169 – How Mission Friendly Is Your Website?

This week the WELSTech Podcast focus is evangelistic web sites as we discuss a new e-book on that topic.

The discussion:

A WELSTech e-Book  Release – Martin and Sallie discuss recent work on Websites and Missions: Reaching Out in a Digital World.

The interview:

Jonathan Favorite and family(23:00) Crosswalk Communications – Staff minister Jonathan Favorite from Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries in Phoenix AZ joins Martin and Sallie to share details about their use of technology to communicate the Gospel.

  • Umbraco content management system

Ministry Resources:

(38:44) Do you accept online donations on your church web site?  Share your experience!

News in Tech:

(40:41) Port your existing mobile number to Google Voice (Video tutorial)

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(54:28) Episode 170 – Missionary Mike Hartman joins us to share news about the newest “Proclaimer” of God’s Word in Mexico, and we discuss chapter 6 of Leading 21st Century Schools. (Release date 02/09/11)

The featured artist:

(55:20) This week we close with the music of Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries featuring our interviewee, Jonathan Favorite- Dive Into God’s Word from their CD titled ”Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries”

Get involved:

168 – SoundzAbound

This week on the WELSTech Podcast the focus is the use of copyright-safe audio in the 21st century classroom.

The discussion:

Audio Resources for Students – Gail Potratz (gailpotratz on Twitter), our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent from Emanuel in New London, WI, joins Martin and Sallie this week as we review 21st Century Skills, specifically the use of audio resources for communication and problem solving.

The interview:

Barry Britt(8:31) Copyright friendly- Barry Britt from Soundzabound.com talks with Gail about the development of the copyright-safe-audio-for-education web site.

Ministry Resources:

(32:18) my.BrainShark.com is a simple way to narrate files and embed them on your web site – View a sample WELSTech presentation

News in Tech:

(36:38) DimDim.com web conferencing is no longer free (FAQ).  There are many free alternatives, including a few we’ve recently discussed on WELSTech …

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(59:33) Episode 169 – Evangelical websites is the planned discussion topic as we chat with Staff Minister Jonathan Favorite from Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries in Phoenix, AZ. (Release date 02/02/11)

The featured artist:

(1:01:01) We close with the music of Koine (www.koinemusic.comFacebook) – Christ is our Cornerstone from their CD titled ”Koine II”

Get involved:

167 – Files, Files, and more Files!

On this episode of the WELSTech Podcast we explore many alternatives for file sharing in the church and school office.

The discussion:

NetworkManaging files in the Digital Age – Gone are the days of working solo on our pen and paper projects at the office. Now we want and need to be able to access our digital files from remote locations and easily share files with others for collaboration.  Martin and Sallie detail a variety of solutions for file sharing.

News in tech:

(16:23) iPhone coming to Verizon

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(36:50) Episode 168 – Gail Potratz joins the conversation and shares an interview she recorded with Barry Britt from Soundzabound.com. (Release date 01/26/11)

The featured artist:

(37:15) We close the podcast with the music of  Branches Band (www.branchesband.com |Facebook) – Jerusalem the Golden from their “Light Eternal” CD

Get involved:

166 – A Chatter-Free Podcast

This week the WELSTech Podcast looks at school technology during a book discussion and an interview with Greg Schmill, Director of WELS Commission on Lutheran Schools.

The discussion:

Teaching and Learning With Technology – Martin and Sallie discuss Chapter 5 of Leading 21st Century Schools which looks at specific web-based tools and strategies that are useful in the classroom.

The interview:

Greg Schmill(16:06) Generations – Greg Schmill, Director of WELS Commission on Lutheran Schools, shares insights from his recent presentation titled Bridging the Generation Gap.  He examines each of the generation’s needs and specifically how different uses of technology can assist in engaging Builders, Boomers, Gen Xers and Millennials in our schools.

News in Tech:

(37:51) The 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is history.  WELSTech brings you the event buzz:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(58:40) Episode 167 – Administrators and office personnel will want to tune in as we discuss solutions for sharing files in the church and school office. (Release date 01/19/11)

The featured artist:

(59:56) We close the podcast with the piano music of Dawn Michelle Williams (www.dawnmichellewilliams.com | Twitter | Facebook | My Space) – Beautiful Savior With Canon in D from her CD titled ”Inspirations”

Get involved:

165 – Has It Really Been Three Years?

Join the WELSTech Podcast as we celebrate three years of tech-in-ministry weekly podcast and review Bible apps for smartphones.

The discussion:

Bible AppsBible Apps – Celebrating the anniversary of three years of weekly WELSTech podcasting, Martin and Sallie kick off year four with a review of Bible apps for Android and Apple smart phones and handhelds.

The Best:

Bible Software Companions:

  • Accordance (iOS)
  • Logos Bible Software (iOS)

The Rest:

Ministry resources:

(22:22) LWMS on Facebook

Picks of the week:

WELS.net Feature:

(29:11) Through My Bible in Three Years – Read and share!

Community feedback:

  • (30:19) Wayne Kittell from Immanuel in Kewaunee, WI responded to our call for free or affordable live video streaming sites.  Wayne recommends Cincopa.
  • Gail Potratz from Emanuel in New London, WI phoned in Christmas greetings and a sign up request for Martin’s next “Mind Like Water” productivity seminar.  Join the class July 27 – July 1 during Summer Quarter at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.
    • We’d love to get a voice mail from you as well!  405-FOR-WELS (405-367-9357)
  • Maren McPeak from St. Mark’s in Citrus Heights, CA shared a link to ArtSkills.com where you can create a poster digitally

Coming up on WELSTech:

(36:02) Episode 166 – We look at “Instructional Strategies for Teaching and Learning With Technology” – Chapter 5 of Leading 21st Century Schools . (Release date 01/09/11)

The featured artist:

(36:45) We close the podcast with the music of  Revelation, a music ministry of Wisconsin Lutheran College (www.revelationwlc.com) – Such Joy from their “We Walk By Faith” CD

Get involved:

164 – Picks of the Year

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we review the best and worst of 2010.

The discussion:

2010 Picks of the YearReflecting on 2010 – Martin and Sallie review the 2010 Picks of the Week and share their favorites as well as those picks which didn’t make the impact they anticipated that they would.

Coming up on WELSTech:

(38:02) Episode 165 – Next week we celebrate the three-year anniversary of the WELSTech Podcast and review Bible apps for mobile devices.   (Release date 01/05/11)

The featured artist:

(39:17) We close with the music of Koine (www.koinemusic.com | Facebook) – Joy to the World from their CD titled ”Anno Domini”

Get involved:

163 – Continuing Ed and a Contest Winner!

The WELSTech Podcast Christmas week episode includes an interview with Prof. Rich Gurgel on the topic of continuing education as well as our contest wrap up.

The interview:

Prof. Richard Gurgel(3:05) Grow in Grace – Prof. Rich Gurgel from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS) joins Martin and Sallie to talk about Grow in Grace, the Institute for Continuing Education at WLS.  Learn how technology is assisting with the efforts including a new web site and online course offerings.

Christmas 2010 WELSTech Scavenger Hunt:

(20:57) And the winner is Rachel Arnold! Congrats Rachel!  We’ll be in touch to get you your $25 Cafe Press gift certificate to the WELSTech Store.

Here’s the complete list of clues deciphered:

Clue 1 - The solution is found in the greatest book of all time = THE BIBLE

Clue 1 – The solution is found in the greatest book of all time = THE BIBLE

 

Clue 2 - You'll solve the mystery by thinking Greek not Hebrew = NEW TESTAMENT

Clue 2 – You’ll solve the mystery by thinking Greek not Hebrew = NEW TESTAMENT

 

Clue 3 - Look for the disciple whom Jesus loved = JOHN

Clue 3 – Look for the disciple whom Jesus loved = JOHN

Clue 4 - 0.3 + 0.7 = 1

Clue 4 – 0.3 + 0.7 = 1

 

Clue 5 - Number of tribes of Israel + 2 = 14

Clue 5 – Number of tribes of Israel + 2 = 14

And the mystery message is …

John 1:14 – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

A Christmas Message from President Schroeder

Coming up on WELSTech:

(25:37) Episode 164 – Martin and Sallie share their favs from 2010 in the annual “Picks of the Year” episode. (Release date 12/22/10)

The featured artist:

(26:45) We close the podcast with the piano music of Dawn Michelle Williams (www.dawnmichellewilliams.com | Twitter | Facebook | My Space) – Carol of the Bells from her CD titled ”Christmas Dreams”

Get involved:

162 – GTD Meets the Church Office

This week the WELSTech Podcast is all about Getting Things Done in the church and school office, and Staff Minister Jon Ruddat shares his productivity success story.

The discussion:

Office Productivity – Martin and Sallie share ideas for applying the personal Getting Things Done (GTD) productivity process to the church and school office using the 43 Folders technique and also ideas from Death by Meeting.

The interview:

Jon Ruddat(17:10) Star Student – Jon Ruddat, Staff Minister of Administration and Family Ministry at St. Matthew’s in Appleton, WI, was a past student in Martin’s Productivity Winterim session at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.  He shares the highlights of implementing the GTD system and some of his “Mind Like Water” moments.

Click image to view larger

Before & After GTD – Click image to view larger

Ministry resources:

News in Tech:

(40:35) Google Chrome Web Store and Pilot Chrome OS Netbooks

Picks of the week:

Christmas 2010 WELSTech Scavenger Hunt:

(49:38) Week 5 of our latest WELSTech contest is here, and we’ve hidden our “QR Code of the Week” somewhere on the WELSTech site.  Listen each week through December 15th as we reveal clues for finding 5 QR Codes which will point you to a mystery message. Following the December 15th show you can enter the mystery message for a chance to win a $25 Cafe Press gift certificate, where your WELSTech merchandise dreams can come true!  The winner will be selected from all correct entries and announced on our special Christmas week podcast airing December 22nd.

  • This week’s clue to the code location is … The Art of Productivity
  • Get the previous clues: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4
  • Remember, you can use your smartphone or an online decoder to decipher the message.  Have fun!

Solve the mystery message and enter the contest by 11:59 p.m. Monday, December 20, 2010 at

bit.ly/welstechcontest

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:07:50) Episode 163 – Christmas week arrives as we talk with Prof. Richard Gurgel about the WELS Continuing Education program, Grow in Grace, and we select our contest winner. (Release date 12/22/10)

The featured artist:

(1:08:55) We close the podcast with the music of Michael Schroeder (www.michaelschroeder.com and on Facebook) – The Reason for the Season from his CD also titled ”The Reason for the Season”

Get involved:

161 – You Too Can Be A Walking Jukebox!

This week the WELSTech Podcast is loaded with tech teaching tools to enhance your classroom planning.

The discussion:

More Tech Tools to Consider – Continuing the current WELSTech book discussion of Leading 21st Century Schools, Martin and Sallie highlight a few of the tech tools discussed in chapter 4 where the focus is on primary resources, peripheral devices and subject-specific resources.

The interview:

Ryan Rathje(19:24) Trinity Technology – Teacher Ryan Rathje from Trinity in Belle Plaine, MN joins Martin and Sallie to share tech integration ideas from the trenchs including new programs they have implemented with netbooks, iPods, an online gradebook and more.  Mac users will also appreciate Ryan’s list of favorite Mac teaching tools.

Ministry resources:

News in Tech:

(39:15) ROAMpay mobile credit card reader

Picks of the week:

Christmas 2010 WELSTech Scavenger Hunt:

(45:45) Week 4 of our latest WELSTech contest is here, and we’ve hidden our “QR Code of the Week” somewhere on the WELSTech site.  Listen each week through December 15th as we reveal clues for finding 5 QR Codes which will point you to a mystery message. Following the December 15th show you can enter the mystery message for a chance to win a $25 Cafe Press gift certificate, where your WELSTech merchandise dreams can come true!  The winner will be selected from all correct entries and announced on our special Christmas week podcast airing December 22nd.

  • This week’s clue to the code location is … Photography in the Classroom.
  • Get the previous clues: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3
  • Remember, you can use your smartphone or an online decoder to decipher the message.  Have fun!

Community feedback:

  • (47:15) Martin shared a link to The Great Bible Shift from Catalyst Space
  • Sallie shared Mashable’s 5 Innovative Classroom Management Tools that she had never heard of
  • Maren McPeak from St. Mark’s in Citrus Heights, CA tweeted a question for WELSTech-ers … “Anyone develop an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) for k-8 students that references use of network, Google App and/or Moodle accounts?”
  • David Schumann from Peace in Janesville, WI shared a caution about “Toner Pirates”

Coming up on WELSTech:

(54:25) Episode 162 – GTD (Getting Things Done) meets the church office on next week’s office administration podcast, and we interview Staff Minister Jon Ruddat. (Release date 12/15/10)

The featured artist:

(55:32) We close the podcast with the music of Kevin Loersch – Mary Did You Know from his CD titled ”O Holy Night”

Get involved:

160 – Diigo

This week the WELSTech Podcast round table includes two guest hosts, and the topic of the day is social bookmarking and more with Diigo.

The discussion:

Digging Diigo – Gail Potratz (gailpotratz on Twitter) from Emanuel in New London, WI and Jason Schmidt (jasonschmidt123 on Twitter) from Gethsemane in Omaha, NE  join Martin and Sallie to talk all things Diigo, the Web 2.0 social bookmarking and annotation tool that is so much more!

Gail Potratz and Jason Schmidt

Ministry resources:

(15:36) Shepherd’s Staff church management software year end process

Picks of the week:

Christmas 2010 WELSTech Scavenger Hunt:

(32:39) Week 3 of our latest WELSTech contest is here, and we’ve hidden our “QR Code of the Week” somewhere on the WELSTech site.  Listen each week through December 15th as we reveal clues for finding 5 QR Codes which will point you to a mystery message. Following the December 15th show you can enter the mystery message for a chance to win a $25 Cafe Press gift certificate, where your WELSTech merchandise dreams can come true!  The winner will be selected from all correct entries and announced on our special Christmas week podcast airing December 22nd.

  • This week’s clue to the code location is … Lighthouse Museum.
  • Get the previous clues: Week 1 | Week 2
  • Remember, you can use your smartphone or an online decoder to decipher the message.  Have fun!

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(42:23) Episode 161 – Our book discussion of Leading 21st Century Schools continues as we dig into Chapter 4. (Release date 12/08/10)

The featured artist:

(45:20) We close the podcast with the music of  Revelation, a music ministry of Wisconsin Lutheran College (www.revelationwlc.com) – A Voice Cries Out from their “Led by the Light” CD

Get involved: