519 – Back to the Future

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The WELSTech discussion this week focuses on video, the next media frontier. Your social media feeds are dominated by them, and YouTube “channels” have become yesterday’s websites. How will your ministry respond to the video generation? Join Martin and Sallie as they discuss video, channels and how reaching out today seems to mean getting smarter at video creation, curation and presentation.

The discussion:

Video channels – Martin and Sallie consider time travel and decide there’s no time like the present to get serious about beefing up your video channels!

News in tech:

WELS now:

Interactive Faith online Bible Study – Luther’s Lasting Impact – Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Prof. Joel Otto will lead the study on Wednesday’s now through November 8 at 6 pm and 8 pm (central).

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Reformation Fun

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Community feedback spills into our weekly featured video selection thanks to Michael Vlieger from Risen Savior, Mankato, MN. He shared the Explaining Computers YouTube channel and two great videos. First, check out a demo of DaVinci Resolve in DaVinci Resolve 14 Free Video Editor.

And then, get your maker hat on as you watch an overview of Raspberry Pi Google AIY Voice Kit. You can learn more about the kit from the Google AIY site and purchase it from MicroCenter and other retailers.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 520 – Filmmakers Steve and Beth Zambo join the conversation to discuss planning, production, and distribution of video. Release date: Wednesday, October 25.

Get involved:

518 – Video Tech

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This week on WELSTech, as part of our month of video for ministry focus, we look at all the many tools available for editing video. For us geeks the tech behind video is as much fun as seeing the content spring to life. There are tools for beginners and pros, those who use PCs and Macs, those who prefer working on tablets or Chromebooks. Martin shares his favorite productivity tip of all time! And Sallie gets serious about security.

The discussion:

Editing & streaming video – Martin and Sallie focus on software and resources around editing video as well as live streaming. Plus, stock video sites are thrown in the mix for good measure!

News in tech:

Visit the Google Store to learn about Google’s latest product announcement, including something for the Trekkie in all of us!

WELS now:

New Interactive Faith online Bible Study – Luther’s Lasting Impact – Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Prof. Joel Otto will lead the study on Wednesday’s now through November 8 at 6 pm and 8 pm (central).

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

My Favorite Productivity Tip!

Community feedback:

How to Make a Video (Part 2) from TechSmith

Featured video:

The newest addition to the WELSTech Product Demos YouTube channel is the Google Pixel 2 event in 19 minutes.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 519 – Learn the ins and outs of creating video channels on next week’s WELSTech. Release date: Wednesday, October 18.

Get involved:

517 – Taming YouTube Live Streaming

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It’s a new month and a new focus for WELSTech. October is all about video month. Your ministry may be missing out if it doesn’t have a video strategy. All month we’ll consider content, tools, and video platforms. Sallie takes her first swing at setting up live streaming on YouTube. It’s easier than you think!

The discussion:

October is for video – Martin and Sallie break the ice on this month’s WELSTech discussion focus, video. Why should congregations and schools consider video for communication? What type of content is appropriate for video delivery?

News in tech:

WELS now:

New Interactive Faith online Bible Study – Luther’s Lasting Impact – starts October 4. Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Prof. Joel Otto will lead the study on Wednesday’s October 4 to November 8 at 6 pm and 8 pm (central).

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Getting Started with YouTube Live

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Replay the recent Festival of Hymns by Dr. Martin Luther (service folder), part of the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Symposium on Reformation 500.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 518 – Next week we continue the video discussion, looking at the technology of creating video. Release date: Wednesday, October 10.

Get involved:

516 – A Sad Day for Monkey Lovers

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WELSTech wraps up our September focus on meetings with tips for great meetings at school. We also share resources to get you out of your seat, learn to teach robotics, make OneNote turn backflips, and color the Reformation. Oh yeah, there’s a monkey frown involved as well.

The interview and discussion:

Welcome Prof. Rachel – It’s EDU week on WELSTech and Martin and Sallie welcome back Martin Luther College’s new Director of Academic Computing and Online Learning, Prof. Rachel Feld. Rachel continues to serve as one of WELSTech’s semi-regular classroom technology correspondents, and this week we pick her brain regarding all things related to school meetings – from faculty meetings to PTO meetings with parent-teacher conferences in the middle.

News in tech:

WELS now:

Take a stand against sitting with ShopWELS

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

OneNote for Meeting Management

Community feedback:

Featured video:

From our friends at PTO Today, learn How To Do a PTO Duct Tape Fundraiser, new on the WELSTech Product Demo Playlist.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 517 – We kick off our October focus on all things VIDEO! Release date: Wednesday, October 4.

Get involved:

515 – #Meetings

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WELSTech’s month of meetings continues with an interview of New Ulmer, Brian Fischer, who shares his strategic planning experiences in business and the church. Sallie schools Martin on hashtags, and, as usual, they both share some interesting internet resources you can use in your ministry today.

The interview and discussion:

Strategic planning – Brian Fischer, lay member of St. Paul’s, New Ulm, MN and owner of New Ulm’s Design Home Center, visits the WELS Technology West offices to chat with martin and Sallie about a method he uses to facilitate strategic planning, both in the church as well as in the business setting. At it’s core are three important questions:

  1. How are we doing?
  2. Where are we going?
  3. How do we get there?

News in tech:

Trello Desktop for Mac and Windows

WELS now:

Christian Aid and Relief updates on Hurricanes Harvey & Irma – Volunteer

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Ministry resources:

5 ways to let your light shine online

Featured video:

The newest addition to the WELSTech Music Playlist on YouTube is Koine’s Brothers, Sisters, Let Us Gladly.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 516 – We welcome Prof. Rachel Feld back to WELSTech to talk about meetings in the school setting. Release date: Wednesday, September 27.

Get involved:

514 – Staying Awake in Meetings

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“Meeting” month continues on WELSTech with an interview with World Missions Administrator Larry Schloemer who shares his experiences, tips and tools used in managing meetings. New Bible study resources are available for those working on called worker compensation review. Martin is back with yet another screencasting pick of the week, while he and Sallie discuss the latest Apple iPhone announcements.

The interview:

Level 10 – World Missions Administrator Larry Schloemer talks about elevating meeting effectiveness with team trust and healthy conflict in meetings.

The discussion:

Meetings mode – Martin and Sallie continue the discussion around effective meetings with a book review, a look at one congregation’s methods for engaging members in long-range planning, and recommendations for tech tools to assist with meetings.

News in tech:

September 12, 2017 Apple event and product announcements including the exciting animojis

WELS now:

New Interactive Faith online Bible Study – Luther’s Lasting Impact – starts October 4. Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Prof. Joel Otto will lead the study on Wednesday’s October 4 to November 8 at 6 pm and 8 pm (central).

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Called Worker Compensation Bible Study

Community feedback:

Featured video:

WELSTech has not one, but two, great featured videos this week! Check out The Backwards Brain Bicycle from Smarter Every Day …

and the EOSWorldwide channel and Level 10 Meeting overview.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 515 – Tune in for tips on strategic planning, a specific meeting type that most churches and schools could benefit from. Release date: Wednesday, September 20.

Get involved:

513 – A Month of Meetings

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WELSTech declares September “meeting month.” We’ll take a different angle on meetings each week to help all of us be better meeting managers and get the most out of our meetings. We are also back with all of your favorite segments including “WELS Now” where we identify some real ways you can get involved with Harvey relief. Sallie shares some awesome PowerPoint templates for teachers, while Martin does the same for Camtasia users.

The discussion:

Season opener – Along with the new school year, Martin and Sallie are excited to return to the regular WELSTech schedule. New this season will be a month-long focus on a discussion topic relating technology to ministry. First up is everyone’s favorite … meetings. Well, at least meetings should be everyone’s favorite by the time we finish our September discussions!

Revisit the Meetings chapter of WELSTech’s With All Your Heart project management book, and learn about healthy conflict, meeting prep and environment.

News in tech:

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Computer Science Fundamentals For Grades K-5

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Rewind through WELSTech history to watch a meeting-focused interview with Pastor Rob Guenther, the “Faster Pastor,” from Grace in Kenai, AK.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 514 – Tune in for tips on strategic planning, a specific meeting type that most churches and schools could benefit from. Release date: Wednesday, September 13.

Get involved:

512 – De-Stressing Presentations

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WELSTech concludes our summer long focus on Ministry Resources with a toolkit for all of you who do presentations. Who doesn’t anymore? Take the stress out of the technology and focus on your content with these helpful tools and tips. Plus, Martin shares his video creation tool of choice, and Sallie fumbles a title, yet again!

The discussion:

On the road with confidence – Presentations can be stressful enough without concerns of projection, sound, and internet access. Martin shares the contents of his Portable Presentation Toolkit in our final Ministry Resource of Summer 2017.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured video:

New on the WELSTech Product Demos YouTube Playlist is Green Screen by DoInk App Enables Creation of Green Screen Effects on iPad & iPhone.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 513 – September is a month for meetings as WELSTech returns to our regular schedule. Release date: Wednesday, September 6.

Get involved:

511 – Signs of the Times

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A new day has dawned for churches and schools wanting to add signage to their public spaces. Digital is the way to go, and it’s not hard or even expensive. On this week’s WELSTech, we discuss Google’s offering for G Suite users, as well as some cool devices that make getting your message up in lights a snap!

The discussion:

DIY digital signs – Churches and schools … there’s no better time to consider the use of announcement monitors in your buildings. Tune in for hardware and software tips on the Digital Signage + Google equation.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured video:

It’s back to school time at Martin Luther College which means their weekday chapel services are once again being live streamed! Find all the details at mlc-wels.edu/streams, and watch the archived opening service from August 21, 2017. We send a special shout out to one of MLC’s newest professors, installed in the opening service, WELSTech’s own Rachel Feld!!

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 512 – The summer of Ministry Resources is nearing its end, but not before Martin shares what makes up his portable presentation toolkit. Release date: Wednesday, August 30.

Get involved:

510 – Ministry Calculations

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Calculators rule the day on this week’s WELSTech. From ministry resources to picks of the week, we have tools to help figure out compensation for called workers, and some calculators that are just plain fun.

The discussion:

Online Tour – Following up with our Synod Convention interview of Prof. Earle Treptow, Martin demonstrates the new Called Worker Compensation Calculator available at wels.net/cwcompcalc.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured video:

If you are in the market for a laptop for your high school or college student as their school year, this new entry on the WELSTech Product Demo YouTube playlist from MobileTechReview, Best Back to School Laptops 2017, may be just the ticket!

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 511 – The summer of ministry resources is nearing an end. Tune in to add new tools to your digital toolbelt. Release date: Wednesday, August 23.

Get involved: