251 – Summer Software Showcase: KidBlog.org

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We wrap up our Summer Software Showcase series this week with a focus on the classroom blogging tool, KidBlog, and the many ways it can be used in an education setting.  You won’t want to miss the latest Community Feedback and Martin’s browser tab trick either.

The discussion:

Goodbye Summer – Martin and Sallie record the last Summer Software Showcase segment, focusing on ministry uses of the classroom-centric blogging tool, KidBlog.org.

  • How to Use Blogs from Scholastic – Grades 3-5 and 6-8
  • Visit our sample WELSTech KidBlog.  The login link is in the upper right.
    • Admin login
      • Username: WELSTech Admin
      • Password: WELSTech
    • Student login
      • Username: WELSTech Student
      • Password: WELSTech

Ministry Uses

  1. Electronic Journaling – Check out Sallie’s list of writing prompts for elementary students
  2. Subject or topic specific writing
  3. Keyboarding practice
  4. Online discussion or Q&A
  5. Posting teacher assignments

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

  • (23:13) 10 Commandments of Internet Research
  • The Mindset List
  • AwayFind
  • Information Literacy

Coming up on WELSTech:

(34:20) Episode 252 – Join Martin and Sallie next week for a countdown of the 7 Best Password Management Tips and Tools. (Release date – 09/04/12)

The featured artist:

(35:35)  We close the podcast with the music of  Revelation, a music ministry of Wisconsin Lutheran College (www.revelationwlc.com) – Ancient of Days 

Get involved:

250 – Summer Software Showcase: Google Hangouts

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What a way to celebrate the 250th WELSTech episode … by launching a brand new video option! Listeners can now watch the live video stream of WELSTech in real time or tune in later to view the recorded video or listen to the traditional audio recording of the show. Besides the video excitement, we also continue our Summer Software Showcase series, focusing on Google Hangouts.

The discussion:

Hanging out on video – Martin and Sallie put their recommendation into practice this week, using the Summer Software Showcase feature, Google Hangouts, to launch the first-ever WELSTech videocast.  Listen and watch as they discuss the pros and cons of  this multi-person video chat/streaming tool.

Ministry Uses

  1. Meetings
  2. Bible study or any small class
  3. Connect classrooms
  4. Tech support
  5. Stream events from church of school

Picks of the week:

7 Best:

(30:50) Send us your favorite Password Management Tips and Tools for inclusion in our September 7 Best list

Community feedback:

  • (31:38) remind101 – Text students and parents
  • 40 Site For Educational Games
  • Computers are needed at a WELS congregation in Edna, TX.  Learn more about this donation opportunity on the WELSTech Listserve.
  • Raspberry Pi updates – Sallie’s arrived and Martin found 5 Cool Projects for it
  • Groopt – A possible listserve alternative
  • Busy Pastors Can Say No To Social Media

Coming up on WELSTech:

(39:47) Episode 251 – Next week we wrap up our Summer Software Showcase series with an edtech discussion of KidBlog. (Release date – 08/28/12)

The featured artist:

(42:35)  We close with the music of L. A. Miller – Flyin’ Free 

Get involved:

249 – Summer Software Showcase: GloBible

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we look at the multimedia GloBible.

The discussion:

Through the GloBible Lens – Martin and Sallie share the highlights of the unique multimedia GloBible. Check out our past interview with GloBible creator, Nelson Saba, as well as Martin’s video tour of the software.

Ministry Uses

  1. Project the software in Bible class
  2. Use it for personal Bible study and reading plans
  3. Enrich catechism class or school Bible story time
  4. Record screencast videos to “flip” your Bible studies or share a teaser on an upcoming topic
  5. Gift new members or confirmands with a copy

Picks of the week:

7 Best:

(27:30) Send us your favorite Password Management Tips and Tools for inclusion in our September 7 Best list

Community feedback:

  • (27:46) We got great comments on our recent FreeMind episode including another mind mapping software suggestion – XMind
  • Lectionary on Google Calendar
  • MIT + K12
  • Is your school using Chromebooks this year? Let us know! And check out Martin’s Chromebook blog series.
  • Pastor Phil Huebner shared the new school logo for Christ the King in Palm Coast, FL created via the crowd-source logo site, Hatchwise

Coming up on WELSTech:

(39:43) Episode 250 – Next week Martin and Sallie talk about ministry uses for Google Hangouts as our Summer Software Showcase continues. Oh, and we officially launch the video podcast.  Yikes!! (Release date – 08/22/12)

The featured artist:

(41:48)  We close the podcast with the music of Cross To Glory (www.facebook.com/crosstoglory) – My Grace Will Do 

Get involved:

248 – Summer Software Showcase: FreeMind

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we look at the free, open-source mind mapping software, FreeMind.

The discussion:

For non-linear brains – Cross-platform FreeMind maps its way onto the Summer Software Showcase stage as Martin and Sallie discuss the basics of mind mapping and how a mind mapping tool can enhance your ministry efforts.

Ministry Uses

  1. Outline your sermons, devotions, Bible studies, text studies, etc.
  2. Lesson planning
  3. Presentations
  4. Meeting notes
  5. Brainstorming – capture ideas for student projects for school, church events, etc.

Other software options

Picks of the week:

7 Best:

(26:47) Send us your favorite Password Management Tips and Tools for inclusion in our September 7 Best list

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(40:23) Episode 249 – Next week’s Summer Software Showcase feature will be the GloBible. How will we possibly narrow the Ministry Uses list to just 5?? (Release date – 08/15/12)

The featured artist:

(40:50)  We close the podcast with the instrumental music of In His Service (www.adagioconcepts.com) – O Lord, Send Forth Your Spirit 

Get involved:

246 – Summer Software Showcase: BatchGeo

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Taking the WELSTech Summer Software Showcase stage this week is BatchGeo, a Web 2.0 map generation tool.

The discussion:

Map It! – Harnessing the power of Google Maps to map a collection of data is just what this week’s Summer Software Showcase featured web site, BatchGeo, is good for.  Listen as Martin and Sallie discuss site features and ideas for use in ministry settings.  An added mapping bonus mention is made of Google Earth. Listen for more on Google Earth in the WELSTech archives – Episode 172.

Ministry Uses

  1. Map your church membership or school families
  2. Map ministry groups – for Elder assignment, small group Bible study and more
  3. Geo-locate addresses and import into other software such as Google Earth and various church management software
  4. Use in education – great for Geography and other Social Studies subjects as well as many others
  5. Map lists of prospective church members or school families for outreach

Sample Map

View WELS & ELS FinalWeb Customer Sites in a full screen map

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(40:07) Episode 247 – Next week Martin and Sallie countdown the 7 Best Ministry Gadgets. What is your favorite shiny thing? (Release date – 08/01/12)

The featured artist:

(42:40)  We close the podcast with the music of Corban Creek – It Seems To Be The Day 

Get involved:

245 – Summer Software Showcase: PicMonkey

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This week the WELSTech Podcast showcase software is online image editor, PicMonkey.

The discussion:

Online image editing – This week our Summer Software Showcase focus is PicMonkey, the easy, intuitive and fun image editor and flexible collage maker in the cloud.  Martin and Sallie share big old monkey grins as they contemplate the possibilities for ministry.

Ministry Uses

  1. Web site images
  2. Newsletters
  3. Presentations
  4. Pictorial directories
  5. Brochures and promotional material

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(29:24) Episode 246 – The Summer Software Showcase fun continues next week (Same bat time … Same bat channel!) as Martin and Sallie discuss the ministry uses of BatchGeo. (Release date – 07/25/12)

The featured artist:

(29:51)  We close the podcast with the music of Michael Schroeder (www.michaelschroeder.com and on Facebook) – John 3:16 

Get involved:

244 – Summer Software Showcase: Vimeo

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we look at the video hosting platform Vimeo.

The discussion:

Video Hosting – Vimeo and Vimeo Plus are on the Summer Software Showcase stage as Martin and Sallie discuss many ministry uses and examples of the video hosting platform.

Ministry Uses

  1. Sermon videos
  2. Embed videos on your web site
  3. Promotional videos
  4. Bible class videos
  5. Flipped classroom

Picks of the week:

  • (12:20) TypingWeb
  • Browser Tab Switching Keyboard Shortcuts
    • Control + Tab – cycle through tabs
    • Control + Number – Go to a specific tab – In Safari use Command + Shilft + Left and Right Arrows
    • Control/Command + W – Close a tab
    • Control/Command + T – Opens a new tab

7 Best:

(19:52) Send us your favorite Ministry Gadgets for inclusion in our August 7 Best list

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(30:02) Episode 245 – Wear your biggest monkey grin to next week’s Summer Software Showcase podcast as Martin and Sallie talk about ministry uses for PicMonkey. (Release date – 07/18/12)

The featured artist:

(30:46)  We close the podcast with the music of  Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com and mikewestendorf on Twitter) – Come 

Get involved:

242 – Summer Software Showcase: Schoology

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast the discussion covers the education management platform Schoology.

The discussion:

Learning Management – Martin and Sallie shine the Summer Software Showcase spotlight on the online learning management system Schoology.

Visit the WELSTech demo course by logging into Schoology

Ministry Uses

  1. Classroom course management
  2. Catechism class
  3. Online Bible study
  4. Study and faculty groups
  5. School communication

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(26:47) Episode 243 – Celebrate Independence Day with Martin and Sallie as we count down our latest 7 Best list.  This month we focus on the best webmaster resources. (Release date – 07/04/12)

The featured artist:

(27:58)  This week we close the podcast with the music of Kevin Loersch – When Love Is Found 

Get involved:

241 – Summer Software Showcase: Google Calendar

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we take an in-depth look at all the ways Google calendar can make life easier.

The discussion:

Calendaring – Continuing the 2012 Summer Software Showcase series, Martin and Sallie discuss the free Google Calendar tool and it’s many church, school and personal uses.

Ministry Uses

  1. Church and school event management and communication – web embed & print
  2. Meeting scheduling
  3. Resource scheduling
  4. Specialty calendaring
  5. Mobile access

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 242 – Next up in the WELSTech Summer Software Showcase is Schoology for online learning, classroom management and social networking. (Release date – 06/27/12)

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(27:37) FinalWeb training – This summer we’re offering online training on web site creation and maintenance using the FinalWeb system.   And, for the first time, we’ll be using Google Hangouts.  Hurry, registration closes July 24th!!

Community feedback:

The featured artist:

(42:18)  This week we close the podcast with the music of Koine (www.koinemusic.com | Facebook) – Built on the Rock 

Get involved:

240 – Summer Software Showcase: Jing

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we take an in-depth look at Jing screencasting software.

The discussion:

Let me count the ways – Martin and Sallie kick off the 2012 Summer Software Showcase series with a look at free screencasting software Jing from TechSmith.

Ministry Uses

  1. Web site tour
  2. Internal software demonstrations
  3. Flip your classroom
  4. Have students produce video projects
  5. Tech support

More ideas for using Jing

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

  • (25:36) Our next 7 Best list will be revealed on the 4th of July (how patriotic of us!), and listeners can be part of the list creation.  Simply let us know your favorite Webmaster Resources.
  • FinalWeb training – This summer we’re offering online training on web site creation and maintenance using the FinalWeb system.   And, for the first time, we’ll be using Google Hangouts.  Hurry, registration closes July 24th!!

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 241 – Oops!  We may not have announced it on the show, but next week the WELSTech Summer Software Showcase topic is Google Calendars. (Release date – 06/20/12)

The featured artist:

(50:30)  This week we close with the instrumental music of flutist Jeannine Dennis – Sheep May Safely Graze 

Get involved: