572 – The Myth of Neutral Technology

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The WELSTech lineup this week includes an interesting preview of EdTechLead19 from presenter, Dr. Gary Locklair, news about the Gospel Outreach with Media online conference, happening now, and much ado about screen captures!

The interview and discussion:

EdTechLead19 Speaker – Dr. Gary Locklair, Chair of Computer Science at Concordia University Wisconsin, shares a preview of his WELS Education, Technology, and Leadership Summit presentation titled “The Myth of Neutral Technology.”

  • EdTechLead19 early bird registration will be $325
  • Reserve your room at the Kalahari in Wisconsin Dells. Summit pricing is $159 per night and includes water park passes.

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

Community feedback:

Featured videos and more:

Continuing the release day excitement, check out details of Snagit 2019 and watch the reveal video.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 573 – Mr. Sunshine, Jason Schmidt, returns to WELSTech for a discussion of chapter 2 of Faithfully Connected.  Release date: Wednesday, October 31.

Get involved:

571 – Caring about Campus Ministry

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Tune in to WELSTech this week for a look at tech (and non-tech) ways of reaching out to today’s college students. You’ll also hear about the latest Google hardware, tips for using an iPad and Apple TV as a presentation whiteboard, and online training to aid your church and school office. All this, and more, awaits!

The interview and discussion:

Campus Ministry – Martin talks with Pastor Charlie Vannieuwenhoven, chairman of the WELS Campus Ministry Committee, about the history and technology behind outreach to college students.

News in tech:

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

Community feedback:

Featured videos and more:

Learn more about the latest product announcements from Google on Let Google Take Over – Tech News Weekly 53.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 572 – Dr. Gary Locklair joins us to preview his WELS EdTechLead Summit presentation titled “The Myth of Neutral Technology.”  Release date: Wednesday, October 24.

Get involved:

570 – How Private Is Your Data?

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This week on WELSTech we continue our discussion of data privacy with a technical look at collecting, sharing and deleting data…as well as encrypting it wherever it may be. There is a new Facebook Group for WELS Teachers interested in tech tools. Finally, Martin shares a great grammar checking Chrome plugin that may take your writing to the next level.

The discussion:

Do you know where your data is? – Martin shares information he’s learned regarding the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which went into effect in May and how data protection and privacy just got a lot more important. Challenge #1 is actually finding all the places your data may live. Download his PowerPoint slide deck to review and share locally.

News in tech:

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

Community feedback:

Featured videos and more:

Koine Worship Media gets us in the Reformation spirit with A Mighty Fortress is Our God with Musical Notation. Great for personal or family singalongs.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 571 – WELS Campus Ministry will be featured next week as new technical tools are available to help students get and stay connected.  Release date: Wednesday, October 17.

Get involved:

569 – Getting Excited About Policies

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This week on WELSTech you’ll learn about the three types of tech-related policies that are important for churches and schools in light of recent regulations. WELS Congregational Services has prepared resources to support your Christmas outreach efforts, plus the WELSTech community buzz includes free stock video.

The discussion:

Policy is job one – Martin shares information he’s learned regarding the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which went into effect in May and why churches and schools should be paying attention to their privacy and security policies. Download his PowerPoint slide deck to review and share locally.

News in tech:

WELS now:

C18 Resources – The synod-wide program to reach one million souls this Christmas

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

Sample Information Security Policy

Community feedback:

Featured videos and more:

Learn more about Amazon Go and what our future cashier-less shopping experience may be like.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 570 – The information security discussion continues with a focus on notification, encryption, and forms. Release date: Wednesday, October 10.

Get involved:

568 – Faithfully Connected

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Martin Luther College Professor Rachel Feld is back in the guest host chair on WELSTech, bringing her thoughts on education technology to the discussion. We kick off a new book for the school year, Faithfully Connected, and we shake up our Ministry Resource for the week with STEM resources Pinterest-style!

The discussion:

New book discussion – Kicking off a new season of edtech talk, MLC’s Rachel Feld, Director of Academic Computing and Online Learning, is back as one of WELSTech’s semi-regular classroom technology correspondents, and she brought a book along to share. Read along with us as we discuss Faithfully Connected: Integrating Biblical Principles in a Digital World by Ben Boche and Jake Hollatz (available from Concordia Publishing House and Amazon). This week we learn why Rachel is using the book to train future teachers at MLC plus why she recommends it for teachers, pastors, parents and beyond, and we explore the first chapter of the book, Digital Access.

News in tech:

iOS 12 is now available: How to update, its best new iPhone features and more

WELS now:

Announcing our first #EdTechLead19 presenter … Rachel Feld! Rachel will be presenting “Using Technology in Bible Lessons” and “Using Google Apps in WELSSA.”

  • Learn more and plan to attend June 25-27, 2019 at Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells

Picks of the week:

Ministry Pinterest resource:

Check out Pinterest for great STEM activities for elementary, including these boards:

Community feedback:

Thayer Birding Software free offer for students

Featured videos and more:

Learn more about digital access from the PBS Frontline special, Digital Nation. Here’s a sneak peak trailer for the special.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 569 – Martin shares his research on digital security, including encryption and database management, in light of new regulations, both in the U.S. and abroad. Release date: Wednesday, October 3.

Get involved:

567 – Worship Media

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This week on WELSTech we’re happy to welcome members of Koiné to the conversation as we learn about their new worship media offering, and there’s news from Apple, space saving Gmail tricks, and online Bible study news as well.

The interview and discussion:

Equipping the church – Brian Davidson, Benj Lawrenz, and Jason Jaspersen from Koiné recently chatted with Martin and Sallie about their new endeavor – Koiné Worship Media.

Following the interview, Martin and Sallie share more WELSTech goodness related to all the components of successful worship media – content, hardware/software, and, most important, people!

News in tech:

New Apple iPhone and Watch products

WELS now:

Interactive Faith Online Bible Study

  • To the Ends of the Earth: Beginning in Your Backyard – Led by Pastor Eric Roecker
  • November 7, 14 & 28 – 6 & 8 pm Central

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

Troubleshooting Your Church Sound System

Community feedback:

Featured videos and more:

Learn more about the work of WELS Evangelism in this Together Video Update interview of Pastor Eric Roecker.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 568 – We welcome MLC Prof. Rachel Feld back to the guest host seat and kick off an EdTech book discussion of Faithfully Connected. Grab a copy, and read along! Release date: Wednesday, September 26.

Get involved:

566 – Digital Bullet Journal

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The WELSTech conversation returns to bullet journaling with a discussion of digital methods. There’s lots of news in technology to digest plus some exceptional Microsoft templates for teachers.

The discussion:

Non-bullet bullet journal – Last week Sallie kicked off our “show and tell” on bullet journals with a look inside her paper journal. This week Martin shares his experience with digital bullet journaling on his iPad using OneNote.

News in tech:

WELS now:

WELS Education, Technology, and Leadership Summit 2019

  • June 25-27, 2019
  • Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, WI

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

Martin walks you through his techniques for Bullet Journaling with OneNote

Community feedback:

The Best Microsoft Templates for Teachers

Featured videos and more:

Learn more about what OneNote can do for you in 2018’s full review of OneNote from the Paperless Student

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 567 – Worship media is the topic of the day and members of Koine will join the conversation to discuss their new worship media resources. Release date: Wednesday, September 19.

Get involved:

565 – Donuts for All

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This week on WELSTech we talk about personal task management systems (#bujo), upcoming conferences, campus ministry, and DONUTS!!

The discussion:

Getting creative with Bullet Journaling – Sallie kicks off a two-week discussion of bullet journaling with a focus on paper journals and the many creative flavors users have adopted.

News in tech:

Twitter Personalized “Unfollow” Suggestions

WELS now:

WELS National Multi-Site Conference – Registration Deadline is October 10

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

WELS Campus Ministry

Community feedback:

Featured videos and more:

Get a feel for creative bullet journaling by searching #bujo on Instagram or watching videos by AmandaRachLee, one of many popular YouTubers covering the topic. PLAN WITH ME | September 2018 Bullet Journal Setup

50 Bullet Journal Doodle Ideas

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 566 – Martin’s digital bullet journal is in the spotlight as the #bujo discussion continues. Release date: Wednesday, September 12.

Get involved:

564 – Eat That Frog Finale

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This week the WELSTech discussion happens from the same location as Martin and Sallie talk tech-in-ministry from WELS headquarters, the Center for Mission and Ministry. Tune in for the last installment of the Eat That Frog! book discussion as well as tech for starry nights.

The discussion:

That’s all, folks – We’ve arrived at summer’s end and also the end of the WELSTech book discussion of Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy. Martin and Sallie discuss Chapter 21 – Single Handle every Task – and recap their favorite takeaways from the book.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured videos:

Tune in to the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary live stream archive of opening service for the 2018-19 school year.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 565 – WELSTech returns to regular programming as Martin and Sallie discuss their bullet journals plus bring you lots more WELSTech goodness! Release date: Wednesday, September 4.

Get involved:

563 – Wisdom and Folly

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WELSTech is back with our summer book discussion of Eat That Frog! plus a couple of “ultimate guides” to organize your Chrome bookmarks and your Apple iCloud storage. The WELS Google Schools Community has also been active with talk about bring your own device, classroom current events resources, and explaining MAP test results.

The discussion:

Creating time and urgency – The WELSTech summer book discussion – Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy – has reached chapters 19 and 20. Eating frogs, or getting difficult tasks done, involves opposing forces at times – scheduling time for tasks AND discipling yourself to keep the appointments, as well as getting important work done quickly AND well.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured videos:

Enjoy a musical treat from the MLC College Choir, Uncloudy Day, to celebrate the beginning of a new school year at Martin Luther College.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 564 – Summer is officially over as WELSTech wraps up our summer book discussion with chapter 21 of Eat That Frog! Release date: Wednesday, August 29.

Get involved: