sallie about the reasons to consider badges as part of your assessment strategy and the tools to help you get started.

Credly-WELSTech-blank145x125Check out the new WELSTech Badges

Tech tips:

  • Zooming in on Windows 8 using Magnifier – Windows Key plus + or – and Windows Kew Esc to close
  • Start early if you are Hanging Out on a schedule
  • Close All Tabs Chrome extension

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

Registration is officially open for summer FinalWeb training with Martin and Sallie at the Center for Mission and Ministry. Learn more and sign up at bit.ly/fwtraininginfo.

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 331 – Martin flies solo and shares secrets for building web apps. (Broadcast date – 03/04/14)

Music download:

This week only, download a free music single from WELS musician and staff minister Benhur Khamrang (Reverbnation) – Brothers, Sisters, Let Us Gladly

Get involved:

329 – Are You Legal?

This week’s WELSTech focus is on the necessary but formidable topic of copyright as it relates to all types of intellectual property – audio, video, images, music and lyrics – used in church and school settings. Martin and Sallie are joined by Northwestern Publishing House copyright expert Kristine Laufer for the discussion. Also this week we learn about video resources for youth ministry, canned responses in Gmail and a creative way to keep fit.

The interview:

Copyright answers – Kristine Laufer, Rights and Permissions Coordinator for Northwestern Publishing House, talks with Martin and Sallie about copyright issues including various use of Christian Worship and Christian Worship Supplement.

The discussion:

Doing copyright right – Martin and Sallie share resources to assist churches and schools with their compliance with the complex issue of copyright law.

Royalty-Free Image Resources:

Ministry resources:

With special thanks to WELSTech’s very special anonymous contributor …

Tech tips:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 330 – Gail Potratz from Emanuel in New London, WI joins Martin and Sallie as we talk about the latest technology trends in education. (Broadcast date – 2/25/14)

Music download:

This week enjoy a free music download from WELS praise band Koine (www.koinemusic.com | Facebook)- Lord Jesus, You Have Come In Love

Get involved:

328 – The Church of Google

Google’s place in our lives and influence over the way we think is the subject of chapter 8 of Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows and also the subject of today’s WELSTech discussion. Martin and Sallie may be on opposite sides of the debate, but they find common ground in today’s discussion.  Listen for that, plus a ton of community feedback covering everything from midi music to webcam doorbells.

The discussion:

Is Google Evil? – The WELSTech book discussion is back, and today’s topic is chapter 8 of Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing To Our Brains which focuses on Google’s powerful position and how they may be using it to influence the way we think. Recognizing this, but also pointing out the author’s premise focuses only on the effect of these changes on our brains while overlooking our souls, Martin makes a great point about the Christian’s soul in light of all the changes around us.

Tech tips:

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

Join the online interactive Bible study led by WELS President Mark Schroeder on the topic of “I’d like to read the Bible, but …” happening Wednesdays in February at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Eastern time. Learn more.

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 329 – Join Martin and Sallie for a discussion for the important topic of copyright as it relates to the church and school. (Release date – 02/18/14)

Music download:

This week only, download a classic WELS tune from ExCorde – Lutheran Woman

Get involved:

Feature image courtesy of Maria Guimarães

327 – Wifi Chalk Talk

It’s edtech week on WELSTech, and we have not one, but two, great additions to this week’s podcast. Drew Willems shares the “State of Technology at Shoreland”  (and simultaneously enrollment numbers likely spike), plus Jason Schmidt guest hosts with Martin and Sallie and talks wireless infrastructure. Martin gives us the rundown on a new Kindle, and Jason shares some enhanced Raspberry Pi.

The interview:

Chrome Academy wannabes – Shoreland Lutheran High School Technology Director, Drew Willems, talks with Martin and Sallie about their tech initiatives including flipped classrooms, x:1 support of digital devices, training student tech leaders for manning the Chrome Depot, and much more.

The discussion:

Wifi the right way – Setting up wifi to support the needs of multiple users with multiple devices should be the starting point of planning for school and church technology. Martin and guest host Jason Schmidt explain the basic areas for consideration when implementing a wifi network, most importantly that it takes expertise, not just a few generic routers from the local tech-in-a-box store, to do wifi right.

Tech tips:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:06:25) Episode 328 – The WELSTech book discussion is back as Martin and Sallie look at Chapter 8, “The Church of Google”, from Nicolas Carr’s The Shallows. (Broadcast date – 2/11/14)

Music download:

(1:07:20) This week enjoy a free music download from WELS artist Chris Driesbach (chrisdriesbach.com) – Modern Evangelist

Get involved: