Episode 026 – Jul 2 2008

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At the one-half year of podcasting milestone, Martin and Sallie share solutions for mass e-mail and interview Lakeside LHS teacher Ted Klug about protecting and educating students on the blessings and dangers of social networking.

The discussion:

  • Mass E-mail – Martin and Sallie discuss considerations and resources for communicating electronically with congregation or school families using mass e-mail, thus reducing cost and manpower demands and increasing the efficiency and speed of communication.

The interview:

  • Ted KlugStudents and Social Networks (22:00) – Ted Klug, Technology Director at Lakeside Lutheran High School in Lake Mills, WI joins Martin and Sallie to discuss the blessings and dangers of social networks and to share ideas for educating and protecting our students.

The tidbits:

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of WELS praise band, Koine (www.koinemusic.com) – Jesus Priceless Treasure from their CD titled Koine II (55:13)

Get involved:

Episode 025 – Jun 25 2008

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This week guest host Gail Potratz joins Martin and Sallie to discuss project-based learning in the Web 2.0 world. The interview segment focuses on the student-management software tool, PowerSchool.

The discussion:

  • Web 2.0 in the Classroom – As we welcome back guest host Gail Potratz, Technology Coordinator and Teacher at Emanuel in New London, WI, we focus our discussion on technology and education.  We define Web 2.0 and talk about how the read/write web has changed technology usage in the classroom.  Gail also shares ideas for project-based learning using Web 2.0 tools.
    • Sample e-mail listserve focusing on veterans sharing their stories with students
    • WebQuest – www.questgarden.com
      • Sample WebQuest
        • Civil War
        • Cultures
      • Learn more about WebQuest and creator Bernie Dodge

Jeff Spiaser and Jim BrandtThe interview:

  • PowerSchool (25:55) – Martin and Sallie are joined by Jeff Spiaser, Dean of Academics for Illinois Lutheran Schools, and Jim Brandt, Administrator for WELS Parish Schools to discuss PowerSchool student information system. Listen to learn how school personnel and parents can benefit from web-based student data management.
    • Learn more about Power School –
      www.wels.net/jump/powerschool

The tidbits:

The featured artist:

  • This week we close with the music of Dawn Gehlhar – All Through the Night from her CD titled Inspirations (1:01:29)

Get involved:

Episode 024 – Jun 18 2008

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This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie review several tools for web-based information collection. Then they shift gears and talk with Jeffrey Clark about creating and using computer-generated midi music for worship.

The discussion:

The interview:

The tidbits:

  • This week’s picks (35:21)
  • WELS.net feature (43:33)
    • Streams Podcasts – streams.wels.net/podcasts
  • Of interest (46:15)
    • Parents Crosslink chat – Death and children
      • Tuesday, June 24 @ 8 p.m. CDT
      • www.wels.net/jump/chat
  • Community feedback (47:01)
    • Do you have an effective solution for printing your church or school calendar? Join the discussion on the WELSTech listserve.

The featured artist:

  • This week we close with the music of Revelation (www.revelationwlc.com) – Via Dolorosa from their CD titled Once For All (48:20)

Get involved:

Episode 023 – Jun 11 2008

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This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie share information on two Web 2.0 publishing tools – blogs and the Facebook social network.  Learn how you can use these tools to further your ministry efforts.

The discussion:

The interview:

The tidbits:

  • This week’s picks (34:48)
  • WELS.net feature (41:12)
    • WELS Calendar – www.wels.net/jump/calendar
  • Of interest (42:17)
  • Community feedback (44:14)
    • Pastor James Douglas from Redeemer in Pierre, SD asked about using an older camera for streaming video and how to convert the output from analog to digital

The featured artist:

  • This week we close with the music of Michael Schroeder (www.michaelschroeder.com) – Paradise from his CD titled A Witness (47:20)

Get involved:

Episode 022 – Jun 4 2008

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This week Martin and Sallie discuss the importance of web site statistics and how they can be used to make your site a more effective communication tool. We also hear about the recent redesign of the ShopWELS web site from program administrator Mark Robinson.

The discussion:

The interview:

  • shopwels.jpgShopWELS (17:43) – Martin and Sallie talk with Mark Robinson, administrator of the ShopWELS program, about the redesign of the ShopWELS web site and the many cost-saving options that make up the program.

The tidbits:

  • This week’s picks (39:48)
  • WELS.net feature (46:37)
  • Community feedback (48:21)
    • Gail Potratz from Emanuel, New London, WI asked about Emergency-911 dialing on Internet wireless phones
    • John Shoosmith from Redeemer, Yakima, WA shared information on adding closed-captioning to Internet video sermons.
      • View a closed-captioned sermon
      • John’s closed-captioning tool recommendation – Subtitle Workshop

The featured artist:

  • This week we close with the music of Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com) – I Will Sing from his Climb the Mountain CD (52:30)

Get involved:

Episode 021 – May 28 2008

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This week Martin and Sallie welcome back our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, Gail Potratz, and we focus our discussion on the changing classroom environment as teachers adjust to accommodate today’s digital learners.

The discussion:

  • Digital Learners (01:55) – Listen as Gail, Martin and Sallie discuss the challenges of teaching a generation of students whose brains are wired differently due to the influence of technology on their lives from birth.  You’ll hear practical tips for teachers to engage these students by integrating technology into the classroom

The tidbits:

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) – I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say from their In His Time CD (36:38)

Get involved:

Episode 020 – May 21 2008

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This week Martin and Sallie share some basic how-to information for getting started in the world of web video streaming. Also you’ll hear about one teacher’s adventure in the world of music technology.

The discussion:

  • Web Streaming – The high point of streaming video services for WELS is graduation season. So what better time of year for Martin and Sallie to discuss the variety of hardware and software options for streaming and share their recommendations for getting started.

The interview:

  • Dale WitteMusic Technology (16:49)- Dale Witte, Choir Director at Winnebago Lutheran Academy (WLA) in Fond du Lac, WI, joins Martin and Sallie to discuss what he’s teaching in music technology class and how it is supplying the church with “virtual” musicians.

The tidbits:

  • This week’s picks (37:07)
  • WELS.net feature (46:23)
    • Worship Helps – www.wels.net/jump/worshiphelps
  • Of interest (47:57)
    • Upcoming live events – WLS graduation and call services
  • Community feedback (48:44)

The featured artist:

  • This week we close with the music of Kevin Loersch – Mary Did You Know from his CD titled O Holy Night (52:18)

Get involved:

Episode 019 – May 14 2008

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This week the discussion topic and interview center around the fairly recent availability and use of video conferencing tools to further ministry efforts.

The discussion:

  • Video Conferencing (4:15) – Martin and Sallie explore video conferencing, an emerging and flatening technology which allows congregations, schools and missionaries to connect across sometimes great distances for real-time, virtual face-to-face conversations, meetings, Bible classes and more. And it can be done for FREE!

The interview:

  • Dan NommensenDistance Video Counseling (18:00)- Martin and Sallie are joined by Dan Nommensen, Program Operations Director for Wisconsin Lutheran Child & Family Services (WLCFS), to discuss their use of video assisted counseling, a part of the Member Assistance Program.

The tidbits:

  • This week’s picks (33:45)
  • WELS.net feature (40:09)
    • World Mission Blogs – missions.wels.net
  • Of interest (43:00)
    • Upcoming live events – MLC & WLS graduation and call services
    • District Conventions – www.wels.net/jump/diconventions
    • Report to the Twelve Districts – www.wels.net/jump/rttd
  • Community feedback (44:45)
    • Kyle Riess – Sound quality and show ideas
    • Cindy Krueger – New show notification
      1. Subscribe to our RSS feed

The featured artist:

  • This week we close with the music of WendySue Fluegge (www.wendysue.com) – Teach Me from her CD titled The Instrument (47:25)

Get involved:

Episode 018 – May 7 2008

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This week Martin and Sallie reveal the results of the inaugural WELSTech listener contest. Our listeners shared some great free software tools, and we give a mini-tour of several of the titles submitted. Listen to hear if you are the winner of a 1 GB thumb drive.

The discussion:

  • WELSTech ContestTop Free Software Tools Listener Contest – Martin and Sallie explore ten of the user software submissions (6:40) and pick a winner in the listener contest (43:45). Listen to see if you are the winner and contact us at [email protected] to claim your prize!

The tidbits:

  • This week’s picks (43:45)
  • WELS.net feature (50:45)
    • Fifth Pew from the Front – Video Bible study series
      • www.fifthpew.com
      • Watch on Streams
  • Community feedback (53:23)
    • Pastor Stephen Daley from St. John’s in Riga, MI shared information on his many uses of Linux and Open Source software
    • Pastor Tim Wagner from Abiding Peace in Elgin, IL suggested we dedicate a podcast to the technology of MIDI music
    • Dr. Jim Grunwald of Martin Luther College suggested we enhance our show notes with time markers to make the audio content easier to index. Check out the new time stamps in today’s show notes, and let us know what you think.
  • Of interest (57:25)
    • Upcoming streamed services from MLC and WLS

The featured artist:

  • This week we close with the music of contemporary WELS band Koine (www.koinemusic.com) – Now Rest Beneath Night’s Shadow from their Koine II CD (58:53)

Get involved:

Episode 017 – Apr 30 2008

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This week Martin and Sallie are joined by guest host Gail Potratz, a WELS teacher from New London, WI. We’ll explore classroom podcasting ideas which allow students to share their faith with a global audience. We also wrap up our interview with Gonzalo Delgadillo on the exciting Internet outreach in which he is involved.

The discussion:

  • Gail PotratzClassroom Podcasting – Gail Potratz, Technology Coordinator for Emanuel Lutheran Growth and Learning Center in New London, WI, joins the WELSTech conversation to discuss a fun podcasting project the students at Emanuel are producing – Devotions for Kids, by Kids. We are excited to announce that Gail will be joining us each month as a guest host on the WELSTech Podcast to share her ideas about technology as it applies particularly to the classroom ministry.
    • Monthly Emanuel Kids Devotion
    • Garage Band
    • Audacity
    • WebTools4U2Use > Audio & Podcasting
    • Apple > Podcasting in Education Video Series

The interview:

  • Internet Outreach – In the second part of our interview with Gonzalo Delgadillo, Director of Spanish Publications for WELS Multi-Language Publications, we hear some exciting stories of real people being reached with God’s saving Word via the Internet. Gonzalo discusses the technology behind the online Bible classes and worship he is conducting.

The tidbits:

The featured artist:

  • This week we close with the piano music of Dawn Gelhlar – Beautiful Savior with Canon in D from her Inspirations CD

Get involved: