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.

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Podcast: Download (Duration: 30:23 — 27.8MB)

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:

509 – Calendars, Conventions, and Communications

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Fresh off a great experience at the WELS Synod Convention, the WELSTech team returns to their summer series of Ministry Resources. If you use Google Calendar, you won’t want to miss this one. Also, listen for some interesting uses for Trello and an exciting announcement regarding an upcoming conference in Wisconsin Dells!

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Podcast: Download (Duration: 31:25 — 28.8MB)

The discussion:

Upping the Google Calendar ante – WELSTech followers will know that Google Calendar is a highly-recommended tool for collaborative management of church and school events. On today’s show, we share an online utility, Print My Cal, that enhances the printed version of Google Calendar for newsletters and bulletin boards.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Check all of the Synod Convention video updates including this one, featuring Pastor Michael Herbst from our sister synod in Germany.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 510 – Tune in to learn about the new Called Worker Compensation Calculator which debuted at Synod Convention. Release date: Wednesday, August 16.

Get involved:

508 – Synod Convention 2017 Special

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WELSTech is back, and Martin and Sallie are side-by-side in Watertown, WI to continue our biennial tradition of special coverage at WELS Synod Convention. We’ve got a great lineup of interesting interviews to give you an insider’s look at different topics related to convention.

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Podcast: Download (Duration: 27:54 — 25.5MB)

The interviews:

Prof. Earle Treptow is on the faculty at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and serves as the chairman of the WELS Compensation Review Committee. He presented to the convention delegates several recommendations from the committee as well as debuted the recently developed Called Worker Compensation Calculator (wels.net/cwcompcalc).

Dr. Jeff Wiechman is Vice President for Academics at Martin Luther College as well as chairman of the convention Elections Committee. He explains why that role makes him a frequent visitor to the speaker podium. Plus we get an update on the state of technology at MLC.

Mr. Lee Hitter serves as WELS Director of Communications, and his responsibilities not only include ongoing synod communication efforts but also the complete coverage of Synod Convention. He shares details on the many communication platforms in play as well as the effort that goes into sharing the convention experience with the entire WELS membership. You can learn more about the convention, and watch live streaming coverage and regular video updates at wels.net/2017synodconvention.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 509 – Ministry resources take center stage once again next week. Tune in! Release date: Wednesday, August 9.

Get involved:

507 – Three Steps to Safety

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WELSTech’s summer ministry resource focus continues, this week with a discussion of tech safety practices which churches, schools, and individuals would be wise to adopt. Other chatter covers ideas for working with volunteers, coffee-table ready photo books, and a Pinterest posting suggestion which has Martin dumbfounded. All this with a side of mustard!

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Podcast: Download (Duration: 41:03 — 37.6MB)

The discussion:

Don’t sing the blues – Martin shares important tech safety practices which organizations and individuals should adopt in Let’s Be Safe Out There…In Three Easy Steps.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Get a behind-the-scenes Finalweb 2 Introduction, the newest addition to the WELSTech Product Demo playlist on YouTube.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 508 – Martin and Sallie are broadcasting from WELS’ 64th Biennial Synod Convention in at Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, WI. Release date: Wednesday, August 2.

Get involved:

506 – Robot Ministry

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This week on WELSTech Sallie shares the details of a robotics camp she and Kevin ran last week. Chromebook tips and classroom screen sharing round out a show focused on education…and ministry.

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Podcast: Download (Duration: 38:59 — 35.7MB)

The discussion:

iBot, uBot, mBot – Sallie shares her recent Robot Camp experience and how the format can be replicated in church or school settings.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured video:

This week we feature one of the most popular videos ever from Your Time of Grace – 4 Tips For Reading Your Bible – on the WELSTech Instructional playlist on YouTube.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 507 – Martin is up to bat in the summer ministry resources series. Tune in. It’s sure to be a tech home run for your ministry! Release date: Wednesday, July 26.

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505 – It’s All About The Docs

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This week on WELSTech we take a deep dive into the topic of cloud storage, focusing on the reasons to consider migrating your church and school contents to the cloud as well as a few potential gotchas to be aware of if you do. Other mentions on this episode include Google Maps location sharing and a brand new ebook on social media ministry.

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Podcast: Download (Duration: 36:51 — 33.7MB)

The discussion:

Sing it with me – Martin shares insights into the benefits and gotchas of online document storage and management for churches and schools in his recent post on Cloud Storage.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Tech-for-the-win as an ostrich experiences virtual reality in Samsung Official TVC: Ostrich, a new add to the WELSTech Presentation/Teaching Videos playlist on YouTube.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 506 – Tune in for tips on teaching kids to code. Release date: Wednesday, July 19.

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504 – I Remember Those Funny Codes

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WELSTech’s summer series, featuring Ministry Resources, continues this week. Apple makes an interesting move which causes us to take another look at the QR Codes for church and school communication. We also bring you good news regarding sharing Google Photo libraries as well as repurposing sermon content in creative ways.

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Podcast: Download (Duration: 30:47 — 28.2MB)

The discussion:

Point and shoot – The release of the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system, iOS 11, includes a camera update to recognize QR (Quick Response) Codes natively. Perhaps it’s time to take a second look at Communicating with QR Codes.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Enjoy Koine’s version of Lord, When Your Glory I Shall See, new on the WELSTech Music playlist on YouTube.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 505 – Tune in for the latest installment of our summer ministry resources series. Release date: Wednesday, July 12.

Get involved:

503 – Comparing Event Video Notes

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On this week’s episode of WELSTech, Martin shares his thoughts on the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement for ministry. There’s also a post-wedding video discussion and some great tips for WELS ed tech leaders on getting started with a 1:1 initiative in your school.

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Podcast: Download (Duration: 39:32 — 36.2MB)

The discussion:

iPads for Ministry – Continuing the summer focus on ministry resources, Martin shares the thoughts behind his recommendation of the 10.5 inch iPad Pro.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Ask the Bullet Journalist is this week’s addition to the WELSTech Instructional playlist on YouTube.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 504 – Martin and Sallie return from the long holiday weekend to talk QR codes for ministry. Release date: Wednesday, July 5.

Get involved:

502 – Be Internet Awesome

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WELSTech 502 is packed with awesomeness in the form of a new digital citizenship effort from Google for middle- and upper-elementary children. Plus, Sallie has graphic organizer templates, and Martin has helpful gesture shortcuts for Windows 10. Community feedback and a mission update round out the show.

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Podcast: Download (Duration: 35:27 — 32.5MB)

The discussion:

Interland Flyby – Martin and Sallie look at a new release from Google, Be Internet Awesome, that boasts a curriculum and kid-friendly video game which can be used to teach all aspects of digital citizenship.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured video:

From the WELSTech “Likes” list on Vimeo, watch the Summer update from our Latin American outreach efforts through Academia Cristo.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 503 – Martin shares ideas on using iPads for ministry. Release date: Wednesday, June 28.

Get involved:

501 – Trello

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With WELSTech number 500 behind them, Martin and Sallie kick off the summer with a series focused around ministry resources. This week is the popular project management tool Trello. Learn how you can manage church and school projects, as well as a wedding! Maybe even just your family vacation.

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Podcast: Download (Duration: 33:18 — 30.5MB)

The discussion:

What’s Changed – Martin and Sallie discuss of the many ways to tackle Project Management with Trello. The versatile tool can help you organize and move tasks through to completion, and it’s available on both desktop and mobile.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

WELS now:

Enjoy the closing worship of the WELS Worship Conference via live stream beginning Friday, June 16 at 11:30 am Central – livestream.com/welslive

Featured video:

From the WELS Schools playlist on YouTube, check out Lakeside Lutheran’s A Capella Choir as they perform this Awesome National Anthem for the Brewers 2017.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 502 – Learn about Google’s newest edtech initiative, “Be Internet Awesome.” Release date: Wednesday, June 21.

Get involved: