442 – Tabs…And More Tabs

This week’s WELSTech features a variety of community feedback including tips for improving your Facebook page reach, an interesting new collaborative education game, free worship countdown timer videos, a tool for legally and easily editing out undesired scenes and language in movies, and lots more. Plus, we share event discounts, a great Gmail productivity add-on, and ideas for improving VBS registration. There’s something for everyone!

The discussion:

tabs v2 145x125Party time! – Join Martin and Sallie for the festive sharing of a month’s worth of great community feedback. You’re guaranteed to learn new tech goodness which may have a positive impact on your public or personal ministery efforts.

News in tech:

Facebook Messenger launches Group Calling to become your phone

WELS now:

Early-bird pricing ends this week for these two summer events:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

5 Ways to Simplify VBS Registration

Featured video:

This week we’ve added not just one, but three new videos to the WELSTech Product Demos playlist on YouTube, all having to do with the new edtech collaborative “game” called Breakout EDU. Check out Introducing Breakout EDU, posted below, and watch Game Design Studio for an overview on designing your own game. Use the Breakout EDU Timer video when you are ready to try the race against the clock game.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 443 – Gail Potratz joins the conversation to share her thoughts on edtech standards. Release date: Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Get involved:

441 – Troubleshooting

WELSTech is back with ideas for overcoming project obstacles when they arise as well as an interview with members of the project team behind the successful Academia Cristo outreach efforts in Latin America. There’s an exciting announcement regarding WELSTech’s availability on a brand new platform plus ideas for using the new Facebook Live feature in your church setting. All this, and a birthday celebration, WELSTech-style!

The discussion and interview:

ch8145x125Troubleshooting – In Chapter 8 of With All Your Heart, WELSTech’s current book project, readers will learn about typical project roadblocks which can occur and methods to overcome the obstacles and see projects through to completion.

Missionary Mike Hartman, WELS Field Coordinator for Latin America, and Pastor Nathan Wagenknecht, Latin America Project Coordinator for WELS Multi-Language Publications, join the conversation to share their project management experience, including revising plans when needed to overcome obstacles along the way.

News in tech:

Find WELSTech in the new podcast section of Google Play Music

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

7 Ways to Use Facebook Live This Week

Featured video:

New to the WELSTech Presentation/Teaching Playlist on YouTube is this productivity tip from David Allen – Dealing With Interruptions.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 442 – Community feedback is center stage on next week’s podcast. Share! Share!! Share!!! Release date: Wednesday, April 27

Get involved:

440 – Online Learning with Moodle

It’s a special day on WELSTech as Martin celebrates a milestone event with the WELSTech audience! The discussion topic centers on the popular open-source online learning platform Moodle and whether it might meet the needs for churches and schools interested in delivering course content online. Facebook has a new streaming video service, MLC has a lengthy list of interesting summer classes and WELSTech Hall-of-Famer Pastor Rob Guenther shares a method for automated catechism quiz grading.

The discussion:

Moodle_Cloud145x100Moodle and more – As online learning becomes widely adopted, it may be time for churches and schools to look for ways to deliver course content digitally. Moodle is a free, open-source learning management platform which is widely used in WELS circles (Area Lutheran High Schools Online | MLC | WLC | WLS). There’s even a hosted option for small installations (50 users or less) which may be just right for church and school settings.

WELS distance learning opportunities

News in tech:

Facebook Live

WELS now:

Summer class offerings at Martin Luther College

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Pastor Rob Guenther uses Flubaroo to automate grading catechism quizzes

Featured video:

From the Moodle channel on YouTube, we share What is Moodle?, featured on the WELSTech Product Demo playlist.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 441 – Martin and Sallie share the latest chapter of the WELSTech book project, With All Your Heart, this time focusing on troubleshooting project roadblocks. Release date: Wednesday, April 20

Get involved:

439 – The New Frontier in Productivity

The WELSTech discussion this week centers around the tools for personal productivity and why it may be time to make a switch. Sallie’s laced up her red shoelaces for a special day and there’s a brand new photo challenge for April. Tune in for the details!

The discussion:

So many great tools – Personal productivity, a favorite topic on WELSTech, is front and center as Martin and Sallie do a run down of the multitude of tools that enhance calendaring, task management, communication, collaboration and document storage. Is it the right time for a change?

News in tech:

Amazon Echo DotCNET review

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Gospel Outreach With Media online conference

Featured video:

Featured in the Gospel Outreach With Media conference is an article from videographer Jonathan Witte where he shares ideas on Christian Media for a Non-Christian Audience. As an example, Jonathan shares one of his most popular videos, a parody which features the Martin Luther College Cafeteria – Singing in the Shower by Becky G – Caf Edition – and we’ve added it to our WELSTech Promo playlist.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 440 – Martin and Sallie explore the online learning platform Moodle. Release date: Thursday, April 14

Get involved: