Tag Archive for: Web2.0

080 – WELS.net Goes Web 2.0

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This week on the WELSTech podcast we look at the strategic use of Web 2.0 tools on both WELS.net and the Camp Phillip web site.

The discussion:

Leveraging the read/write web – As WELS.net migrates from a custom Content Management System (CMS) to the more mainstream, open-source CMS, Drupal, several WELS.net resources are also migrating to Web 2.0 sites.  Martin and Sallie discuss the logic behind going public with WELS resources versus hosting them locally in a “walled garden” and how congregations and schools might take advantage of a similar strategy.

The interview:

Aaron Wakeman and family(19:26) Sending the stories home – Camp Phillip Development Director, Aaron Wakeman, joins Martin and Sallie to share some creative ways they use technology to share the stories of camp near and far.

New Technology Showcase:

(36:00) Acrobat.com – Adobe’s slick answer to Google Docs

Picks of the week:

  • (39:45) 100 Tips, Tools, and Resources for Teaching Students About Social Media from the Teaching Degree.org Blog
  • TwInbox – Twitter plugin for Outlook
  • Posterous – Easily post to multiple social network accounts

Of interest:

(49:50) Follow the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) – Even if you aren’t in attendance, you can take advantage of all of the great online resources which are available

  • Conference web site
  • Follow the Twitter search meme – #necc09

Community feedback:

  • (53:36) Following up on our BWTG: Google Calendar episode, we heard from Pastor Brian Hackmann from Peace in Eagle River, AK with several questions related to the calendar embed options, and also Jason Petoskey, a member of Holy Trinity in Wyoming, MI, tweeted his success of embedding a Google Calendar into his FinalWeb church web site
  • Jason Schmidt from Gethsemane in Omaha, NE sent us a link to YouMail.com which can receive and transcribe your voice mail and even has a few interesting twists for customizing voice mail.  Martin shared that he has used Jott.com in the past for voice transcribed reminder messages but is now using Reqall.com as a free alternative.
  • David Schumann, webmaster from Peace in Janesville, WI, raised concerns about posting children’s photos online.  We’ll dedicate a future podcast to this topic.
  • And lastly we heard from Gail Potratz from Emanuel in New London, WI with follow up comments about her picks (ShareThis and GroupTweet) on last week’s show. We’d also love to hear from you!! Leave us a voice mail @ 414-375-2334.

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:04:01) Tune in for a double scoop of WELSTech summer audio next week:

  • Episode 081 – We’ll share a little “Bonus WELSTech Goodness” (BWTG) on how-to create a Facebook fan page for your organization (Release date 07/06/09)
  • Episode 082 – The “normal” WELSTech episode will look at tech tools for the small world in which we live, a discussion based on Chapter 9 of Clay Shirky’s book, Here Comes Everybody.  Also included will be an interview with someone from ProCare Software, an information management system for daycares. (Release date 07/08/09)

The featured artist:

(1:05:36) The music of WELS artist Michael Schroeder (www.michaelschroeder.com) closes this week’s podcast – We hear John 3:16 from his CD titled “A Witness”

Get involved:

  • Add a comment below
  • Send us an e-mail [email protected]
  • Leave us a voice mail 414-375-2334
  • Add to the WELSTech wiki welstechwiki.wels.net
  • Contribute to the #WELSTech Twitter conversation
  • Follow us on Twitter – mspriggs and welstechtrainer
  • Use the del.icio.us tag welstech
  • Join the WELSTech community:
    • WELSTech listserve
    • WELSTech on facebook

057 – Are You a Media Outlet

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This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie discuss the effects on gospel outreach of the shift from traditional mass media to individual self-publication via the web.

The discussion:

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (22:19)
  • WELS.net feature (29:39)
  • Community feedback (31:51)
    • MLC student Jeffrey Clark sent in a request for an upcoming WELSTech episode – Libronix software tips and tricks.  Check out details on the new addition of Christian Worship and Christian Worship Supplement lectionaries to Libronix – www.wels.net/jump/cwsupplement.
    • The WELSTech listserve members have been sharing ideas about electronics recycling.  We also heard from Cindy Krueger from Shepherd of the Hills in Lansing MI who shared a link to a new recycling program from Best Buy launching February 15th in all U.S. stores.
  • Coming up on WELSTech (36:48)
    • Episode 058 – Martin shares highlights from his Mission and Ministry presentation on streaming video, and we talk with Pastor Daron Lindemann about the “Message from the Master” web site.

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of WELS artist, Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com) – Press On from his CD titled Climb The Mountain (38:50)

Get involved:

Episode 050 – Dec 17 2008

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This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie look at the ease of group formation in a Web 2.0 world as they continue their discussion of Clay Shirky’s Here Comes Everybody.  They also clean out the WELSTech mail bag.

The discussion:

The tidbits:

  • Community feedback – Cleaning out the WELSTech mail bag!(31:00)
    • Call for a web developer posted on the WELSTech facebook group by Carol Restovic
    • Following up on the Content Management System discussion in Episode 047, John Simonson from Good Shepherd in West Bend, WI shared links to tools to enhance blogging with WordPress and TypePad
      • Write blog posts from your desktop with wbloggar.com
      • Anti-SPAM plugins for TypePad
    • Following up on Episode 045, George Efsen asked how to find the interview segment about Search Engine Optimization.  Time markers for all WELSTech episodes are included in the show notes.
    • David Savatski recommended box.net for online storage and group collaboration
    • John Shoosmith of Redeemer in Yakima, WA shared several comments
      • Sample closed-caption sermon created with Microsoft Silverlight
      • Suggestion for a WELSTech directory of listeners with techie knowledge and skills which they are willing to share
      • Questions about copyright of Luther’s works and the Bible
    • Alyssa Dunning shared a link to digsby.com – useful for aggregating your web presence including instant messaging, e-mail and social networks
    • Closing the loop on a question we received in Episode 033 from Pastor John Maasch of Peace in Bradenton, FL – WELS Worship has published the current lectionary series in “ical” format for importing into your calendaring software – in the “Lectionary Planning” folder
    • Our occasional guest host, Gail Potratz, from Emanuel in New London, WI shared a link to David Warlick’s School Acceptable Use Policy wiki
    • Richard Travis from Divine Peace in Garland, TX is using FlashPoint to convert PowerPoint files to Flash format for their church web site
  • Coming up on WELSTech (56:01)
    • Episode 051 – A special treat for Christmas Eve – We’ll talk with WELS President Mark Schroeder
  • WELS.net feature (57:15)
    • Tune in to Streams Live for a Michael Schroeder Christmas concert
      • December 20 @ 5 p.m. CST from Christ Lutheran in Pewaukee, WI
      • Sponsored by WELS Military Services

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of WELS artist, Michael Schroeder (michaelschroeder.com) – What Child Is This from his CD titled The Reason For the Season (57:48)

Get involved:

Episode 049 – Dec 10 2008

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This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie take a look at chapter one of Clay Shirky’s Here Comes Everybody.  Ray Brown joins the conversation to share how he uses video e-mail for outreach and congregational communication.

The discussion:

  • Harnessing the power of groups – Martin and Sallie kick off a discussion of the book Here Comes Everybody – The Power of Organizing Without Organizations by Clay Shirky with a look at the concepts presented in the first chapter. The author uses a true story of a “one-person media outlet” to illustrate how easily groups can form on the Internet and the power these groups can yield.  Based on these concepts, the discussion shifts to how the church will be affected by these types of groups and also how it can make use of the ease of group formation to effectively carry out ministry.

The interview:

  • Ray BrownVideo e-mail (22:33) –  Ray Brown, Congregational Assistant from Summerlin Lutheran in Las Vegas, NV, joins Martin and Sallie to share information on their use of video e-mail as a communication tool to members and prospects.

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (43:27)
    • Create a flash scrapbook for your church or school web site – ScrapBlog.com
    • Windows Live SkyDrive – 25 Gb of “in the cloud” online storage
  • WELS.net feature (50:05)
  • Community feedback (51:42)
    • John Simonson from Good Shepherd in West Bend, WI shared a fun link to enter to win a USB powered Dirt Devil KWIK vacuum for your keyboard.  The contest runs daily until December 12th.
  • Coming up on WELSTech (52:47)
    • Episode 050 – We’ll discuss Chapter 2 of Here Comes Everybody and open our mail bag to share loads of community feedback

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of WELS pianist, Dawn Gehlhar – Carol of the Bells from her CD titled Christmas Dreams (54:35)

Get involved:

Episode 048 – Dec 3 2008

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This week on WELSTech we are joined by Gail Potratz, our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, and we take a look at the skills our students need to succeed in the Web 2.0 world.

The discussion:

  • SearchingResearch Skills in a Web 2.0 World – Joining Martin and Sallie for our monthly classroom technologies discussion is Gail Potratz, Technology Coordinator for Emanuel in New London, WI.  Today’s schools are preparing students for careers that don’t even exist currently.  The discussion centers around how to equip students with skills to succeed in this Web 2.0 world.

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (26:10)
  • Of interest (34:35)
    • Live streaming of the Koine Christmas concert
      • December 6 @ 5 p.m. CST from Christ Lutheran in Pewaukee, WI
      • Sponsored by WELS Military Services
  • Community feedback (36:20)
    • Jason Winget shared a link on the WELSTech Listserve
    • Add your feedback or ideas about Church Media or Content Management Systems to the WELSTech wiki @ welstech.wetpaint.com
  • Coming up on WELSTech (38:29)

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of Wisconsin Lutheran College’s Revelation music ministry (www.revelationwlc.com) – I’m Free from their Led by Light CD (40:42)

Get involved:

Episode 037 – Sep 17 2008

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This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie soar into the cloud of web-based computing applications and discuss the exciting, affordable possibilities for church office needs.

The discussion:

  • Slide Rocket presentationChurch Office Computing in the Cloud – Martin recently attended the Office 2.0 Conference, and he shares with us his vision of “cloud” or web-based applications for the church office.  You may follow along via Martin’s online “Church Office 2.0” SlideRocket presentation as you listen to the podcast discussion.

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (36:24)
  • WELS.net feature (42:27)
    • Committee on Relief blog – relief.wels.net
  • Of interest (44:11)
    • Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Symposium on Church
  • Community feedback (45:19)
    • Jason Winget’s congregation uses QuickBooks software for financial management, and he is looking for procedures for conducting a church accounting system audit.  Check out his WELSTech listserve post.

The featured artist:

  • This week we close with the music of In His Service featuring WELS musicians Dr. Patricia Backhaus and Valerie Floeter (www.adagioconcepts.com) – O God, Your Hand the Heaven’s Made from their In His Time CD (47:10)

Get involved:

                         

Episode 034 – Aug 27 2008

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This week on WELSTech Martin, Sallie and our semi-regular classroom correspondent, Gail Potratz, discuss congregation and school uses for wikis.  Also, we are joined by Maria Andersen as she shares how Web 2.0 leveled the playing field when it comes to teaching online.

The discussion:

  • Wikis – Martin, Sallie and Gail give listeners a crash course on wikis, a very popular Web 2.0 tool which can be used for web-based collaboration in churches and schools.  Featuring easy set-up and update functions that anyone can do without HTML or other programming knowledge, wikis also allow for inclusion of all forms of multi-media content.
    • www.wikispaces.com
      • Gail’s sample WELSTech wiki – welstechwiki.wikispaces.com
    • www.pbwiki.com
      • Educator tools
    • www.wetpaint.com
      • Martin’s sample WELSTech wiki – welstech.wetpaint.com
    • Set up you own server-based wiki using open-source MediaWiki.org

The interview:

  • Maria Anderson - real and avatarLeveling the online education playing field (20:10) – Maria Andersen, who serves on the Math Faculty at Muskegon Community College, joins Martin and Sallie to discuss her experiences as an online calculus teacher and share how Web 2.0 tools allow all her students to communicate with her regardless of their software and hardware set-up.  You’ll even hear the story behind the purple calculus teacher avatar that Maria uses on her blog.

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (39:05)
  • WELS.net feature (50:00)
    • Through My Bible in 3 Years – a variety of flavors to suit every taste
      • Pamphlet from NPH
      • Read online or subscribe for e-mail or RSS delivery – www.wels.net/jump/bible3
      • Listen on your computer or MP3 player – www.wels.net/jump/bible3podcast
      • Display the RSS feeds on your web site
      • Combine it all into a Bible reading program for your congregation – Sample from St. John’s in Sleepy Eye, MN – www.stjohnsse.com/in-the-word
  • Of interest (53:41)
    • WELS Marriage Retreats – www.wels.net/jump/marriageretreat
  • Community feedback (54:40)

The featured artist:

  • We close with the music WELS contemporary praise band, Koine (www.koinemusic.com) – Chief of Sinners Though I Be from their CD title Koine (59:42)

Get involved:

Episode 032 – Aug 13 2008

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This week WELSTech listeners will hear about several impressive Web 2.0 discoveries Sallie found at a recent conference.  Also Martin and Sallie talk with Pastor Bryan Gerlach from WELS Commission on Worship about the forthcoming Electronic Editions of the Christian Worship: Supplement.

The discussion:

The interview:

  • Pastor Bryan GerlachThe Electronic Editions of the Christian Worship: Supplement (23:19) – Today Martin and Sallie talk with WELS Administrator for Worship, Pastor Bryan Gerlach, about the electronic resources that are going to be available to support the Christian Worship: Supplement.
    • Purchase the Accompaniment and Electronic Edition of the Supplement from Northwestern Publishing House (available Fall 2008)
    • OneLicense.net
    • Worship resources for the Supplement
    • Worship the Lord newsletter – Issue #30 focuses on the Electronic Editions of the Supplement

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (35:41)
    • Online file conversion – YouConvertIt.com
    • PC application launcher with a Mac feel – RocketDock.com
  • WELS.net feature (41:48)
    • WELS Campus Ministry – www.wels.net/jump/campusministry
      • Directions devotions
      • Lightsource magazine
      • Word on Campus podcast
      • Sign up for free Meditations & Forward in Christ subscriptions
  • Of interest (44:06)
    • WELS Web Hosting with FinalWeb
      • Features and links for getting started – www.wels.net/jump/webhosting
      • Online user community – www.wels.net/jump/wnuwebhosting
  • Community feedback (46:39)

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of Wisconsin Lutheran College’s Revelation music ministry (www.revelationwlc.com) – Such Joy from their We Walk By Faith CD (53:10)

Get involved:

Episode 026 – Jul 2 2008

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At the one-half year of podcasting milestone, Martin and Sallie share solutions for mass e-mail and interview Lakeside LHS teacher Ted Klug about protecting and educating students on the blessings and dangers of social networking.

The discussion:

  • Mass E-mail – Martin and Sallie discuss considerations and resources for communicating electronically with congregation or school families using mass e-mail, thus reducing cost and manpower demands and increasing the efficiency and speed of communication.

The interview:

  • Ted KlugStudents and Social Networks (22:00) – Ted Klug, Technology Director at Lakeside Lutheran High School in Lake Mills, WI joins Martin and Sallie to discuss the blessings and dangers of social networks and to share ideas for educating and protecting our students.

The tidbits:

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of WELS praise band, Koine (www.koinemusic.com) – Jesus Priceless Treasure from their CD titled Koine II (55:13)

Get involved:

Episode 025 – Jun 25 2008

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This week guest host Gail Potratz joins Martin and Sallie to discuss project-based learning in the Web 2.0 world. The interview segment focuses on the student-management software tool, PowerSchool.

The discussion:

  • Web 2.0 in the Classroom – As we welcome back guest host Gail Potratz, Technology Coordinator and Teacher at Emanuel in New London, WI, we focus our discussion on technology and education.  We define Web 2.0 and talk about how the read/write web has changed technology usage in the classroom.  Gail also shares ideas for project-based learning using Web 2.0 tools.
    • Sample e-mail listserve focusing on veterans sharing their stories with students
    • WebQuest – www.questgarden.com
      • Sample WebQuest
        • Civil War
        • Cultures
      • Learn more about WebQuest and creator Bernie Dodge

Jeff Spiaser and Jim BrandtThe interview:

  • PowerSchool (25:55) – Martin and Sallie are joined by Jeff Spiaser, Dean of Academics for Illinois Lutheran Schools, and Jim Brandt, Administrator for WELS Parish Schools to discuss PowerSchool student information system. Listen to learn how school personnel and parents can benefit from web-based student data management.
    • Learn more about Power School –
      www.wels.net/jump/powerschool

The tidbits:

The featured artist:

  • This week we close with the music of Dawn Gehlhar – All Through the Night from her CD titled Inspirations (1:01:29)

Get involved: