Tag Archive for: covid-19

668 – Blended Learning

We’re back with another lively edition of WELSTech featuring the co-hosts with the most – Rachel Feld and Jason Schmidt. Jason shares details about his upcoming WELS Education Conference presentation, Rachel isn’t losing her keys, and Martin shares an online video creation tool. Plus there’s job opportunities, professional development, and much more to explore. Join the conversation!

The discussion

Blended Learning – Voice, Choice, Pace, and Place – Tools to Support Blended Learning is the title of Jason Schmidt’s presentation at the upcoming WELS Education Conference. Jason shares details of what participants can expect in this timely session. The conference will take place June 20-22, 2022 at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee, WI.

News in tech

Upgrade to the New Windows 11 OS

WELS now

Amazing Grace Virtual Academy is hiring – Contact AGVA superintendent Dr. Jim Grunwald, for details on teaching opportunities and a part-time administrative opening

Picks of the week

Ministry resources

Community feedback

Coming up next on WELSTech

Share the joy of Christmas.

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Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

655 – COVID In The Rearview Mirror

On this episode of WELSTech, we close out the school year with guest hosts Rachel and Jason by reflecting on lessons learned. The picks of the week cover everything from scheduling to audio books to texting tools, with a little gaming bonus as well. Rachel shares Bible lesson A/V resources she’s compiled and details about MLC’s free summer conference!

The discussion

Goodbye to school year 2020-21 – Martin and Sallie are joined once again by Prof. Rachel Feld from Martin Luther College and Jason Schmidt from the Oconto Falls School District, and we reflect on lessons learned during this school year and the importance of summer rest for our superhero teachers.

Picks of the week

Ministry resource

Bible Lesson Media Resources

Community feedback

WELS now

OpenLearning@MLC – a free virtual conference hosted by martin Luther College on June 15 & 16

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636 – HR & A Pandemic

On this episode of WELSTech we wrap up our summer look at ministry across the synod during the pandemic by talking with WELS Human Resources Director Dennis Maurer. We also discuss NPH’s new “at-home Sunday School” program. Google extensions and add-ons shine in the “Picks of the week” segment, and WELSTech listeners have lots to say about social media for schools, and more!

The interview and discussion:

Pandemic protocols at the CMM – WELS Director of Human Resources Dennis Maurer talks with Martin and Sallie about the policies and procedures which are in place at the WELS Center for Mission and Ministry (CMM).

Sunday School at home – New from Northwestern Publishing House (NPH) are resources for doing Sunday School from home using Christ-Light materials and free, age-appropriate video lessons by experienced WELS teachers.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured videos/online course:

How to use Choice Eliminator add-on for Google Forms

Next time:

WELSTech goes back to the books with a kickoff discussion of Atomic Habits by James Clear.

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635 – PR & A Pandemic

This week on WELSTech we hear from the Martin Luther College Director of Public Relations about the challenges and changes to communication during the pandemic. In addition, there’s a wide variety of tech tools and tips that may benefit your ministry including safely back to school webinars, Gmail organization, Bitmoji classroom images, and farewell to classic Google Sites. Tune in and turn it up!

The interview and discussion:

Communicating to a college community – Bill Pekrul, Director of Public Relations at Martin Luther College (MLC), talks with Martin and Sallie about the levels and multiple channels of communication they utilize. Bill also shares tips that congregations and schools can use as they devise communication plans.

Additional examples to consider from MLC communication:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured videos/online course:

MLC Update

Next time:

Summer interviews on pandemic ministry continue, next time with Dennis Maurer, WELS Director of Human Resources.

Get involved:

634 – Technology vs Pandemic

Tune in to this week’s WELSTech to learn about a new tech tool to check temperatures before admitting people to your buildings for church and school. We also share googly picks, tips for content filtering and worship projection, and COVID-19 resources from WELS.

The interview and discussion:

Thermal Scanner – Art Flater, WELS member and owner of Central Office Systems, shares a timely tech innovation, the Pyrexia Kiosk, which uses thermal scanning technology to check body temperature before allowing admittance to a building.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured videos/online course:

Members of St Mark, Green Bay, pray for police

Next time:

Summer interviews on pandemic ministry continue

Get involved:

633 – Music Ministry in a Pandemic

This week the WELSTech featured interview focuses on pandemic music ministry blessings and challenges. Martin and Sallie geek out a bit with their picks of the week, the WELSTech community buzz is around Chromebooks and texting solutions, and we share details about an upcoming “Back to School” webinar by WELS Lutheran Schools and Christian Family Solutions.

The interview and discussion:

Making Worship Music from a Distance – Lisa Uttech, Music Director for Christ the Lord, Brookfield, WI, and Kristen Koepsell, Music Coordinator for Cross of Christ, Boise, ID, share their experiences with congregation and school music during the COVID-19 event.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured videos/online course:

Hands on with PowerToys for Windows 10

Next time:

Summer interviews on pandemic ministry continue

Get involved:

632 – Google Just Wants To Save You Some Money

On WELSTech this week we talk with a long-time WELSTech contributor about his pandemic experience. In addition, we have hardware recommendations, an exciting virtual conference to share, “free” items for schools, and highlights from Apple’s World Wide Developer’s Conference.

The interview and discussion:

Coast to coast – Martin and Sallie chat with WELS educator Perry Lund regarding his pandemic experience in church and high school classroom.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured videos/online course:

Apple WWDC 2020 keynote in 18 minutes

Next time:

Summer interviews on pandemic ministry continue

Get involved:

631 – What Does Church Look Like?

The WELSTech Summer interview series kicks off today. We’re taking a look at the many faces of ministry during a pandemic from across the synod in an effort to spark ideas and encourage excellence in all ministry, whether in good times or challenging times. There’s also some awesome community feedback on everything from smart tech to VBS and Summer Sunday school to free Bible images.

The interview and discussion:

Unique ministry ideas – Pastor Rob Guenther from St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, MN joins Martin and Sallie to share his ministry experience during and beyond COVID-19.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured videos/online course:

Check out the unique video ministry experience from St John’s, New Ulm, MN, where they spliced the current readings and sermon into full church worship recordings from 2019, making the safer-at-home worship experience feel a bit more normal.

Next time:

Summer interviews on pandemic ministry continue

Get involved:

629 – Put Down The Gradebook

We wrap up another school year on WELSTech with a discussion of teachers’ pandemic summer plans. Rachel Feld joins the conversation and shares an exciting virtual conference announcement from Martin Luther College. Enhance your PC clipboard capabilities with martin’s pick of the week, plus there’s loads of community feedback to learn from.

The discussion:

Unknown summer plans – Martin and Sallie talk education, technology, and the unknown with Professor Rachel Feld, Martin Luther College’s Director of Academic Computing. The end of a very unique school year has arrived! Congrats to everyone for surviving the major shift to distance/online education. Now teachers and administrators have time to rest and assess the past few months before moving into planning for the unknown school year which lies ahead.

Ministry resources:

WELS now:

News in tech:

YouVersion Bible Lens is ending May 31

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Unique Online Learning Assessment Ideas from Ditch That Textbook

Get involved:

627 – Five Suns from Jason

WELSTech once again leads off with the topic of the year, COVID-19, as we welcome Mr. Sunshine, Jason Schmidt, and discuss the impact the pandemic is having on education. We’ve got lots of news, picks, and community feedback to share as well as a link to the amazing synod-wide Easter hymn that brought Sallie to tears.

The discussion:

What does this mean? – This week’s round table includes Martin, Sallie, and Jason Schmidt, Instructional Technology Coach for Oconto Falls School District, as we discuss the current and future impact of the rapid transition to distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

News in tech:

WELS now:

MLC Day is May 6 – honoring the class of 2020 at Martin Luther College

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

Worship daily at 9 am Central (or access the archive at any time) with the Luther Preparatory School Chapel

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Enjoy the WELS virtual choir singing I Know That My Redeemer Lives

Together at the Tomb – WELS Easter Worship Service 2020

Get involved: