Episode 048 – Dec 3 2008

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This week on WELSTech we are joined by Gail Potratz, our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, and we take a look at the skills our students need to succeed in the Web 2.0 world.

The discussion:

  • SearchingResearch Skills in a Web 2.0 World – Joining Martin and Sallie for our monthly classroom technologies discussion is Gail Potratz, Technology Coordinator for Emanuel in New London, WI.  Today’s schools are preparing students for careers that don’t even exist currently.  The discussion centers around how to equip students with skills to succeed in this Web 2.0 world.

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (26:10)
  • Of interest (34:35)
    • Live streaming of the Koine Christmas concert
      • December 6 @ 5 p.m. CST from Christ Lutheran in Pewaukee, WI
      • Sponsored by WELS Military Services
  • Community feedback (36:20)
    • Jason Winget shared a link on the WELSTech Listserve
    • Add your feedback or ideas about Church Media or Content Management Systems to the WELSTech wiki @ welstech.wetpaint.com
  • Coming up on WELSTech (38:29)

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of Wisconsin Lutheran College’s Revelation music ministry (www.revelationwlc.com) – I’m Free from their Led by Light CD (40:42)

Get involved:

Episode 047 – Nov 26 2008

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This week the focus of the WELSTech podcast is Content Management Systems.  Martin and Sallie are joined by WELS.net webmaster, Julie Duran, and we take a look at WordPress, Joomla and Drupal.

The discussion:

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (24:45)
  • WELS.net feature (33.15)
    • Church Year Worship Resources
  • Community feedback (33:55)
    • John Simonson from Good Shepherd in West Bend, WI shared additional search engine optimization tools from Google
  • Coming up on WELSTech (35:33)
    • Episode 048 – Gail Potratz joins us for a discussion on teaching our children research skills in a Web 2.0 world

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of WELS artist, Michael Schroeder (michaelschroeder.com) – O Come, O Come Emmanuel from his CD titled The Reason For the Season (37:35)

Get involved:

Episode 046 – Nov 19 2008

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This week the WELSTech discussion centers around using your web site for event promotion.  Brian Shaffer joins Martin and Sallie to announce enhancements to the FinalWeb system.

The discussion:

  • Event promotion – Martin and Sallie share ideas for taking your congregation or school web site to the next level by moving beyond the basics – location & service times – to focus on the events that are happening, utilizing your web “channel” as an important component in your overall communication plan.

The interview:

  • Brian ShafferNew features on FinalWeb (18:14) –  Brian Shaffer, of FinalWeb.com, joins Martin and Sallie to announce some exciting enhancements to the FinalWeb system including higher storage capacity, calendar enhancements, and a custom tool for building templates.
    • Learn more about FinalWeb – www.wels.net/jump/webhosting

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (37:19)
  • WELS.net feature (41:31)
    • Streams Seasonal Radio
    • ShopWELS.net – new relationship with Ricoh grants special pricing on copiers for WI participants
  • Community feedback (44:10)
  • Coming up on WELSTech (46:55)
    • Episode 047 – Julie Duran, WELS Webmaster, joins us as we take an inside look at popular Content Management Systems (CMS) including WordPress, Joomla and Drupal

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of WELS artist, Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com) – Climb The Mountain from his CD with the same title (48:26)

Get involved:

Episode 045 – Nov 12 2008

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This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie are celebrating National Distance Learning Week.  They also interview WELS member and businessman John Simonson on web marketing techniques.

The discussion:

  • Check out Martin’s completed deck project
  • National Distance Learning Week – Distance education is growing in popularity, and with today’s Web 2.0 tools, the barriers to creating your own distance learning initiative are virtually gone.  Martin and Sallie discuss the components of a distance learning offering and share tips for starting your own objective-based online learning.  We also showcase WELS’ many online learning resources for Bible study, ministry support and more.
    • www.wels.net/jump/ndlw

The interview:

  • John SimonsonSearch Engine Optimization (14:56) –  WELS member John Simonson from Good Shepherd in West Bend, WI is a business owner of a web development company, WebStream Dynamics.  John joins Martin and Sallie to share his knowledge on marketing web sites and search engine optimization, and we look at applications of these techniques for church web sites.

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (31:35)
  • Of interest (37:29)
    • Live streaming of the Western Regional Choral Festival concert
      • November 16 @ 2 p.m. CST from Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School in New Ulm, MN
  • Community feedback (39:18)
    • The WELSTech facebook group has 94 members! Will you be member 100?
    • Ryan Rosenthal from Faith in Fond du Lac, WI shared a link to LibriVox.org.  The goal of the site is to make all public domain books available as free audio books.
  • Coming up on WELSTech (42:53)
    • Episode 046 – We’ll take a look at “Event Driven Marketing” as you prepare your web site for the Advent and Christmas season.  The interview will be with Brian Shaffer of FinalWeb.net, and he’ll share new features being implemented for their web hosting customers.

The featured artist:

  • This week we close with the music of In His Service featuring WELS musicians Dr. Patricia Backhaus and Valerie Floeter (www.adagioconcepts.com) – Gabriel’s Message from their CD titled In His Time (45:03)

Get involved:

Episode 044 – Nov 5 2008

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This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie are joined by Gail Potratz, our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, and we hear about Gail’s recent adventure in podcasting at the Wisconsin Lutheran State Teachers’ Conference.

The discussion:

  • Gail PotratzPodcasting teachers – Gail Potratz, Technology Coordinator for Emanuel in New London, WI, joins Martin and Sallie to share her experience leading a breakout session on podcasting at the Wisconsin Lutheran State Teachers’ Conference last week.  The session goals were to learn about the uses of Audacity, free, open-source audio editing software, as well as share ideas for using technology in the classroom.  We hear ideas from many of the participants as they make their podcasting debut!
    • Gail’s presentation wiki – wlstc.wikispaces.com

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (30:01)
  • WELS.net feature (42:51)
    • Benefit Plans Office – www.welsbpo.net
  • Community feedback (43:47)
    • Following up on last week’s comment from Kevin Smith at Christ in Zumbrota, MN, we heard from Jenifer with ProCare Software who offered to help out with a future podcast episode
    • Perry Lund, an elder and Sunday school teacher from Grace in Oskaloosa, IA, shared info on how he uses his iPhone for ministry
    • Join the conversation on the WELSTech listserve
      • Accelerated reading custom quiz collection
      • Congregation membership data mapped in Google Earth
  • Coming up on WELSTech (46:50)
    • Episode 045 – We celebrate National Distance Learning Week and talk with WELS Internet entrepreneur John Simonson about marketing tips for congregational web sites
    • In December – We’ll be discussing Here Comes Everybody by Clay Shirky

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of WELS artist, Kevin Loersch – Abide With Me from his CD titled Abide with Me (48:55)

Get involved:

Episode 043 – Oct 29 2008

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This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie tackle texting and twittering as they discuss mobile technology and applications for future ministry.  They also interview Pastor Hans Caauwe on his use of Apple’s new iPhone 3G.

The discussion:

  • Mobile Technology – “Texting and twittering and smart phones, oh my!” Martin and Sallie discuss the technology behind in-your-pocket, cell phone-based communication and how it will potentially affect our future ministry efforts.

The interview:

  • Pastor Johann CaauweiPhone in Ministry (17:40) –  Pastor Johann Caauwe from Trinity in El Paso, TX joins Martin and Sallie to share his experience of using the new iPhone 3G in his ministry – a great example of technology as a servant in ministry.
    • Pastor Caauwe’s blog – Tools of the Trade

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (35:15)
  • Of interest (40:55)
    • Live streaming of the Spanish Reformation Service
      • October 31 @ 7 p.m. CDT from Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, WI
  • Community feedback (41:38)
    • Andy from Mt. Olive in Overland Park, KS suggested a future show topic on web site software options
    • Kevin Smith from Christ in Zumbrota, MN pointed us to ProCare Software for pre-school management
    • Ryan Rosenthal from Faith in Fond du Lac, WI shared his experiences with introducing new technology in his classroom and congregation
  • Coming up on WELSTech (46:12)
    • Episode 044 – Podcasting from the Wisconsin Teachers Conference with our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, Gail Potratz

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of WELS artist, WendySue Fluegge (www.wendysue.com) – All from her CD titled The Instrument (47:30)

Get involved:

Episode 042 – Oct 22 2008

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This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie share tips and tricks for evaluating and redesigning your church or school web site.

The discussion:

  • Redesign your church or school web site – Most congregations and schools have had a web site for some time and may be due for a “facelift” or redesign of the content, look and navigation of the site.  Martin and Sallie share ideas for evaluating your site to make it appealing and useful for the various audiences who visit.

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (25:04)
  • WELS.net feature (30:21)
    • Explore the Bible – www.whataboutjesus-explorethebible.com
  • Of interest (31:48)
    • Live streamingof WELS Regional High School Choral Festivals
      • November 9 @ 2 p.m. CDT from Illinois Lutheran High School
      • November 16 @ 2 p.m. CDT from Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School
  • Community feedback (33:58)
    • John Shoosmith from Redeemer in Yakima, WA shared information on Google video indexing and asked about setting up podcasts for iTunes
    • Gail Potratz from Emanuel in New London, WI shared information on creating webouts
    • David Schumann from Peace in Janesville, WI shared ideas about using Skype of long distance worship.  Share your experience if your congregation does this.
  • Coming up on WELSTech (38:27)
    • Episode 043 – Mobile Technology – How can you use a cell phone for ministry?

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of WELS contemporary praise band, Koine (www.koinemusic.com) – Crown Him With Many Crowns from their CD titled Koine (39:09)

Get involved:

Episode 041 – Oct 15 2008

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This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie discuss considerations for starting an electronic newsletter.  The interview section of the show focuses on the synod’s own electronic newsletter, Together.

The discussion:

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (37:45)
  • WELS.net feature (43:03)
    • Mission Connection online archive
  • Of interest (44:21)
    • We have a winner!  Listen as we play additional voice mail contest entries from our listeners and choose a winner of the recent WELSTech contest. Enjoy shopping at cafepress.com/welstech!
  • Community feedback (51:07)
    • Jeff Clark wrote to share information on hardware configurations – a possible discussion topic for a future WELSTech episode
    • Cindy Krueger from Shepherd of the Hills in Lansing, MI shared a link to an article by Dan Lohrmann titled “How Safe is Cloud Computing?”
    • Following up on last week’s interview, we heard from Andy Theimer that there are 8 new “inWELS” members on LinkedIn, and we also heard from one of those new members, Danny Smith
  • Coming up on WELSTech (54:05)
    • Episode 042 – Redesign – Why and how to redesign your web site plus the inside scoop on the upcoming WELS.net redesign

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of WELS pianist, Dawn Gehlhar – Precious Lord Take My Hand from her Inspirations CD (55:07)

Get involved:

Episode 040 – Oct 8 2008

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This week on WELSTech the focus is social networking and how online connections can be utilized for ministry.  Martin and Sallie talk with Andy Theimer, a WELS member who has started an online group aimed at connecting WELS business people.

The discussion:

  • Social networking inside the congregation – Martin and Sallie explore ways to extend your ministry efforts online via social networks.  From file sharing to gathering information via web forms to two-way interaction about Bible class topics on discussion forums, using web 2.0 tools to connect with members and connect members to other members with like interests (Mom’s groups, etc.) will become more and more acceptable and expected in this digital age.
    • Create your own social network at Ning.com

The interview:

  • Andy TheimerinWELS (21:31) – Andy Theimer, WELS member and entrepreneur, joins Martin and Sallie to share information about a group he’s started on the business-oriented social networking site LinkedIn called “inWELS”.  Listen and learn more about the benefits of being part of “inWELS”.

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (40:11)
  • WELS.net feature (48:46)
    • WELS Yearbook – www.wels.net/jump/yearbook
  • Of interest (51:08)
    • WELSTech contest – Extended to midnight, Sunday, October 12th
      • Phone in your comments (414-375-2334) to this question: What digital devices do you use in your classroom or Bible class?
      • All comments will be entered in a drawing for a $15 gift certificate to the WELSTech Podcast store – www.cafepress.com/welstech
    • www.k12onlineconference.org
  • Community feedback (53:46)
  • Coming up on WELSTech (57:48)
    • Episode 041 – All about newsletters – For your congregation or school as well as the synod’s Together newsletter
    • Episode 042 – Redesign – Why and how to redesign your web site plus the inside scoop on the upcoming WELS.net redesign

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of Wisconsin Lutheran College’s Revelation music ministry (www.revelationwlc.com) – God of Wonders from their We Walk By Faith CD (59:05)

Get involved:

Episode 039 – Oct 1 2008

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This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie talk about ways to “Go Green” with church and school electronics.  They also interview Pastor Mark Cares about the success of his new blog which targets outreach to Mormons.

The discussion:

  • WELSTech Goes GREEN – Martin and Sallie share ideas for churches, schools and individuals to reduce, reuse and recycle their electronics for both environmental and, at times, monetary gain.  In these ways we can be wise stewards of the gifts entrusted to us.

The interview:

  • Pastor Mark CaresUsing Blogs for Outreach (22:50) – Pastor Mark Cares, author of Speaking the Truth in Love to Mormons, joins Martin and Sallie to discuss the exciting attention his new blog, Markcare’s Weblog, is receiving and how the blog fits into Truth in Love Ministries overall plans for outreach to Mormons.

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (39:09)
  • WELS.net feature (44:03)
    • Spanish language resources
      • Cristo Palabra de Vida – www.cristopalabra.net
      • Blog – cristopalabra.wels.net
      • Virtual Church – www.iglesiavirtual.wels.net
      • Upcoming chat on Reformation – October 28 @ 8 p.m.
  • Of interest (47:40)
    • WELSTech Contest – Phone in your comments (414-375-2334) to this question: What digital devices do you use in your classroom or Bible class?
      • All comments received by October 7, 2008 will be entered in a drawing for a $15 gift certificate to the WELSTech Podcast store – www.cafepress.com/welstech
    • WELSTech Wiki – Share your church media experience
  • Community feedback (55:13)
    • Pastor Kevin Draper from St. John’s in Sleepy Eye, MN shared information on potential wireless microphone problems.  Listeners are invited to update the WELSTech Wiki – microphones page with additional resources on this topic.
    • Listener Ralph Miller pointed us to the multi-media Bible resource, iLumina Gold Premium Edition
    • Pastor Steve Bauer from Faith Lutheran Church, in West Newton, PA shared links to free open source software for churches

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of WELS artist, Michael Schroeder (wctc.net/~mas) – In My Life from his CD titled A Witness (59:54)

Get involved: