Tag Archive for: google

722 – Picking The Right Tech

Join us for WELSTech 722 where we talk about tech decision making which will stand the test of time. We also share details on an upcoming webinar on the topic of mental health, a great invention to manage the cords in your computer bag, scanning and organizing Google-style, and Sallie’s latest hardware addition.

The discussion

Tech that lasts – Martin and Sallie share considerations which should be part of technology decisions, and, spoiler alert, cost isn’t at the top of the list. It is helpful to have some experience with technology on your side as you evaluate potential tools, but your selections shouldn’t necessarily be the tech-lover’s dream if that means they are too complex for the average user. Examples of “Swiss army knife” tools which have stood the test of time for Martin and Sallie include Trello and Google Slides.

Ministry resources

Register for the upcoming Women’s Ministry webinar – (mis) Understanding Mental Health happening May 2 at 7 pm

Picks of the week

Community feedback & events

Next time

Tune in for time boxing!

Get involved

706 – Tech Like a Pirate Pt 4

Welcome back to WELSTech! Today’s segment of summer reading from Tech Like a PIRATE focuses on exploration and global communication in the classroom. Plus, we learn that even Martin breaks a sweat sometimes, and that’s ok! Sallie plays the hardware pick “ultimate trump card” while Martin does some star gazing. All this, and more, awaits!

The discussion

eBallot.com – Synod Convention electronic voting

Exploration and Global Communication – WELSTech lite summer reading continues with an overview of 7 & 8 of Matt Miller’s Tech Like a PIRATE: Using Classroom Technology to Create an Experience and Make Learning Memorable.

Picks of the week

Community feedback & events

Next time

We wrap up Tech Like a Pirate with Chapter 9 and an interview with a pirate.

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705 – Tech Like a Pirate Pt 3

Collaborate with WELSTech on our classroom technology discussion of Matt Miller’s book, Tech Like a PIRATE! We review chapters 5 & 6 this week and share a few summer hardware pics we’ve added to our setups. There’s community news covering AI Sermons, Google Ads for Non-Profits, and video professional development for teachers.

The discussion

Image is AI-generated using Canva.com

Collaboration and Imagery – Martin and Sallie discuss chapters 5 & 6 of Matt Miller’s Tech Like a PIRATE: Using Classroom Technology to Create an Experience and Make Learning Memorable.

Picks of the week

Community feedback & events

Next time

Tech Like a Pirate – Chapters 7 & 8

Get involved

647 – Rachel and Jason EdTech Favorites

WELSTech welcomes guest hosts Rachel and Jason for a discussion of our favorite edtech resources. Plus we share picks, events, discussions, and reports to supplement your tech-in-ministry efforts!

The discussion

The best in edtech – Our WELSTech edtech gurus extraordinaire – Prof. Rachel Feld from Martin Luther College and Jason Schmidt from the Oconto Falls School District – are back, and the discussion centers on our favorite edtech content.

Picks of the week

Ministry resource

Sign up for the Learning with Google event – February 17 from 2 to 3:30 pm Central

Community feedback

WELS now

WELS annual report

Next time

Coming up in two weeks, teacher Justin Liepert is in the interview chair and Martin and Sallie talk about the post-quarantine church.

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:

614 – Glide

On WELSTech this week we focus on mobile app creation using Glide. It’s ease of use, versatility, and price tag (free!!) make it a great candidate for building apps for ministry. We’ll hear from two men who are using Glide in the high school setting. Spark your own app development effort with the resources and ideas from this week’s episode.

The discussion & interview:

Go mobile – Martin and Sallie discuss the features of Glide App, a free tool for developing mobile apps driven by data in Google Sheets. Teachers Carl Hochmuth from Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, WI and Jonathan Witte from Luther High School in Onalaska, WI share their experience using Glide apps in their ministry settings.

Glide Apps Examples

  • WELS EdTechLead
    • Copy the EdTechLead Google Sheet to get started with Glide
  • Minnesota District Lutheran Teacher’s Conference
  • Luther Prep
  • My Amazing Llama App

News in tech:

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

Gospel Outreach With Media – Fall 2019 Online Conference

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Check out the latest updates to Glide Apps with this Data Editing playlist of video tutorials.

Next time:

We talk edtech with Jason Schmidt!

Get involved:

589 – Google Certification

This week on WELSTech we welcome Rachel Pierson to the conversation. She shares details on her Google Level 1 Certification Bootcamp, happening during pre-conference at WELS EdTechLead this summer. Sallie’s taking notes while Martin is listening to WELSTech in a brand-new location. Plus, we strategize about church online communication.

The interview:

Flex your Google muscles – Rachel Pierson, Personalized Learning Coach at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Public Schools discusses her Google Level 1 Certification Bootcamp, happening on June 24 as part of the pre-conference event at WELS Education, Technology, and Leadership Summit.

News in tech:

Anchor is joining Spotify

WELS now:

Register for the #EdTechLead19 giveaway, and you could win a free night at the Kalahari (restrictions & black-out dates apply) or a $25 Amazon gift card! Share with friends for extra entries in the drawing!!

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

A Checklist for Your Ministry’s Online Strategy in 2019

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Consider joining us at WELS Education, Technology, and Leadership Summit. Learn more & register.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 590 – Professor Rachel Feld joins our edtech discussion of Faithfully Connected, chapter 5 – Digital Etiquette.  Release date: Wednesday, February 27.

Get involved:

585 – So You Feel Like Google Can Do More For You?

This week on WELSTech we’re talking Google in so many ways! Professor James Carlovsky joins Martin and Sallie to preview his Google-centric presentation at the upcoming #EdTechLead19 Summit. Plus, there’s Google news and a Google ministry resource that every church and school should make use of.

The interview:

Do more with Google – Professor James Carlovsky from Martin Luther College shares details about his upcoming presentation at WELS Education, Technology, and Leadership Summit. Tune in to hear why James thinks the Google platform is a good fit for churches and schools.

News in tech:

Google Hangouts retirement timeline

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

Google My BusinessHelp

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Learn How To Setup Google My Business For Maximum Results.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 586 – Jason Schmidt joins our edtech discussion of Faithfully Connected, chapter 4 – Digital Literacy.  Release date: Wednesday, January 30.

Get involved:

Announcement screen photo courtesy of Joshua Schoeneck, Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School

Digital Signage + Google

Announcement screen photo courtesy of Joshua Schoeneck, Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School

Announcement screen photo courtesy of Joshua Schoeneck, Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School

Digital signage provides many communication benefits in church and school settings, displaying traditional paper-based announcements on scrolling screens with visually appealing graphics. Google hardware and software solutions now provide an affordable and easily manageable option for digital signage.

System requirements

Hardware required to implement the Google solution includes some type of video display with HDMI input. The video display could be a digital television or LCD monitor. You’ll also need a Chromebox or newer Chromebit. You can watch Martin unbox a Chromebit on WELSTech episode 499. Finally, to interface with the Chrome device you’ll need some type of wireless Keyboard and mouse device, such as the Logitech Illuminated Living-Room Keyboard K830 v.2.

On the software side, Google Apps Administrators will enroll and set up the Chrome device in the Google Administration panel using Chrome Sign Builder which is available in the Chrome Web Store. Watch the video below for a demonstration of the setup process, and reference this detailed help for Chrome Sign Builder.

Related resources

If you are looking for content to display on your digital sign, WELS Communication Services regularly updates a collection of images designed for digital signage display.

This half-hour webinar walks through the complete process of setting up the Chromebit in the Google Administration area as well as configuring a Google Slides file for display on the screen – Google Chrome Signage Webinar presented by Cloudbakers.

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Print My Cal

Many churches and schools have adopted Google Calendar to maintain schedules for worship, events, team practice and games, parent teacher conferences, and much more. The web-based, user friendly calendaring tool is powerful enough to take on your most challenging recurring events. Plus it handles shared permissioning and calendar collaboration with ease. And it can be embedded on your web site so that calendar updates automatically display to website visitors.

There’s just one small shortcoming of Google Calendar – its print capabilities. Because churches and schools often want to share printed copies of the calendar in newsletters and on bulletin boards, the quality of the printed calendar is important.

From this need to print well formatted Google Calendars, Print My Cal was born. Print My Cal connects to your Google Calendar, allows you to format and save your print layout, and creates a downloadable PDF and/or RTF version of the calendar for editing and sharing. It does all this through your browser on any device – desktop, laptop, Chromebook, tablet, or smartphone. There’s no software to install.

If you are looking for a printing solution that lives up to all of the other great features of Google Calendar, check out the Print My Cal utility. The overview video below walks through the basics of using the site.

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