192 – WELS Hacker: Labels and Passwords

This week the WELSTech Podcast summer WELS Hacker series topics include a Web 2.0 label solution and secure passwords.

The discussion:

Pulling from the tech tool belt – In today’s WELS Hacker discussion, Martin Spriggs and Sallie Draper share shortcuts for cloud-based label creation and wise password management.

WELS Hacker - July 13, 2011

Community feedback:

The featured artist:

(32:08) We close the podcast with the music of The Branches Band (www.branchesband.com |Facebook) – The Mountain from their “Light Eternal” CD

Get involved:

191 – WELS Hacker: Managing Links and Tasks

This week on the WELSTech Podcast the summer WELS Hacker discussion covers Outlook Quick Steps to “get things done” and Diigo Lists.

The discussion:

Get organized! – This summer Martin Spriggs and Sallie Draper are wearing the “white WELS Hacker hat” and discussing personal tips, tricks and productivity boosters.  This week’s topics are

Outlook GTD and Diigo Lists

Community feedback:

The featured artist:

(37:40) We close the podcast with the music of Dawn Michelle Williams (www.dawnmichellewilliams.comTwitterFacebookMy Space) – Nearer My God to Thee from her CD titled ”Inspirations”

Get involved:

190 – WELS Hacker: iPads and Mouseless Browsing

This week the WELSTech Podcast summer WELS Hacker series continues with a look at Sallie’s iPad only experience as well as time saving keyboard shortcuts for your browser.

The discussion:

Putting it in writing – The summer WELS Hacker series features a discussion of recent blog posts by Martin Spriggs and Sallie Draper in which they share personal tips, tricks and productivity boosters.  This week’s topics are

iPads and Mouseless Browsing

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(26:55) Episode 191 – Martin promised “Chef’s Surprise” for next week’s WELS Hacker topic while Sallie committed to an insider’s look at Diigo Lists.  (Release date – 07/06/11)

The featured artist:

(27:18) We close the podcast with the music of Revelation, a music ministry of Wisconsin Lutheran College (www.revelationwlc.com) – Agnus Dei from their “More Than Conquerors” CD

Get involved:

189 – WELS Hacker: PDFs and YouVersion

This week the WELSTech Podcast summer WELS Hacker series continues as we discuss merging PDF documents and taking notes in the YouVersion electronic Bible.

The discussion:

Polar Opposites – The summer WELS Hacker series marches on as Martin and Sallie discuss their most recent tips and tricks blog post.  This week’s topics are

PDFs and YouVersion

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(28:11) Episode 190 – We continue the WELS Hacker dialog with a discussion of Sallie’s iPad-only experience  and Martin’s mouseless browsing.  (Release date – 06/29/11)

The featured artist:

(28:33) We close the podcast with the music of Cross To Glory – My Grace Will Do from their CD titled “Life’s Song”

Get involved:

188 – WELS Hacker: Photos and RSS

This week the WELSTech Podcast summer WELS Hacker series continues as we look at a simple way to organize digital photos and helpful tips for Google Reader.

The discussion:

White Hats for Vacation – Continuing the summer WELS Hacker series while squeezing in vacation time, Martin and Sallie are back with more helpful tips (and learning from each other in the process).  This weeks topics are

WELS Hacker

Community feedback:

The featured artist:

(24:05) We close the podcast with the instrumental music of In His Service (www.adagioconcepts.com) – Jesus Lover of My Soul from their CD titled “In His Time”

Get involved:

187 – WELS Hacker: Libraries and Books

This week the WELSTech Podcast summer WELS Hacker series kicks off with a discussion of Windows 7 Libraries and free eBooks.

The discussion:

Wearing a White Hat – Today marks the beginning of the summer WELS Hacker series.  Martin and Sallie share tips, tricks and helpful hacks on their blogs and discuss them on these abbreviated podcasts.  The inaugural topics include

WELS Hacker

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(19:55) Episode 188 – The summer WELS Hacker series continues as we look at Google Reader and photo organization. (Release date – 06/15/11)

The featured artist:

(20:29) We close the podcast with the music of Corban Creek – Psalm 46 from their CD titled “Could It Be Me”

Get involved:

186 – "Anonymous" Feedback

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we tour the new and improved ShopWELS site and talk with Tim Plath about distance ed for high schoolers.

The discussion:

ShopWELS relaunch – The ShopWELS group-purchasing program for WELS organizations and members is getting a face-lift today.  Join Martin and Sallie as we tour the re-designed web site and discuss the exciting deals which are available through the program.  Everything from copiers to office supplies and church organs the cell phone carriers is discounted!

The interview:

Tim Plath(16:21) ALHSO – Here’s another acronym to add to your list.  ALHSO stands for Area Lutheran High Schools Online.  Tim Plath, principal of Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School in New Ulm, MN and Chairman of the ALHSO Administrative Committee talks with Martin and Sallie about the new distance ed program which will begin this fall.

  • Contact Tim for more details or to enroll a student in ALHSO

Ministry resources:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(53:19) Episode 187 – We kick off our summer WELS Hacker series, featuring a discussion of tips and “how-to” blog posts from Martin and Sallie. (Release date – 06/08/11)

The featured artist:

(55:25) We close the podcast with the music of Michael Schroeder (www.michaelschroeder.com and on Facebook)- A Witness from his CD with the same title

Get involved:

185 – Summer Vacations

This week on the WELSTech Podcast Gail Potratz joins the discussion as we look at summer professional development opportunities.

The discussion:

VacationMake a Plan – As the school year wraps up Gail Potratz, the WELSTech semi-regular classroom technology correspondent from Emanuel in New London, WI, joins Martin and Sallie to discuss ideas for summer enrichment, professional growth and even a little relaxation.

Ministry resources:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(47:05) Episode 186 – Martin and Sallie unveil the updated ShopWELS site as well as a chat with Tim Plath about the Area Lutheran High School Online pilot project. (Release date – 06/01/11)

The featured artist:

(48:22) We close the podcast with the music of Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com and mikewestendorf on Twitter) – Coming Soon from his CD titled “Undefined”

Get involved:

184 – Apple Day

This week the WELSTech Podcast round table welcomes Apple “Geniuses” Bob Martens and Aaron Spriggs.

The discussion:

A bite of the Apple – Bob Martens and Aaron Spriggs, true Apple fan-boys, cozy up to the podcast microphone to chat with Martin and Sallie about the variety of products available from Apple and the many uses Apple products have in schools and churches.

Apple fans

Picks of the week (Apple-style):

News in tech:

(39:35) Google announces Chromebook

Community feedback:

  • (43:35) Pastor Phil Huebner from Christ the King in Palm Coast, FL gave us a tech update.  In just their 4th year of existence, Christ the King is an all Mac campus (anticipating 200 students next year) using Snap Grades for online grade management, posting sermon archives on Vimeo and considering adding live streaming of their services soon.
  • Join the WELSTech-er efforts to promote the hashtag “callday” on Twitter this week as WELS live streams graduation events from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.

Coming up on WELSTech:

(48:28) Episode 185 – Gail Potratz, our classroom technology diva, joins Martin and Sallie, and we talk about our summer plans for professional development and geeky fun. (Release date – 05/25/11)

The featured artist:

(49:01) We close the podcast with the music of Stephen Bautista (www.stephenbautistamusic.com or stephenbautista on Twitter) – Suddenly from his CD titled “Abandon”

Get involved:

183 – Security and Privacy and Fair Use, Oh My!

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we finish our current book discussion and chat with Greg Boggs about school privacy solutions.

The discussion:

It’s a wrap! – Martin and Sallie finish up their discussion of the current book selection, Leading 21st Century Schools by Lynne Schrum and Barbara B. Levin, with a look at chapters 8 and 9 of the book.  Topics include privacy, acceptable use policies, web site evaluation and the digital divide.

The interview:

Greg Boggs(21:45) Ask the expert – Greg Boggs, a member of St. Mark in Lincoln, NE, joins Martin and Sallie to share his experience with school network content filtering as well as wireless security concerns.

Ministry resources:

News in tech:

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

  • (54:36) Check out WELS live streaming schedule for the upcoming graduation and call season
  • FinalWeb Training in New Ulm, MN and Milwaukee, WI
    • FinalWeb for Teachers in New Ulm on June 27 and Milwaukee on August 1 – bit.ly/fw4teachers
    • FinalWeb for Dummies in New Ulm June 28-30 and Milwaukee August 2-4 – bit.ly/fw4dummies

Community feedback:

  • (57:00) Joanne Nemmers, school secretary at Calvary in Dallas, TX, is looking for After-School Care management software.  We suggested the open source solution, PHP Timeclock.  Do you have a recommendation?
  • Jonathan Favorite, staff minister at Crosswalk in Phoenix, AZ, suggested WELSTech model LifeHacker’s content delivery approach.
  • Martin shared a promo video for the new CPH graphic novel, Echoes of the Hammer.
  • Jason Schmidt, teacher at Gethsemane in Omaha, NE, shared a link to Haiku LMS (Learning Management System).
  • Sallie shared several links for ministry usage:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:06:45) Episode 184 – On the menu is “All Things Apple” as Martin and Sallie are joined by Apple Geniuses, Bob and Aaron, to talk about ministry uses of Apple products. (Release date – 05/18/11)

The featured artist:

(1:07:59) We close the podcast with the music of Kevin Loersch – Children of the Heavenly Father from his CD titled “Abide With Me”

Get involved: