588 – Intranets – Google Style

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This week on WELSTech the discussion and how-to resources focus on building a church Intranet or private web site using G Suite. Along with news and picks of the week, the WELSTech mailbag is overflowing with great community discussion on ministry podcasts, transcribing and captioning video, education hardware for early elementary, a tropical job opportunity.

The discussion:

Build a Church Intranet with Google – Martin and Sallie continue the Let’s Build an Intranet series with a discussion of the Google tools to do the job.

News in tech:

Google releases Chrome extension to check for leaked usernames and passwords

WELS now:

Consider presenting at WELS Education, Technology, and Leadership Summit IGNITE event

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

How to Leverage Podcasting to Reach New People

Community feedback:

Featured video:

More Google tutorials for learning the basics needed to set up and maintain your church intranet – Google Drive Tutorial 2018

and How to Share Files and Folders in Google Drive

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 589 – Rachel Pierson shares details about her “Google Level 1 Certification Bootcamp happening during pre-conference at #EdTechLead19.  Release date: Wednesday, February 20.

Get involved:

587 – Streaming

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It’s WELSTech time, so get ready for your weekly dose of tech-in-ministry goodness. This week we share tips for setting up live streaming, and we celebrate the Chinese New Year with prayer. We also visit the Free Bible Images web site and share community feedback related to optimizing Facebook posts. Wait no longer for WELSTech!

The interview and discussion:

Get started streaming – Philip Wels, lay member of Peace in North Mankato, MN joins Martin and Sallie to share his expertise in live streaming worship.

News in tech:

Plans to integrate Facebook Messenger, What’s App and Instagram messages

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

Free Bible Images

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Check out the live streaming and sermon video archive from Peace Lutheran Church (ELS) in North Mankato, MN, mentioned during the interview today as a congregation using Philip’s recommended setup. Watch the sermon video from Sunday, February 3, 2019.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 588 – Our “Let’s Build an Intranet” series continues with a practical look at how to build a church intranet using Google Sites.  Release date: Wednesday, February 13.

Get involved:

586 – Minus 23

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It’s cold outside, but we’re warm on WELSTech! Thaw out while you listen to our edtech discussion of digital literacy. We’ll also share the latest from Apple regarding the Facetime bug that may allow others to spy on you, a Chrome extension that solves memory issues, and the first-ever commercial on WELSTech!

The discussion:

Stay warm – The post office may have suspended operation on this record setting cold day, but WELSTech must go on! Join Martin, Sallie, and guest host Jason Schmidt, our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, for a discussion around teaching digital literacy from chapter four in our Faithfully Connected (available from Concordia Publishing House and Amazon) book discussion.

News in tech:

WELS now:

Grow in Grace Notes Devotions

Picks of the week:

Ministry Pinterest resource:

Digital Literacy board

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Check out Common Sense Media’s Educator’s Professional Development Library for a host of great resources. Many of the videos link to lesson plans. A free account is required. Sample: Private and Personal Information.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 587 – Martin and Sallie chat with Philip Wels about live streaming and archiving worship video.  Release date: Wednesday, February 6.

Get involved:

585 – So You Feel Like Google Can Do More For You?

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This week on WELSTech we’re talking Google in so many ways! Professor James Carlovsky joins Martin and Sallie to preview his Google-centric presentation at the upcoming #EdTechLead19 Summit. Plus, there’s Google news and a Google ministry resource that every church and school should make use of.

The interview:

Do more with Google – Professor James Carlovsky from Martin Luther College shares details about his upcoming presentation at WELS Education, Technology, and Leadership Summit. Tune in to hear why James thinks the Google platform is a good fit for churches and schools.

News in tech:

Google Hangouts retirement timeline

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

Google My Business – Help

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Learn How To Setup Google My Business For Maximum Results.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 586 – Jason Schmidt joins our edtech discussion of Faithfully Connected, chapter 4 – Digital Literacy.  Release date: Wednesday, January 30.

Get involved:

584 – Intranets 101

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WELSTech is back with the first big project of the new year, building an Intranet, as Martin and Sallie kick off this multi-month topic. In addition, they bring you the news from this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), share Christian Giving and Worship resources, and more. All this, if Sallie can just push the right button!

The discussion:

Let’s build an Intranet – Martin and Sallie kick off a new series focused on the ins and outs of Intranets for ministry. The goal is to build sample church and school Intranets over the next several months, and listeners are invited to build along with us. Today’s discussion lays the ground work for the effort by answering the important what, why, where, and who questions.

Click the image to view larger

News in tech:

CES 2019: Our 10 favorite products of the show from c|net

WELS now:

WELSTech Skills Directory

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

Christian Giving resources

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Get a jump start on building your Intranet by learning Google Sites basics in New Google Sites for Beginners Tutorial from TeacherCast.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 585 – “Do more with Google” is the topic of Prof. James Carlovsky’s presentation at #EdTechLead19. Tune in for a preview of what he will be sharing.  Release date: Wednesday, January 23.

Get involved:

583 – Year of the Multi-Colored Llama

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Kick off a new year of WELSTech with a look back at 11 years of shows and look ahead at our plans for 2019. Martin and Sallie share a bit of their Christmas technology along with the first ever WELSTech anti-pick from Martin. The WELSTech community buzz is about a sample Chromebook Program Handbook from Winnebago Lutheran Academy.

The discussion:

Happy anniversary – Martin and Sallie kick off year twelve of podcasting and make no promises about keeping the show under 30 minutes! They also talk about their Christmas technology.

News in tech:

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

Give+ Mobile App from Vanco

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Learn more about this year’s Doodle 4 Google contest with this behind the scenes look.

And hear the new contest announced by 2019 honorary judges Jimmy Fallon and Kermit the Frog.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 584 – Join us for the kickoff of a new series focused on church and school intranets.  Release date: Wednesday, January 16.

Get involved:

582 – The Best of 2018

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A new year has arrived, but before we dive into our tech-in-ministry future, Martin and Sallie take a look back at the ministry resources, interviews, and picks that stood out in 2018.

2018 was the year WELSTech returned to its roots as an audio-only podcast. It was also the year Martin’s phone bought us donuts. Besides those memorable events, these were the standouts for Martin and Sallie …

Favorite ministry resources:

All 2018 Ministry Resources

Favorite interviews:

All 2018 Interviews

Picks of the year:

All 2018 Picks

Featured video:

The celebration of Christmas continues with the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Christmas Concert.

 Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 583 – Join us for a celebration of WELSTech’s 11th anniversary. Release date: Wednesday, January 9.

Get involved:

581 – An Interview with Eric Roecker

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Merry Christmas to the WELSTech Community! Enjoy this week’s podcast as our tech-in-ministry gift to you.

The interview:

Pastor Eric Roecker, recently called to serve as Administrator of WELS Evangelism, chats with Martin and Sallie about his new responsibilities and the evangelism resources which are being planned.

Featured video:

President Schroeder’s 2018 Christmas Message

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 582 – We welcome 2019 with a look back at the best of 2018.  Release date: Tuesday, January 1.

Get involved:

580 – Your World, Organized

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Winter arrives this week, but on WELSTech we are dreaming of summer because that’s when WELS Education, Technology, and Leadership Summit is happening. This week we talk with presenter Perry Lund about his topic – tools for organization, collaboration, and communication in school and church. And Christmas videos abound as the date draws near!

The discussion and interview:

Microsoft OneNote and Teams – Teacher Perry Lund from Evergreen Lutheran High School shares details about his #EdTechLead19 presentation on Microsoft OneNote and Teams which will focus on how they can be used in school and church settings.

News in tech:

WELS now:

Watch the C18 social media video

Instructions and links to four versions of the video (on the Download tab)

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

Following up on our discussion last week, the 7th and 8th grade students at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Norfolk, NE created this fun lipdub video of O, Come All Ye Faithful. Share the Christmas joy!

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Share more Christmas joy including the Forté Handbell Quartet playing Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus

and the MLC College Choir singing Brightest and Best.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 581 – Our Christmas Day episode includes a very special interview with Pastor Eric Roecker, Administrator for WELS Evangelism.  Release date: Tuesday, December 25.

Get involved:

579 – Christmas Communication

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WELSTech is back and loaded with Christmas joy for sharing with the world. Tune in for ideas and content to post on your website and via social media. Details on texting the good news are the focus of this week’s interview. Plus, the video of the week has a story of tech-in-ministry opening amazing doors around the world.

The discussion:

‘Tis the season to share the good news – Martin and Sallie discuss ways to let your online light shine during the Christmas season.

Ministry resource:

5 Best Practices For Using Invite Cards At Your Church

News in tech:

Microsoft to Replace Edge Web Browser

The interview:

Communicate via text – Randy Brice, a member of Immanuel in Manitowoc, WI and owner of All Access Ads, talks with Martin and Sallie about how his congregation is using affordable, secure text messaging (priced at 2 cents per text) to share their message. Visit the All Access Ads web site for additional details and to reach Randy.

WELS now:

C18 Resources from Congregational Services

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Sparked by “community feedback” from Pastor Rob Guenther, watch the St. John, New Ulm, MN sermon from December 2 where WELS Director of Ministerial Education Pastor Paul Prange shared a mission story with a tech twist during his sermon. The sermon starts at about 23 minutes and the tech part starts at about 30 minutes.

Learn more about this amazing opportunity God has provided to build a training center in Vietnam

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 580 – We talk with Teacher Perry Lund about his Microsoft OneNote/Teams presentation at next summer’s WELS Education, Technology, and Leadership Summit.  Release date: Wednesday, December 19.

Get involved: