Tag Archive for: productivity

737 – AI Talk with Dr James

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WELSTech welcomes MLC’s Dr. James Carlovsky for a look at Artificial Intelligence from his research and presentations to various audiences. The rest of the show includes thoughts on giving thanks, the AI prompts industry, AI YouTube resources, texting your congregation, and evaluating your worship live stream.

The discussion

Pros and Cons of AI – Dr James Carlovsky from Martin Luther College chats with Martin and Sallie about what may be the biggest disruptor in education. Does it make you more or less creative? Does it do the thinking for you or getting you thinking? The more you learn, the more there is to learn about AI.

Ministry resource

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We talk elementary tech integration, SAMR-style, with Rachel and Jason.

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723 – Time Blocking

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We’re back with another episode of WELSTech starring your handy, dandy calendar. Learn all about time blocking and how it can boost your productivity. We discuss an interactive book creation tool that looks like fun for the classroom and a simple but effective task manager which might be in your pocket right now. We also celebrate a new grandson for one of your “Awesome” WELSTech hosts!

The discussion

Work Your Calendar – Martin and Sallie discuss a key tool for productivity, your calendar. Specifically, the topic is using your calendar to set up blocks of time to focus on specific tasks you need to accomplish. Mix in a bit of self-discipline, and this method could be a ticket to more productive days!

Ministry resources

Calendar Management Wakelet

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Community feedback & events

The topic which never goes out of style: I need advice on my church and/or school website.

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Just like that we’ve reached the end of another school year and another year of edtech discussions with Rachel and Jason. Tune in for the wrap up of The AI Classroom.

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720 – Modern Messaging

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On this episode of WELSTech, we learn about the tech side of mission outreach via Academia Cristo and TELL Network, including the messaging tool which has had a huge impact on that work. We also share details on a boatload of WELS summer events and classes, plus picks of the week that will have you drawing org charts and getting organized!

The discussion & interview

Mission conversations – Martin and Sallie are joined by Jon Gross, Field Producer for Multi-Language Productions (MLP) Latin America’s Academia Cristo, and Grace Ungemach, Marketing Operations Manager for TELL Network. Jon and Grace share information and blessings about the mission work they support, as well as how Respond.io has positively impacted their broad efforts.

Ministry resources

Summer events

Picks of the week

Community feedback & events

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We’ll talk AI in the Classroom with Jason & Rachel on the next WELSTech!

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Just ToDo It - WELSTech 719

710 – Just ToDo It!

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It’s always a happy day when Martin and Sallie are in the same location for a WELSTech recording, and that’s the case on this episode! Join us in Sallie’s living room for a discussion of to do list, upcoming big events, chair cushions, and a bit of AI in education. You won’t want to miss this dose of WELSTech goodness!

The discussion

Just ToDo It - WELSTech 719To Do lists – Perhaps the first component of any productivity effort is the “simple” to do list. Martin and Sallie discuss their expectations of the perfect to do list tool, including the ability to set reminders, manage recurring tasks, and integrate with email and calendars, as well as a full host of potential tools from paper to digital and across all platforms.

Ministry resources

Mark your calendar for these events happening in the summer of 2024:

Picks of the week

Community feedback & events

  • Matt Miller from Ditch That Textbook recently spoke on a Swivl webinar titled The Future of Classwork with AI and a free replay is available, as well as Matt’s slidedeck.

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One thing leads to another in church and school management. Martin and Sallie discuss automating tasks using a variety of utilities.

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686 – Tech-Enhanced Ministry: Personal Productivity

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The Tech-Enhanced Ministry series continues with today’s episode of WELSTech, and Martin and Sallie share their favorite tech for being productive. Today’s show also includes discussion of photo albums for events or projects, smart bulbs, video production training, and media resources to support Bible lessons.

 

The discussion

Personal Productivity – A common thread throughout WELSTech history is the discussion of personal productivity and the technology that supports it. Martin and Sallie tackle the topic again on this episode, breaking productivity down in terms of capture techniques and tools, storage, calendar and tasks, hardware, and consistent review practices.

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Community news & feedback

Coming up next on WELSTech

The Tech-Enhanced Ministry series continues with a discussion of all things mobile.

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675 – Staying Productive: At Home & Office

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WELSTech headlines with a discussion of tools to keep you productive, wherever you are. Also in this episode, learn about a great blog to follow for ministry tech topics, organizing passwords, taking smart notes, and live streaming devices.

The discussion

Top productivity tools – Martin and Sallie each share the 5 tools that keep them on top of their productivity game.

Ministry resource

Church Leaders blog > Ministry Tech

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Process icons created by Freepik – Flaticon

644 – Five Below Cables

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WELSTech is back with the final installment of our Atomic Habits book discussion as well as an interview about cyber security training for children. Martin and Sallie make their last picks of 2020, and we learn about captioning video calls. The beautiful Christmas concert from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary closes this last podcast before Christmas, and we send our best wishes to WELSTech listeners for a joyous celebration of our Savior’s birth.

The discussion

Make It Satisfying – Just in time to apply to the new year, Martin and Sallie finish their book discussion of Atomic Habits by James Clear with a look at the 4th law and taking your habits from good to great.

Join us in January for our next book discussion of The Post-Quarantine Church by Thom Rainer.

The interview

Security education – MLC second-career staff ministry student Mike Tracy shares his experience in cyber security training, and, in particular, his thoughts on training children about information security.

Picks of the week

Ministry resource

How to Add Closed Captions to a Video Call

Community feedback

WELS now

Creating digital side doors featuring Pastor Peter Hagen and the Raised with Jesus podcast from the December Forward in Christ magazine.

Enjoy the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Christmas concert.

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2020 is drawing to a close, and that means it’s time to look back at some of our favorite WELSTech moments of the year.

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643 – Mind Candy

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Tune in to this week’s WELSTech for a great discussion of the 3rd Law of Atomic Habits. Stay tuned in for a little bit of Elon, Van Gogh, virtual team building, and hymn previews plus lots more WELSTech goodness to enhance your public and personal ministry efforts!

The discussion

Reduce friction – Martin and Sallie return to the book discussion of James Clear’s Atomic Habits, this week focusing on the 3rd Law, Make It Easy (chapters 11-14).  Sallie even has a (short) chat with the author!

Picks of the week

  • 5 Quick Team Building Activities To Do Via Conference Calls
  • Macbook Air M1

Ministry resource

In the Facebook group WELS Educators During COVID-19 and Beyond, Lori Ehlke (St Paul’s, Onalaska, WI) shared an art tutorial video titled Van Gogh Nativity. Check out her YouTube channel for more – Ehlke Art.

Community feedback

WELS now

Christian Worship Hymn Preview

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We wrap up our discussion of Atomic Habits (chapter 15 to the end) and chat with Mike Tracy about cyber security training for schools.

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641 – Make It Attractive

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This week on WELSTech we share the story of one school’s largely digital rebranding efforts that gave them community recognition and a large enrollment increase. We also have more from our Atomic Habits book discussion, a couple of great picks of the week, free early childhood education resources and more!

The interview

Rebranding for Outreach – Brian Polfer serves on the Board of Education at Carlsbad Christian Academy, the school ministry of Beautiful Saviour Lutheran Church, Carlsbad, CA. He joins Martin and Sallie to share details of the steps they took to more than quadruple their school enrollment this year – from changing the school name to Google and Facebook advertising to a mobile-friendly website and more.

The discussion

Temptation Bundling – Martin and Sallie explore the second law of Atomic Habits by James Clear, which adds temptation (incentive) bundling to habit stacking (chapters 8-10).

Picks of the week

Ministry resource

Christmas Event Planning Amid COVID-19 from Church Tech Today

Community feedback

WELS now

ChristLight Sunday School at Home is extended through Winter and Spring!

Pastor Donn Dobberstein, Administrator of WELS Discipleship, shares thoughts on the program.

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Edtech with Rachel Feld and Jason Schmidt!

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639 – Make It Obvious

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Tune in for 52 minutes of WELSTech goodness including great tips on habit forming as well as special guest insight into the tech behind world mission work. There’s also recycling tips for old devices, Bible commentary discounts, church WordPress themes, and the perfect YouTube channel for budding videographers.

The discussion

Implementation and stacking – Martin and Sallie continue their book discussion of Atomic Habits by James Clear, looking at starting new habits, motivation, and the secret of self-control (chapters 4-7).

The interview

Pastor Paul Nitz recently returned from 25+ years of service as missionary to God’s people in Malawi and central Africa. Hear about his new role in World Missions and the tech that makes it all happen!

BONUS: Check out Pastor Nitz’s OneNote template for meetings for ideas on how templates can improve your work processes. Pastor Nitz writes, “I create the template in Excel and paste it in. I always choose to put in a page color to make the tables pop out. That, for me, takes care of the one thing about OneNote I really DON’T like, the huge colorless blank canvass effect.”

Picks of the week

Ministry resource

James Clear’s 3-2-1 Thursday newsletter

Community feedback

WordPress Themes for Churches – Google group discussion

WELS now

Looking for the perfect Pastor Appreciation gift? Visit Northwestern Publishing House for 25% off Bible Commentaries through October 15.

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Video ministry and Atomic Habits – Make It Attractive (chapters 8-10)

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