Tag Archive for: guest host

273 – The Un-Conference

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast learn about EdCamp, a grass-roots, free conference format that is spreading across the country.  Chances are there is an un-conference EdCamp scheduled near you, and on today’s WELSTech you’ll hear about what to expect when you attend.

The interview & discussion:

(3:46) No red jello – Jason Schmidt, Tech Coordinator for Bennington ISD near Omaha, NE, returns to the edtech guest host chair to join Martin and Sallie for a discussion of the EdCamp “un-conference” format.  Emily Dittmar (@MsDittmar on Twitter), a Library Media Specialist in the Marshall, WI public school system and EdCamp organizer, also talks with us about her experience of collaboration and networking among all types of educators and administrators in a relaxed, unplanned structure at EdCamps.

  • EdCamp Wiki
  • EdCamp Madison,WI – February 23, 2013
  • EdCamp Omaha, NE – March 23, 2013
  • New Forms of Professional Development

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(49:40) Episode 274 – Next week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie celebrate Digital Learning Day and talk with Jim Grunwald from Martin Luther College and Rich Gurgel from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary about WELS digital education. (Release date – 02/05/13)

The featured artist:

(50:36) We close the podcast with the music of Corban Creek – Home Above

Get involved:

263 – Clean Up Your Tech

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we equip listeners to handle all those “slow computer” projects they may tackle over the Thanksgiving break. Guest host Dan Rebers from the WELS Information Services office lends his expertise in this area.

The discussion:

Thanksgiving tune-up – With the holiday break often comes the task of much needed computer maintenance. Martin and Sallie are joined by Dan Rebers from the synod Information Services office to discuss the Dos and Don’ts of upkeep of computer hardware and software.

Ministry resources:

(22:50) Memrise – Memory drill Web 2.0-style – Recommended by LifeHacker

Picks of the week:

7 Best:

(36:20) Coming up in December … 7 Best Mobile Computing Tips. Share your favorite hardware, apps and tips for a productive mobile experience.

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(53:47) Episode 264 – Gail Potratz, tech coordinator at Emanuel in New London, WI, fills the WELSTech guest hosting chair next week as we talk iPads in education. We’ll also include an interview with Jon Beilke and Nate Hochmuth from Salem in Greenfield, WI about their recent implementation of 1:1 iPads in their 7-8 grade classroom. (Release date – 11/27/12)

The featured artist:

(54:40) We close the podcast with the instrumental music of In His Service (www.adagioconcepts.com) – Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

Get involved:

260 – East Meets West

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Join us for a very special WELSTech Podcast as we span the globe with Martin joining from Hong Kong and guest host Jason Schmidt along with Sallie in the U.S. Our edtech chat this week covers the Moodle Learning Management System (LMS) as well as an interview with John Dorn about the Edmodo LMS.

Note: With our WELSTech Audio/Video Engineer (a.k.a., Martin Spriggs) out of the office exploring the opposite side of the world and presenting at a translator’s conference, today’s video podcast is posted in two parts – the primary show and the interview. We look forward to supplying the normal single video format upon Martin’s return.  Thanks for understanding!

 

 

The discussion:

Moodle mania – Jason Schmidt, Technology Coordinator at Bennington ISD in the Omaha, NE area and guest edtech correspondent for WELSTech, talks with Martin and Sallie about the popular open-source, free Learning Management System, Moodle.  Watch as Sallie demonstrates a Softaculous automated install of Moodle in under 3 minutes!

The interview:

(15:20) Edmodo in action – Science and Technology Teacher John Dorn from Illinois Lutheran Schools in Crete, IL talked with Martin and Sallie recently about  his schools adoption of the Edmodo Learning Management System.  John shares tips and tricks he’s learned through training and experimentation with the system, such as setting up a consistent user naming scheme.

  • Voki – Create speaking avatars to deliver audio instructions – Great for preschoolers and early readers
  • Quizlet
  • Edmodo training resources & webinars

News in tech:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(59:19) Episode 261 – Martin and Sallie countdown the 7 Best Video and Webconferencing Tools for connecting with others. Note the special recording date and time (11/07/12 at 2:00 p.m. CST) means the podcast release will be delayed a bit.

The featured artist:

(1:00:55) We close the podcast with the music of The Branches Band (www.branchesband.com|Facebook) – Nothing But the Blood

Get involved:

255 – Are Chromebooks In Your Future?

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WELSTech’s monthly education episode is back, featuring our periodic co-host Gail Potratz as well as an interview of Chad Kafka. The edtech flavor of the day is Google as we talk about Chromebooks and Google Apps in middle school settings.  We’re also looking for beta testers of the new WELS Mobile app. Cap off the WELSTech goodness with instructions for creating your very own digital signage page!

The discussion:

Back to School with Gail – Martin and Sallie are joined once again by Gail Potratz, Tech Coordinator at Emanuel in New London, WI and WELSTech’s semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, as we discuss the in’s and out’s of Gail’s recent Chromebook implementation in Emanuel’s 7th grade. Start up speed, battery life and a price point that can’t be beat seem to be reasons to give the Chromebook a serious look if you are considering a 1:1 initiative in your school.

  • Martin’s Google Chrome blog series

The interview:

(23:50) There’s an app for that – Chad Kafka (www.chadkafka.com), Technology Coach in the Franklin, WI public school district and Google Certified Teacher, talks with Martin and Sallie about his school district adoption of Google Apps, including success stories and tips for making the most of the solution.

Ministry resources:

(44:44) Be a beta tester of the new WELS Mobile app!  Surf over to m.wels.net in your smartphone or tablet web browser, and kick the tires.  E-mail Martin your feedback.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:12:06) Episode 256 – We’re back with our latest 7 Best countdown, this time of Member, Prospect & Student Management Tools including software, tools, and tips for managing data in the church and school office. (Release date – 10/02/12)

The featured artist:

(1:13:03) This week we close with the instrumental music of flutist Jeannine Dennis – Celebration Medley

Get involved:

233 – Digital Storytelling

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast we define Digital Storytelling in education and share tools and examples of this creative expression format.

The discussion:

Tell me a story – Gail Potratz, WELSTech’s semi-regular classroom technology correspondent from Emanuel in New London, WI, joins Martin and Sallie and the discussion focus is digital storytelling including its definition and the many resources available to help students create in this popular format.

Ministry resources:

(25:20) Should Your Church Have a Blog

Picks of the week:

Of interest:

  • (38:54) 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!
  • A new channel for WELSTech – Listen now on Stitcher Smart Radio

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(47:24) Episode 234 – Just in time for the many graduation and summer vacation photos opportunities, Martin and Sallie countdown the 7 Best Photo Organizing and Editing Tools.  (Release date – 05/02/12)

The featured artist:

(49:01) We close the podcast with the instrumental music of In His Service (www.adagioconcepts.com) – Send Me from their CD titled “In His Time”

Get involved:

229 – Tech for Tikes

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It’s education week on the WELSTech Podcast as Jason Schmidt joins Martin and Sallie to talk about technology for early learners.

The discussion:

Tech in early childhood – Martin and Sallie are joined by Jason Schmidt (jasonschmidt123 on Twitter) from Bennington Public Schools, our semi-regular technology correspondent, and today’s discussion focuses on the graphically rich edtech resources that are useful in pre-school and early elementary settings.

The interview:

(17:45) iPads in Preschool – Preschool Director Becky Huebner from Christ the King in Palm Coast, FL talks with Martin and Sallie about their use of iPads and other technology in their growing childcare, pre-school and elementary setting.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(56:11) Episode 230 – Martin and Sallie share their latest “7 Best” list, this month highlighting the 7 Best E-mail Productivity Tips and Tools. (Release date – 04/04/12)

The featured artist:

(57:21) We close the podcast with the music of  Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com and mikewestendorf on Twitter) – Amazing Grace from his CD titled “Climb the Mountain”

Get involved:

225 – Textbooks and Technologies

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It’s education week on the WELSTech Podcast, and Gail Potratz joins the discussion on the future of textbooks.

The discussion:

Is the textbook dead? – Teacher and technology coordinator Gail Potratz from Emanuel in New London, WI is back to talk with Martin and Sallie about the variety of options for one to one computing – from laptops and netbooks to Chromebooks and iPads – and the variety of electronic textbook options available.

Ministry resources:

(20:12) Bible Audio Pronunciation – (iOS app | Lite (Free) app | Overview Video)

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

  • (30:44) Links shared in the WELSTech Diigo group this week include …
    • 101+ ways to use Interactive White Board/SMART Board
    • Adobe Education Exchange
    • Evernote for Schools – Introductory Blog Post
    • Spongelab – A Global Science Community
    • OnLive Desktop – David Pogue’s Review
    • Rover
    • Shrink O’Matic

Coming up on WELSTech:

(40:00) Episode 226 – Tune in next week for more edtech goodies as Martin and Sallie count down the 7 Best Teacher Resource Sites. (Release date – 03/07/12)

The featured artist:

(41:07) This week we close with the music of Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries – You Are My World

Get involved:

220 – Google: Friend or Foe?

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It’s education week on the WELSTech Podcast as we take a deep dive into Google Apps for the classroom.

The interview:

(2:57) Transforming the classroom – Wisconsin Lutheran College’s Director of Digital Education, Joe Du Fore, talks with Martin and Sallie about this summer’s Google Education Summit where educators can earn 3 hours of graduate credit, get a Google Chromebook, and leave the event prepared to set up, administer and effectively use Google Apps in their schools.

The discussion:

(19:00) Using Google Apps – Jason Schmidt (jasonschmidt123 on Twitter) from Bennington Public Schools returns to his semi-regular technology correspondent role to share with Martin and Sallie his Google Apps experience including uses for faculty planning, student Google Sites and collaborative assignments.

News in tech:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 221 – We launch a new segment on next week’s WELSTech … our first ever 7 Best list!  We’ll discuss our favorite Digital Bible Study Tools and be joined by Pastor Stephen Daley for the pastor’s perspective on digital Bible study. (Release date – 02/01/12)

The featured artist:

(54:20) We close the podcast with the music of Cross to Glory – You Know I Know from their CD titled “Life’s Song”

Get involved:

212 – Schoology

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It’s education technology week on the WELSTech Podcast as Martin and Sallie welcome back Gail Potratz and discussion Schoology.

The discussion:

Classroom Meets Facebook – Gail Potratz, Technology Director at Emanuel in New London, WI, joins Martin and Sallie for a discussion of Schoology, the web-based course management system that looks and feels a lot like Facebook but has classroom specific privacy with student, teacher and parent access.

The interview:

(14:53) The Voice of Experience – Gail talks with Beth Sanders (MsSandersTHS on Twitter) from Birmingham, AL about her use of Schoology in her 1:1 Social Studies high school classrooms.

News in tech:

(42:10) Black Friday & Cyber Monday

Picks of the week:

WELS.net feature:

(51:33) Streams Seasonal Radio

Of interest:

(52:50) Mark your calendars for streaming Christmas concerts

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(57:04) Episode 213 – Jason Jaspersen shares his web site dedicated to liturgical art resources, and Martin and Sallie revisit the weekly blogging challenge. (Release date – 12/07/11)

The featured artist:

(58:14) We close the podcast with the music of Revelation, a music ministry of Wisconsin Lutheran College (www.revelationwlc.com) – A Voice Cries Out from the CD titled “Led By The Light”

Get involved:

207 – Chromebooks

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This week on the WELSTech Podcast cloud-based classroom computing with Chromebooks is the discussion topic as Martin takes a field trip to Grace in Oshkosh to observe Chromebooks in action.

The discussion:

To the cloud – With much anticipation, Martin and Sallie welcome our new semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, Jason Schmidt, who will be joining WELSTech on an alternating basis for our end-of-month classroom technology focused podcasts.  Gail Potratz will be back next month!  Jason adds his insight to today’s cloud-based computing discussion of Google Chromebooks and 1-to-1 teaching initiatives.

The interview:

(21:39) Chromebooks live – Principal Peter Iles from Grace in Oshkosh, WI talks with Martin about their recent implementation of Chromebooks in his 7th and 8th grade classroom.  Martin also blogged about his visit to Peter’s classroom.

Something extra from Jason:

(43:21) iPads in Preschool

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

  • (55:19) YouVersion NIV giveaway – 48 hours, October 30 & 31 only
  • Public domain Martin Luther images from The Library of Congress (1 | 2 | 3) and Wikipedia/Wikimedia Commons (1 | 2)

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:09:20) Episode 208 – Using technology to assist with ministry to shut-ins is the discussion topic on next week’s podcast.  We’ll also talk with folks from Nebraska Lutheran High School about their use of SmoothWall, a new ShopWELS product. (Release date – 11/02/11)

The featured artist:

(1:10:29) This week we close with the music of Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries – Dive Into God’s Word from their CD titled ”Crosswalk Lutheran Ministries”

Get involved: