211 – Digital Thanks

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This week the WELSTech Podcast celebrates Thanksgiving with lots of ideas for showing thanks to volunteers.

The discussion:

Thanksgiving WELSTech-style – Martin and Sallie are in thankful moods, particularly for the superb WELSTech community of listeners!  Listen for lots of “techie” ideas for saying thanks to congregation and school volunteers including using social channels to broadcast thanks and setting up a regular system for spreading your thankfulness.

Ministry resources:

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(25:22) Mark your calendars for streaming Christmas concerts

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(38:43) Episode 212 – Gail Potratz joins Martin and Sallie for a discussion of the online classroom platform, Schoology. (Release date – 11/30/11)

The featured artist:

(39:28) We close the podcast with the music of Stephen Bautista (www.stephenbautistamusic.com or stephenbautista on Twitter) – You Came to Live in Me from his CD titled “Abandon”

Get involved:

210 – A Wealth of WELSTech Resources

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This week the WELSTech Podcast is all about the WELSTech podcast Wiki and show notes web sites.  Take the tour and tap into the many helpful resources.

The discussion:

Choral Fest Afterglow – Whether you missed the fun or just want to re-live the National High School Choral Fest weekend of song, you’ll enjoy the archives at MLC-TV (Pops 1 | Pops 2 | Sacred). Check out Sallie’s homegrown highlight video as well.

Fill up your tool belt – Martin and Sallie give an overview of the features of the WELSTech Wiki and WELSTech show notes web sites.

Ministry resources:

Picks of the week:

News in tech:

(28:54) Kindle Fire release – Read reviews from Engadget and CNet

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(43:24) Episode 211 – Giving thanks with technology is the topic of next week’s WELSTech podcast. (Release date – 11/23/11)

The featured artist:

(43:48) We close the podcast with the music of Kevin Loersch – The Lord’s Prayer from his CD titled “Abide With Me”

Get involved:

209 – The Church of Facebook

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This week the WELSTech Podcast welcomes author Jesse Rice as we discuss his book, The Church of Facebook.

The discussion:

“Home is where …” – Returning to the current book discussion, Martin and Sallie look at Chapter 2 of The Church of Facebook and discuss the reasons Facebook feels like “Home” to so many people.

The interview:

(13:52) Chat with the author – Jesse Rice (@JesseRice on Twitter) talks with Martin and Sallie about his book, The Church of Facebook. Find out how Jesse sees Facebook as both a catalyst and a symptom of our ability to connect and what Jesse thinks is the churches’ biggest mistake on Facebook.

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(39:37) Watch live video streaming of the WELS National Choral Festival on MLC TV

  • Pops concert – Friday, November 11 at 7:00 p.m.
  • Sacred concert – Sunday, November 13 at 2:00 p.m.

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(51:23) Episode 210 – Uncover hidden treasures as Martin & Sallie lead a virtual walking tour of the WELSTech show notes page and the WELSTech Wiki (wear your sneakers). (Release date – 11/16/11)

The featured artist:

(52:20) This week we close the podcast with the music of Koine (www.koinemusic.com | Facebook) – God’s Word is Our Great Heritage from their debut CD titled “Koine”

Get involved:

208 – What Will Google Change Next?

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast shut-in ministry using technology is the discussion topic and we hear about Nebraska Lutheran High School’s firewall software experience.

The discussion:

Tech in shut-in ministry – Martin and Sallie explore ways that technology can assist and enhance ministry to members who are home bound and unable to attend traditional church services.  Listen for discussion of recorded worship, Bible class and more plus ideas for sharing photos and tips for visitation tracking and mileage calculations.

The interview:

(16:24) Safe Computing – We’ve got twice the brainpower behind this school network security discussion as both Greg Boggs, Owner of Quality Communications, and Joshua Johnson, Nebraska Lutheran High School Math Teacher and Technology Director, join Martin and Sallie to talk about SmoothWall, a firewall and filtering solution recently added to the ShopWELS program.

News in tech:

(37:13) Smaller, cheaper tablets could become a big deal

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(46:53) Watch live video streaming of the WELS National Choral Festival on MLC TV

  • Pops concert – Friday, November 11 at 7:00 p.m.
  • Sacred concert – Sunday, November 13 at 2:00 p.m.

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:08:30) Episode 209 – The Church of Facebook author, Jesse Rice, joins Martin and Sallie to talk about the latest WELSTech book selection. (Release date – 11/09/11)

The featured artist:

(1:09:03) This week we close with the instrumental music of flutist Jeannine Dennis – Mary Did You Know? from her CD titled ”O Holy Night”

Get involved:

207 – Chromebooks

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast cloud-based classroom computing with Chromebooks is the discussion topic as Martin takes a field trip to Grace in Oshkosh to observe Chromebooks in action.

The discussion:

To the cloud – With much anticipation, Martin and Sallie welcome our new semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, Jason Schmidt, who will be joining WELSTech on an alternating basis for our end-of-month classroom technology focused podcasts.  Gail Potratz will be back next month!  Jason adds his insight to today’s cloud-based computing discussion of Google Chromebooks and 1-to-1 teaching initiatives.

The interview:

(21:39) Chromebooks live – Principal Peter Iles from Grace in Oshkosh, WI talks with Martin about their recent implementation of Chromebooks in his 7th and 8th grade classroom.  Martin also blogged about his visit to Peter’s classroom.

Something extra from Jason:

(43:21) iPads in Preschool

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:09:20) Episode 208 – Using technology to assist with ministry to shut-ins is the discussion topic on next week’s podcast.  We’ll also talk with folks from Nebraska Lutheran High School about their use of SmoothWall, a new ShopWELS product. (Release date – 11/02/11)

The featured artist:

(1:10:29) This week we close with the music of Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries – Dive Into God’s Word from their CD titled ”Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries”

Get involved:

206 – VoIP For Beginners

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This week the WELSTech Podcast is all about Internet-based telephone solutions, and we a look at the offerings from one of ShopWELS newest partners, Digium.

The discussion:

Internet phones – Using Voice over Internet Protocol (or VoIP) to make long distance calls at an affordable or sometimes free rate is the topic of the day.  Martin and Sallie attempt to sort out the various options and share pros and cons of each solution.

The interview:

(20:05) The next level – Mark Robinson from DVI Consulting and principal contact for the ShopWELS program talks with Martin and Sallie about the cost and productivity benefits of IP telephony systems.  Get a glimpse of the future as Mark describes WELS partner Digium and their reliable and effective means of supporting phone system needs for small to medium churches and schools.

Ministry resources:

(39:24) The Christ in Media Institute – Promoting production and distribution of Christian media

News in tech:

(40:05) Google Docs Updates Presentations With Real-Time Collaboration, New Themes, Transitions and More

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(58:54) Episode 207 – Tune in to learn the identity of our brand new semi-regular classroom technology correspondent as Martin and Sallie share the mic and talk all things Chromebook! (Release date – 10/26/11)

The featured artist:

(1:00:20) We close the podcast with the music of The Branches Band (www.branchesband.com|Facebook) – I Rejoiced from their “Sing, My Tongue” CD

Get involved:

205 – Use Tech To God’s Glory

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast the discussion topic is our need for “connection”, and we examine the root of our motivation to use technology.

The discussion:

Connection – Martin and Sallie discuss the latest WELSTech book selection, Chapter 1 of The Church of Facebook. The author, Jesse Rice, lays the foundation for the phenomenon of Facebook, pointing out the most basic of human needs … the need for “home”.

News in tech:

(9:47) Death of Apple’s Steve Jobs

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(33:52) Episode 206 – Martin and Sallie explore all the variations of VoIP or Voice over IP (Internet) including Skype, Magic Jack and Google Voice. (Release date – 10/19/11)

The featured artist:

(37:22) We close the podcast with the music of Dawn Michelle Williams (www.dawnmichellewilliams.com | Twitter | Facebook | My Space) – Where I Belong from her CD titled ”Dawn Michelle Williams”

Get involved:

204 – Search Me

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This week the WELSTech Podcast is all about searching the web as GoodSearch.com co-founder JJ Ramberg joins the discussion.

The discussion:

Finding a world of information – Searching the information super highway is a must-have skill for everyone these days and certainly a skill that comes in handy in the ministry setting.  Martin and Sallie share search tips from the biggies – Bing and Google – as well as other tools that prove useful when doing internet research.

The interview:

(19:17) Search for pennies – JJ Ramberg, co-founder of GoodSearch.com and GoodShop.com, joins Martin and Sallie to talk about how the search tool has earned WELS over $8,000, one penny at a time.

News in tech:

(35:34) Amazon Launches $200 Tablet, Slashes Kindle Prices from Wired

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(58:36) Episode 205 – Martin and Sallie discuss the latest WELSTech book selection, Chapter 1 of The Church of Facebook. (Release date – 10/12/11)

The featured artist:

(59:28) We close the podcast with the music of Revelation, a music ministry of Wisconsin Lutheran College (www.revelationwlc.com) – Shine On Us from the CD titled “Led By The Light”

Get involved:

203 – Gail’s Summer Vacation

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This week is WELSTech classroom week as we welcome back Gail Potratz and talk to teacher Kurt Gosdeck about his new school year in a 1-to-1 environment.

The discussion:

What did you learn – Our WELSTech semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, Gail Potratz from Emanuel in New London, WI, is back to talk with Martin and Sallie about her busy summer of learning.

The interview:

Kurt Gosdeck

(16:35) In the hands of digital natives – Kurt Gosdeck, Director of Technology and 3rd and 4th grade teacher at St. Lucas in Kewaskum, WI, joins Martin and Sallie to talk about his new school year in a 1:1 student netbook environment.  Hear how the program was started including the funding of the netbooks, their plans for rolling it out to all students in 3rd to 8th grade, and details of the experience thus far into the school year.

1:1 Kids – Click to view larger

Ministry resources:

(39:47) Christian Computing Magazine

News in tech:

(41:28) Facebook changes

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(56:22) Episode 204 – J.J. Ramberg, co-founder of GoodSearch.com, joins Martin and Sallie as we talk about all things search. (Release date – 10/05/11)

The featured artist:

(57:43) We close the podcast with the music of L. A. Miller – Flyin’ Free from the CD titled “Night and Day”

Get involved:

202 – Sign Me Up

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This week the WELSTech Podcast discussion topic is centered around calendar utilities.

The discussion:

Calendar solutions – The heartbeat of the church and school office is the event calendar. Listen as Martin and Sallie share utilities to make working with your calendar and scheduling appointments, events, volunteers and resources a breeze.

News in tech:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(40:59) Episode 203 – It’s our first tech-in-education podcast in the new school year! We welcome back Gail Potratz to the conversation as well as chat with teacher Kurt Gosdeck regarding the 1-to-1 computer implementation in his classroom. (Release date – 09/28/11)

The featured artist:

(42:01) We close the podcast with the music of Cross to Glory – I Have Ev’ry Reason from their CD titled “Life’s Song”

Get involved: