468 – Coding Literacy with Jason

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Tune in for a coding in education discussion on this week’s WELSTech. Jason Schmidt guest hosts with Martin and Sallie as we look at the trends detailed in the NMC K-12 Horizon Report 2016, and how the adoption of computational thinking across the curriculum might look in our WELS classrooms.

The discussion:

Coding as a Literacy – Jason Schmidt makes his 2016-17 season debut on WELSTech, bringing his own brand of sunshine to the edtech discussion space. Today we look at the New Media Consortium K-12 Horizon Report 2016 and specifically the short-term trend of coding as a literacy.

News in tech:

WELS now:

There’s still time to participate, but these events are ending this week:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Free Bible Images for Advent and Christmas

Featured video:

We celebrate the 499th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation with this week’s music video, A Mighty Fortress is Our God by Koine, from the WELSTech Music YouTube playlist.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 469 – Staff Minister Dan Schoeffel joins the conversation to share information on Internet addictions. Release date: Wednesday, November 2.

Get involved:

467 – The Joy of Community Feedback

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Welcome back to WELSTech. This week we share your community feedback covering technology plans, social network tips, and church year calendars. Throw in a 3D printed WELS Logo plus a large dose of doctrine joy, and there is something for everyone. Join the conversation!

The discussion:

3D printing meets ministry – Martin and Sallie open real and virtual mail bags to share listener’s helpful resources and ideas for using tech in public and personal ministry.

News in tech:

The Table Project is ending December 31, 2016. Possible alternatives:

WELS now:

Check out Martin’s Digital Christianship presentation, part of the Gospel Outreach with Media Fall 2016 online conference which runs through October 31.

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Essay files at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary – Doctrine joy!

Featured video:

The newest addition on the WELSTech “Likes” list on Vimeo, features our very own Martin Spriggs in a Together technology video update.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 468 – Jason Schmidt is back in the guest host chair, with a healthy dose of sunshine in tow, as we dive into the latest Horizon Report for K-12 educational technology. Release date: Wednesday, September 28.

Get involved:

466: Social Media for Ministry: Pinterest

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WELSTech is back with episode 466, a look at the social media platform Pinterest and how it can be used to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. It’s installment two of our year-long look at social media for ministry. We also bring you news of Christmas outreach resources, a free online conference, and an easy way to design verse images.

The discussion:

Pinning away – The Social Media for Ministry series is back, and this month’s focus is the media rich bookmarking app Pinterest (Martin’s favorite). View the full-size Pinterest for Ministry infographic, and check out the links below for more details.

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Christmas 2016 outreach postcards – Order by October 26

Featured video:

This week we’ve added What’s Pinterest?, just one of the many helpful videos on the Pinterest YouTube channel, to the WELSTech Product Demo playlist.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 467 – It’s Community Feedback week! Tune in because there’s always something new and helpful to explore. Release date: Wednesday, October 19.

Get involved:

465 – Private

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WELSTech is back, and Martin and Sallie are talking about simple steps to guard against security breaches of personal information and avoid identity theft on all fronts. Google Apps has a new name, it’s Pastor Appreciation Month, and we’ve got lots of coffee!

The discussion:

12 of 66 – Martin and Sallie share a preview of Consumer Report’s 66 Ways to Protect Your Privacy Right Now. These simple, common-sense tips are worth review and could save you a lot of heartache!

News in tech:

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

October is Pastor Appreciation Month

Featured video:

Enjoy the Christian Worship hymn Lord, You I Love With All My Heart (text) on the WELSTech Music Playlist.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 466 – Martin is in the spotlight as he schools us on using Pinterest for Ministry! Release date: Wednesday, October 12.

Get involved:

464 – Rachel to the Rescue

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This week on WELSTech, Martin is joined by teacher Rachel Feld, who makes her debut as WELSTech’s newest guest host. They talk edtech, particularly in the Apple space, and share news of Yahoo’s recent security breach, plus picks and a Reformation resource sure to thrill elementary educators.

The discussion:

Goodbye and hello – After 8 years of guest hosting on WELSTech, Gail Potratz, Technology Director at Emanuel in New London, WI, has laid down her microphone to make room for others. Fortunately for our WELSTech community, Martin, and Sallie, we have a new “semi-regular classroom technology correspondent” to introduce, Rachel Feld, 1st and 2nd grade teacher from Bethany in Kenosha, WI. This week we get to know Rachel and learn more about iPads in her classroom.

News in tech:

What Consumers Need to Know About Yahoo Security Breach

WELS now:

Martin Luther College Speaker’s Bureau

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Reformation Flannelgraph

Featured video:

Brand new on the WELSTech Product Demo YouTube playlist is the Bloomz Overview video.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 465 – Join Martin and Sallie for a discussion on privacy. Release date: Wednesday, October 5.

Get involved:

463 – Feedback From You

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On WELSTech this week, Martin and Sallie open the virtual mail bag and share tips and tricks from listeners, including the announcement of a free Fall conference focused on gospel outreach and technology, two things near and dear to every WELSTech-er. There’s also web hosting advice, typing tutors, and fun ways to create color palettes for your next project.

The discussion:

Community feedback feast – Martin and Sallie share all sorts of tech-in-ministry goodness from WELSTech-ers!

News in tech:

Week 2 of Apple updates – new mobile operating systems:

WELS now:

Just in time for Reformation …. “What does this mean? The continuing importance of Luther’s Small Catechism” is the title of the current Interactive Faith series led by Rev. John Braun. Tune in on Wednesdays at 6 or 8 pm Central, September 21 – October 26.

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Zoom.us video conferencing

Featured video:

Replay the Martin Luther College live streamed presentation by Mahtob Mahmoody, author of My Name is Mahtob and daughter of Betty Mahmoody who wrote Not Without My Daughter.

Mahtob Mahmoody live stream

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 464 – We welcome Rachel Feld from Bethany in Kenosha, WI to the Semi-Regular Classroom Technology Correspondent (a.k.a., Guest Host) chair! Release date: Wednesday, September 28.

Get involved:

462 – Social Media for Ministry: Instagram

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Get ready to go social as WELSTech begins a season-long focus on social media for ministry. This month we look at the Why, What, Who and How of Instagram. There’s news from Apple and Code.org, plus a bluetooth speaker winner and even more Instagram greatness to close out the show. Don’t wait … watch or listen now!

The discussion:

Visual communication – New this podcasting season is a monthly series titled Social Media for Ministry. The fist platform Martin and Sallie take a deep dive into is the popular image-sharing app Instagram. View the full-size Instagram for Ministry infographic and follow the links below for more details.

News in tech:

Apple’s newest products, most available starting September 16:

WELS now:

“What does this mean? The continuing importance of Luther’s Small Catechism” is the title of the upcoming Interactive Faith series led by Rev. John Braun. Tune in on Wednesdays at 6 or 8 pm Central beginning September 21.

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Request the Social Media Quick Guide: Instagram from Church Tech Today’s eBooks page.

Featured video:

Check out Instagram’s videos on Vimeo including this week’s featured video, Introducing Instagram Stories.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 463 – Next week the WELSTech listeners rule the roost as we share community feedback for the month. Release date: Wednesday, September 21.

Get involved:

461 – Taking Better Pictures

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WELSTech’s 2016-17 season is underway this week as Martin and Sallie chat with photographer Naomi Green and share the latest news in tech, an upcoming streaming Bible study event from WELS, a Pinterest ministry resources (perhaps the best kind of ministry resource), picks of the week and a featured video to start the new school year. Join the conversation!

The interview and discussion:

Naomi GreenCreative imagery – Photographer Naomi Green, a member of St. Peter’s in Monticello, MN and a volunteer at West Lutheran High School, joins Martin and Sallie to share her experience, tips, equipment and software choices for taking great church and school photography.

News in tech:

Samsung is recalling the Galaxy Note 7 worldwide over battery problem

WELS now:

“What does this mean? The continuing importance of Luther’s Small Catechism” is the title of the upcoming Interactive Faith series led by Rev. John Braun. Tune in on Wednesdays at 6 or 8 pm Central beginning September 21.

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Bible Crafts for Kids on Pinterest

Featured video:

Experience the First Day of High School for freshmen at Lakeside Lutheran High School, the newest addition to WELSTech’s WELS Schools playlist video.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 462 – Continuing with the photography theme, Martin and Sallie kick off a season-long “Social Media for Ministry” focus with a deep dive into Instagram. Release date: Wednesday, September 14

Get involved:

460 – Audio Publishing

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This week we put the finishing touches on the WELSTech self-publishing summer series with a discussion of the technical requirements to turn a book into an audio book suitable for Audible and other distribution channels. Martin finally settles on a personal, cloud-based storage solution that is easy on the pocketbook, and the WELSTech Google Group is a happening place!

The discussion:

MicrophoneSpoken book – Martin and Sallie explore audio book creation in this last installment of the summer Self-Publishing series. The Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX) provides several paths for turning your book into an audio book including hiring voice talent to read your book or recording the audio yourself.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

  • Eight Trends Where Churches Are Moving Virtual
  • Read all about Interactive White Boards, Internet Safety and more on the WELSTech Google Group

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 461 – Join Martin, Sallie and WELSTech Photo Challenge star Naomi Green as we kick off a new podcasting season with a discussion of photography. Release date: Wednesday, September 7

Get involved:

With All Your Heart

459 – Amazon Publishing

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The WELSTech self-publishing efforts continue this week as Martin and Sallie successfully publish paperback and Kindle versions of the WELSTech project management book, With All Your Heart. Microsoft Word proves to be a star performer in the process, and Martin has a tip to help listeners master the finer nuances of Word. Sallie shares lots of links to help teachers add coding to their curriculum in the school year ahead.

The discussion:

With All Your HeartOn the road to Amazon – It’s been a busy week for Martin and Sallie as they finalized With All Your Heart, the WELSTech project management book for print and eBook publication on Amazon. Follow along as they share the challenges and lessons learned along the way.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 460 – The Summer 2016 series fun concludes next week with the last installment of the WELSTech self-publishing discussion. Martin and Sallie explore creation of an audio book. Release date: Wednesday, August 31

Get involved: