551 – End-Of-School-Year Options

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The end of the school year doesn’t have to be just something to “survive.” Jason Schmidt joins WELSTech this week to share some projects that turn passive moving watching students into creators. He also brings another robot pick to compliment Sallie’s tip to combat gadget filth.

The discussion:

End of school activities – Jason Schmidt, Technology Director for the Omaha-area Bennington Public Schools, shares ideas from a recent presentation of his on engaging students in activities to usher out the school year. Additional end-or-year ideas and a downloadable Resource Pack are available from John Spencer.

News in tech:

The FBI wants you to reboot your router

WELS now:

Time is running out to submit your ideas for presentations at WELS Education, Technology, and Leadership Summit 2019 – May 31, 2018 deadline

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Video Conferencing Tools for Bible Study

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Jason’s micro:bit pick of the week is the subject of two cool videos – Product Showcase: SparkFun Inventor’s Kit for micro:bit

Introducing the BBC micro:bit – BBC Make It Digital

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 552 – Martin and Sallie talk with Charlie Ungemach from the Gird Up! podcast and share other ministry podcasts and blogs. Release date: Friday, June 8.

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550 – Seminary Student: Julius Buelow

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Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary senior Julius Buelow joins this episode of WELSTech to talk about his thesis on the benefits or distractions that technology brings to the table for a seminarian. Martin announces the launch of the new WELS App, and Sallie bids farewell to WELSTech Studio West.

The interview & discussion:

Deep thinking – As we prepare to celebrate Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary graduation later this week, Martin and Sallie conclude the senior seminarian interview series by talking with Julius Buelow about his thesis, Biblical Text Messages: The Effect of Bible Software on Seminary Students.

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

WELS App Launches

Community feedback:

Grants and Resources

Featured videos:

Enjoy the MCL Graduation recap video, He Called Some to Be.

Celebrate our Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary with this beautiful flyover footage.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 551 – Jason Schmidt wraps up our edtech school year of shows with a look at creative end-of-year activities. Release date: Wednesday, May 30.

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549 – Seminary Student: Jason Zuehlke

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Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary senior Jason Zuehlke joins WELSTech to talk about his thesis on reaching those who make up the Millennial Generation with the Gospel. We also get an update from Pastor Brock Groth on his UnderstandChristianity.com project and some exciting new content.

The interview & discussion:

Make new friends – Martin and Sallie continue a series of interviews of senior students at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. This week, Jason Zuehlke shares details of his research and senior thesis titled Evangelizing Millennials: Studying Millennials to Understand How Relationships through Friendship Evangelism are the Best Way to Bring the Gospel to Their Culture.

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Chronology of Jesus’ Life and Ministry

Community feedback:

Join the Facebook WELS Intersections group for discussions of Mail Chimp verses Constant Contact and much more

Featured video:

Partners in AI – Microsoft Build: Cortana + Alexa Demo.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 550 – Wrapping up the Seminary Senior series, Martin and Sallie talk with Julius Buelow about his research into the effects of Bible software usage on seminary students. Release date: Wednesday, May 23.

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548 – Seminary Student: Bill Schubert

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Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary senior Bill Schubert joins the WELSTech conversation to share his thesis on reaching those who make up “iGen” or Generation Z. Sallie shares a cool Facebook framing tool, while Martin provides information about how a recent European Union regulation might affect your church or school.

The interview & discussion:

The newest generation – Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary senior Bill Schubert shares insights from his senior thesis, The Importance of Impacting iGen: Ministering to Generation Z through Websites and Social Media.

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

GDPR Guidance

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Following up on last week’s MLC Day, watch Thankathon Thank Yous.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 549 – Continuing the Seminary Senior series, Martin and Sallie talk with Jason Zuehlke about his research on outreach to millennials. Release date: Wednesday, May 16.

Get involved:

547 – MLC Day!

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Celebrate MLC Day with WELSTech! Martin and Sallie talk with creatives from Martin Luther College who are using social channels and multi-media to spark this special day. Straighten up, enhance your productivity with the picks of the week, and use OneNote to design a digital Escape Room. Tune in for this plus news, feedback, and events!

The interview & discussion:

Martin Luther College Director of Public Relations Bill Pekrul and Videographer Jon Witte give Martin and Sallie behind-the-scenes details of the activities planned for MLC Day on May 2, 2018. There’s a new MLC YouTube channel plus a brand new jiggle written by the talented interviewees. Check out the online media kit for lots of ways you can celebrate MLC!

News in tech:

Google Redesigns Gmail – Here’s a List of Amazing New Features

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Create a Digital Escape Room with OneNote [YouTube playlist]

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Enjoy the MLC Day Jingle.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 548 – Seminary senior Bill Schubert shares insights from his senior theses into ministering to Generation Z. Release date: Wednesday, May 9.

Get involved:

546 – Awesome Apps: Education

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We wrap up “Awesome Apps” month on WELSTech with a look at the edtech space and insights from guest co-host Rachel Feld. Microsoft makes the news, we share a free eBook to help churches communicate on Instagram, and Martin reveals a great way to improve your Windows 10 knowledge for free.

The discussion:

Education apps- Our traditional end-of-month edtech focus brings Prof. Rachel Feld from Martin Luther College into the co-host chair as we explore favorite mobile apps for education.

News in tech:

OneNote Desktop 2016 no longer in active development

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Check out the Everyone Can Create curriculum from Apple

Community feedback:

Microsoft Teams

Featured video:

Learn how to make anything talk with ChatterPix by Duck Duck Moose.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 547 – Join us to celebrate #mlcday18 WELSTech-style. Release date: Wednesday, May 2.

Get involved:

545 – Awesome Apps: Communication

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The WELSTech April series called “Awesome Apps” continues as Martin and Sallie share some of their favorite smart device communication tools for texting, emailing, video conferencing and more. Sallie has to figure out how to say the name of her new car but in the process found a great car buying app, and Martin, tuning in from a conference in Salt Lake City, found the benefits of handwriting notes…digitally.

The interview:

Care giving tech – Dan Stelljes is the Product Development Lead for First Layer Health, a software development company owned by WELS members which focuses on making social and healthcare communication easier for older people. He shares details of their newest product, TheirCare, which delivers video calls, messages, and more to certain internet-connected televisions. One of the uses of the tool is for church shut-in ministry. Contact Dan if you’d like to pilot a program in your congregation.

The discussion:

Communication apps – Reaching out to touch someone via a plain old phone call, is so yesterday. Martin and Sallie discuss their favorite smartphone apps for many forms of communication.

News in tech:

Google shutters it’s goo.gl URL shortening service

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Check out Faithlife’s new Ministry Team magazine

Community feedback:

The Ultimate Guide for Using Trello at Home

Featured video:

What made us laugh in Star Trek IV (circa 1986) is turning into our reality in 2018 – voice controlled devices. Enjoy this throwback to Mr.Scott (a.k.a. The Miracle Worker) communicating with a computer.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 546 – Prof. Rachel Feld co-hosts, and the discussion centers around awesome apps for the classroom. Release date: Wednesday, April 25.

Get involved:

544 – Awesome Apps: Utilities

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The WELSTech month of “Awesome Apps” continues with a rundown of Martin and Sallie’s go-to mobile utilities! From weather to shopping to travel, there’s an app for that. Plus, we share news of a new program to address child abuse and neglect as well as a new online Bible study for women. And the community feedback bag holds lots of interesting tech in ministry goodies as well!

The discussion:

Utilities – We call those devices in our pockets “phones,” but that’s probably the understatement of the century. They have the ability to do so much more that connect to others for a voice conversation. This week Martin and Sallie focus on the plethora of utility apps that can enhance your ministry efforts, productivity, pocketbook, and life, in general.

News in tech:

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

WELS Women online Bible study

Community feedback:

Featured video:

If Sallie’s pick of the week intrigues you, learn more about Habitica and Task Management in this week’s featured video.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 545 – Next week Martin and Sallie talk awesome communication apps . Release date: Wednesday, April 18.

Get involved:

543 – Awesome Apps: Photos

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April is “Awesome Apps” month on WELSTech as Martin and Sallie share some of their favorite apps that can provide a boost to your productivity, ministry activities or just plain enjoyment of your smart devices. In this episode the “focus” is on photo apps including cameras, photo management, editing and sharing. Don’t be satisfied with just “taking pictures.” Up your game with these awesome apps!

The discussion:

Photo apps – The best camera is the one you have with you! And these days, your handy smartphone camera offers quality and features which result in stunning photos. Martin and Sallie share their favorite apps to extend your smartphone camera capabilities, including capturing, editing and sharing.

News in tech:

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Untangling Audio Cable Confusion from Church Tech Today

Featured video:

Watch President Schroeder’s 2018 Easter Message.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 544 – Awesome Apps month continues with a deep dive into a variety of mobile app utilities. Release date: Wednesday, April 11.

Get involved:

542 – Back to the Basics: Presentations

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The last installment in WELSTech’s “back to the basics” March focus is all about presentations. From classroom to Bible study to conferences, most listeners will agree that presentations are common across all ministry and non-ministry related roles. Jason Schmidt joins the conversation about tips and tools for great presentations. There’s a new Chrome OS platform and affordable robots for classrooms included in this week’s discussion as well.

The discussion:

Present that – Jason Schmidt from Bennington Public Schools in Omaha, NE co-hosts this week, and he’s all about #appsmashing your way to great presentations.

News in tech:

The first Chrome OS tablet is here

WELS now:

‘Tis the season to register!

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Polling tools for your presentations

Featured video:

Enjoy the MLC College Choir singing In My Father’s House.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 543 – April arrives with a focus on Awesome Apps, and the week 1 discussion is all things related to mobile photography. Release date: Wednesday, April 4.

Get involved: