Tag Archive for: education

161 – You Too Can Be A Walking Jukebox!

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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

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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:

157 – Synapse

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we return to our Leading 21st Century Schools book discussion and interview Synapse game developer, Carol Laitinen.

The discussion:

Web 2.0 Tools for the Classroom – Martin and Sallie talk through chapter 3 of Leading 21st Century Schools, the current book discussion.  You can catch up on previous chapters in the podcast archive. In this chapter the book transitions from a theoretical look at the education environment of today to a practical look at some of the leading software resources that students can use for collaboration, communication and creation.

The interview:

Carol Laitinen(17:40) Teamwork at the Speed of Laughter – Carol Laitinen from St. John’s in New Ulm, MN joins Martin and Sallie to share the story of the development of her party game, Synapse.

News in tech:

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

(52:20) View the live video stream of WELS Regional Choral Fest from Manitowoc Lutheran High School at wels.net/streams/live

  • Pops Concert – Friday, November 12 at 7 p.m. CST
  • Sacred Concert – Sunday, November 14 at 2 p.m. CST

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(57:49) Episode 158 – It’s “Office Administrator’s Week” again on WELSTech as we look at all things related to church newsletters and e-news.  (Release date 11/17/10)

The featured artist:

(58:50) This week we feature the music of  Koine (www.koinemusic.com | Facebook) – Built on the Rock from their CD titled ”Koine II”

Get involved:

155 – Teachers’ Conference Redux

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The WELSTech Podcast conversation this week is around fall teachers’ conferences.

The discussion:

TeacherTech – The WELSTech semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, Gail Potratz, from Emanuel in New London, WI joins Martin and Sallie as we recap the recent Minnesota District Lutheran Teachers’ Conference.  Special thanks to Jason Hahn, Beth Fischer, Heidi Horak, Kay Abts, Andrea Hahm, and Justin Krause for adding their voices to today’s podcast!

MN District Lutheran Teachers Conference

Ministry resources:

Picks of the week:

WELS.net feature:

(43:12) WELS Locator Search geo-location files – Use your GPS or Google Earth to find any WELS church or school in the US & Canada

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(55:20) Episode 156 – Martin and Sallie talk about St. John’s, Sleepy Eye, new DIY rear projection screen and new wireless mics.  (Release date 11/03/10)

The featured artist:

(56:05) This week we feature the music of Branches Band (www.branchesband.com | Facebook) – Renew Me, O Eternal Light from their CD titled ”Light Eternal”

Get involved:

153 – Tech Cobbling

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we return to our monthly book discussion and have the special privilege of talking with one of the authors, Lynne Schrum.

The discussion:

Millennials and Gen Zs – In Chapter 2 of Leading 21st Century Schools by Lynne Schrum and Barbara B. Levin the focus turns to today’s students and teachers and the technology experience and expectations they bring into the classroom.

The interview:

Lynne Schrum(13:20) A chat with the author – Lynne Schrum, author of the current WELSTech book selection, joins Martin and Sallie with tips for leaders to help them identify where they are in terms of technology integration and work within the various comfort levels of all types of teachers to provide “just in time” training on the tech tools of today.

Ministry resources:

(41:05) Google Translate Adds Latin

News in tech:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:12:47) Episode 154 – Office workers will want to tune in for next week’s discussion of all things volunteer related.  (Release date 10/20/10)

The featured artist:

(1:13:34) This week we close with the music of Revelation, a music ministry of Wisconsin Lutheran College (www.revelationwlc.com) – You Are the God from their CD titled ”Led by the Light”

Get involved:

151 – Gail’s Back!

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This week WELSTech welcomes back our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, Gail Potratz, and we talk about technology accountability for teachers.

The discussion:

Technology accountability – After a summer hiatus, Martin and Sallie are happy to welcome back to WELSTech Gail Potratz from Emanuel in New London, WI.  Gail shares her ideas about encouraging teacher technology proficiencies and discusses the plan they will follow in her school this year.

The interview:

Dr. Bernard Bull(21:12) Information Literacy – Dr. Bernard Bull, Assistant Professor of Education at Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, WI, talks with Gail about teaching digital natives to be educators and shares advice for all teachers of today’s digital native students.

News in tech:

(38:38) Double authentication coming to Google

Picks of the week:

WELS.net feature:

(57:37) Follow WELS online:

Community feedback:

  • (59:39) Pastor Emile Burges from Trinity in Caledonia, WI shared a suggestion for a Office Administrator Conference.
  • Terry Baier from First Lutheran in La Crosse, WI is considering  the possibility of collaborating with other congregations to share a software support position
  • E-mail WELSTech with ideas, comments or inquiries about either comment

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:04:15) Episode 152 – WELSTech addresses “The Evils of E-mail” as we share tips and tricks for managing your overwhelming e-mail inbox. (Release date 10/06/10)

The featured artist:

(1:05:50) We close the podcast with the instrumental music of In His Service (www.adagioconcepts.com) – Thy Strong Word from their CD titled “In His Time”

Get involved:

148 – Sallie’s Pick

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This week the WELSTech Podcast “hits the books” with the kick-off of a new book discussion.

The discussion:

Leading 21st Century SchoolsA new book selection – Leading 21st Century Schools by Lynne Schrum and Barbara B. Levin (browse sections on Google Books) is the latest book discussion selection for WELSTech.  To get the ball rolling, Martin and Sallie highlight Chapter 1 and apply the concepts to school leaders, teachers and pastors.

Ministry resources:

(19:19) Men’s Network

News in tech:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(41:47) Episode 149 – Joanne Nemmers, school secretary at Calvary in Dallas, TX, joins Martin and Sallie as we look at technology in the school and church office.  Encourage your office administrator to tune in!  (Release date 09/15/10)

The featured artist:

(44:01) We close the podcast with the music of Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com and mikewestendorf on Twitter) – Press On from his CD titled “Climb the Mountain”

Get involved:

145 – WELSTech Road Trip: Citrus Heights, CA

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The WELSTech Podcast Road Trip travels to California to hear the tech-in-ministry success story of St. Mark’s in Citrus Heights.

Road trip:

roadtrip02c(3:20) Technology serving St. Mark’s – Joining Martin and Sallie today are Maren McPeak, Webmaster, and Matt Bauer, Principal, from St. Mark’s in Citrus Heights, CA.  Listen as they share technology ideas from their church and school including use of their web site, iTunes, Facebook and Moodle.

Maren McPeak and Matt Bauer

Citrus Heights CA
The WELSTech Road Trip Tracker

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(36:34) Episode 146 – The summer 2010 WELSTech Road Trip series wraps up with a virtual visit to three states as we compare and contrast Bible study software.  (Release date 08/25/10)

The featured artist:

(37:44) This week we feature the music of  Koine (www.koinemusic.com | Facebook) – Fight the Good Fight from their CD titled ”Church Bells”

Get involved:

141 – WELSTech Road Trip: Fond du Lac, WI

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Buckle up for this week’s WELSTech Podcast Road Trip.  We visit Fond du Lac, WI and talk with teacher Ryan Rosenthal about integrating technology in the classroom.

Road trip:

roadtrip02c(2:18) Integrating Technology into the Classroom – Seveth grade teacher Ryan Rosenthal from Faith in Fond du Lac, WI joins Martin and Sallie for an interesting conversation about his Web 2.0 classroom experience.  Ryan offers great advice including encouraging teachers to “tweak” existing projects to include technology elements, rather than coming up with a new project.

Ryan Rosenthal

Fond du Lac
The WELSTech Road Trip Tracker

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(33:57) Episode 142 – We talk with Sally Valleskey from Abiding Word in Houston (deep in the heart of), Texas about their use of Shepherd’s Staff church management software. (Release date 07/28/10)

The featured artist:

(34:12) We close the podcast with music from Cross to Glory (www.crosstoglory.com) – My Old Friend from their CD titled “Life’s Song”

Get involved:

139 – WELSTech Road Trip: Omaha, NE

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This week the WELSTech Podcast Road Trip visits Teacher Jason Schmidt at Gethsemane in Omaha, NE to chat about SMART Board resources.

Road trip:

roadtrip02c(2:49) SMART Classrooms – Our travel plans take us to the Midwest where we visit with teacher Jason Schmidt from Gethsemane in Omaha, NE.  WELSTech listeners will recognize Jason’s name from his many contributions to the show (and even a previous interview), and today’s show won’t disappoint as Jason shares a ton of classroom-oriented SMART Board resources and ideas with Martin and Sallie.

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The WELSTech Road Trip Tracker

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(35:04) Episode 140 – Join us as we head south to Birmingham, AL to talk with Pastor Ben Kratz about long-distance Bible classes via Skype. (Release date 07/14/10)

The featured artist:

(35:45) We close the podcast with the music of Corban Creek – It Seems to Be the Day from their CD titled “Could It Be Me”

Get involved: