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WELSTech Audio episodes

  • 668 – Blended Learning

    We’re back with another lively edition of WELSTech featuring the co-hosts with the most – Rachel Feld and Jason Schmidt. Jason shares details about his upcoming WELS Education Conference presentation, Rachel isn’t losing her keys, and Martin shares an online video creation tool. Plus there’s job opportunities, professional development, and much more to explore. Join the conversation!

    The discussion

    Blended Learning – Voice, Choice, Pace, and Place – Tools to Support Blended Learning is the title of Jason Schmidt’s presentation at the upcoming WELS Education Conference. Jason shares details of what participants can expect in this timely session. The conference will take place June 20-22, 2022 at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee, WI.

    • Conference pricing details
    • Become a sponsor
    • News in tech

      Upgrade to the New Windows 11 OS

      WELS now

      Amazing Grace Virtual Academy is hiring – Contact AGVA superintendent Dr. Jim Grunwald, for details on teaching opportunities and a part-time administrative opening

      Picks of the week
      • Apple Air Tags
      • Wisconsin Digital Learning Collaborative professional development courses – Free through June 2022 for Wisconsin teachers
      • The best iPhone feature you’re not using will save you dozens of unnecessary swipes
      • Placeit by Envato
      • Ministry resources
        • Pre-order the Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV) Study Bible and The Story of God’s Love – Available December 15 from Northwestern Publishing House
        • Enjoy Martin’s recent CMM Chapel devotion
        • Community feedback
          • Church Tech Today
          • Church Communications on Facebook
          • Coming up next on WELSTech

            Share the joy of Christmas.

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              • Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

                59 min
              • 667 – Policy & Procedures

                WELSTech this week answers the why, what, who, how and where questions around policies and procedures for church and school. There’s also much to share about Adobe, the iPad mini, Christmas concert date announcements, and free tools for organizing goals and meetings. Plus, the WELSTech mailbag is full!

                The discussion

                The time is now – Martin and Sallie share encouraging words for churches and schools to consider the many policies and procedures needed to effectively ensure security and privacy, document processes, and support members, employees and volunteers with the highest standards and consistency.

                News in tech

                How to Edit your PDFs in Your Browser Using Adobe Acrobat

                WELS now

                Mark your calendars for December Christmas concerts, either in-person or live streamed

                • Martin Luther College – Saturday, December 4 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 5 at 4:00 pm
                • Wisconsin Lutheran College – Sunday, December 12 at 3:00 and 7:00 pm
                • Picks of the week
                  • Adobe brings Photoshop and Illustrator to your web browser
                  • iPad mini
                  • Ministry resources
                    • EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) Overview – free tools for organizing goals, meetings, and more, related to ideas from Traction by Gino Wickman.
                    • WELSTech Episodes 373a and 373b – Christmas Around the World – includes discussion from World Missions Administrator, Pastor Larry Schlomer, about their use of EOS tools in organizing the work of World Missions.
                    • Community feedback
                      • Sharon Ragner from Fox Valley Lutheran High School wrote in with feedback on Episode 665 – Web Design Principles.
                        • W3C Accessibility Fundamentals Overview
                        • School Website Accessibility
                        • Julia Wagenknect from Faith Lutheran Church in Anchorage, AK is looking for logo help for their preschool
                          • Episode 665 includes a list of website designers who may be able to help
                          • Also check out graphic artists Corissa Nelson (corissanelsonart.com) and Ian Welch (www.ianmwelch.com/design)
                          • Next time

                            We’re joined by Rachel Feld and Jason Schmidt for details on edtech at the Ed Conf!

                            Get involved
                            • Add comments
                            • Send us an e-mail [email protected]
                            • Join the WELSTech community:
                              • WELSTech Google Group
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                              • WELSTech on Instagram
                              • Add to the WELSTech wiki welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net
                              • Contribute to the #WELSTech Twitter conversation
                              • Follow us on Twitter – welstech, mspriggs and salliedraper
                              • Share with the Diigo group welstech
                              • Image by u_gzwjc5ts from Pixabay

                                42 min
                              • 665 – Web Design Principles

                                This episode of WELSTech is all about web design. Listen for tips and areas of focus to enhance your ongoing website efforts, web designer leads, if you choose to go that route, a color pallet tool, and an online conference topic about digital outreach. Plus, Sallie is searching tabs and Martin’s getting rid of distractions. WELSTech goodness awaits!

                                The discussion

                                Website designers

                                • Jonathan Ruddat – accomplishingsuccessllc.com
                                • Becky Atkinson – basicallydigital.net
                                • Eric Mueller – pixeleric.com
                                • Emma Hislop – emmahislop.com
                                • Diahann Lohr – adunate.com
                                • Alli Pappathopolous – twelvetwocreative.com
                                • Dana Kirchoff – danamkirchoff.com – Episode 651 interview
                                • No finish line – The design process for your church or school website is never done. Martin and Sallie discuss concepts covered in Adobe XD’s Web Page Design: A Comprehensive Guide.

                                  • WebAIM Contrast Checker
                                  • WELS is hiring a web designer. Learn more and apply!
                                  • News in tech
                                    • Apple Air Pods
                                    • WELS now

                                      From WELS Congregational Services – The Foundation is a new set of resources that helps churches allow the gospel message heard in worship to echo throughout the week, edifying God’s people. Year C Advent and Christmas resources are available for download at https://welscongregationalservices.net/the-foundation! Learn more …

                                      Picks of the week
                                      • Search tabs & more … Top 15 Google Chrome tips and tricks
                                      • Hide all other windows – Windows: Windows Key + Home | Mac: Option + Cmd +H
                                        • Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts
                                        • Mac keyboard shortcuts
                                        • Ministry resources
                                          • Adobe Color
                                          • Community feedback

                                            Gospel Outreach with Media (www.gowm.org) online conference is Live – now through November 8

                                            • Digital Front Page Evangelism – Redeemer, Fond du Lac sample
                                            • Next time

                                              We’re talking policies and procedures – the why, what, who, how, and where!

                                              Get involved
                                              • Add comments
                                              • Send us an e-mail [email protected]
                                              • Join the WELSTech community:
                                                • WELSTech Google Group
                                                • WELSTech on Facebook
                                                • WELSTech on Pinterest
                                                • WELSTech on Instagram
                                                • Add to the WELSTech wiki welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net
                                                • Contribute to the #WELSTech Twitter conversation
                                                • Follow us on Twitter – welstech, mspriggs and salliedraper
                                                • Share with the Diigo group welstech
                                                • 48 min
                                                • 664 – Personal Knowledge Management

                                                  In this episode of WELSTech we’re introduced to PKM, an organization method for notes, research, and ideas. In addition, we’re talking about humane technology, sharing Kindle books, and prayer options in the YouVersion Bible app. Plus Martin gives us a mini-German lesson!

                                                  The discussion

                                                  A new acronym – Martin shares insights regarding Personal Knowledge Management (PKM). Organizing notes and ideas in a digital “zettelkasten” allows for deeper thinking, leading to expanded knowledge and wisdom.

                                                  • Personal knowledge management – Wikipedia
                                                  • A Beginner’s Guide to the Zettelkasten Method
                                                  • DIKW (Data, Information, Knowledge, Wisdom) pyramid – Wikipedia
                                                  • Tools
                                                    • Obsidian
                                                    • Roam Research
                                                    • Craft
                                                    • Notion
                                                    • Raindrop.io
                                                    • Microsoft Edge Collections
                                                    • News in tech
                                                      • Facebook, WhatsApp outage shows danger of relying on one company for messaging
                                                      • WELS now
                                                        • Humane Technology for Lutheran Worship
                                                        • WELS Technology is hiring a Security Analyst and a Technical Support Specialist. Learn more and apply!
                                                        • Picks of the week
                                                          • 9 Fantastic DIY Projects Made With Old Phones
                                                          • How to Share Kindle Books with Family and Friends
                                                          • How to loan a Kindle book to a friend or family member
                                                          • Ministry resources
                                                            • YouVersion’s Prayer options
                                                            • Community feedback
                                                              • Bible crosswords
                                                                • Create your own
                                                                  • Crossword Generator
                                                                  • Crossword Hobbyist
                                                                  • Bible crossword sources
                                                                    • Christian Bible Reference
                                                                    • Bible Puzzles
                                                                    • Gospel Outreach with Media (www.gowm.org) online conference starts October 18 and runs through November 8
                                                                    • Check out WELSTech’s new Video tab
                                                                    • Get involved
                                                                      • Add comments
                                                                      • Send us an e-mail [email protected]
                                                                      • Join the WELSTech community:
                                                                        • WELSTech Google Group
                                                                        • WELSTech on Facebook
                                                                        • WELSTech on Pinterest
                                                                        • WELSTech on Instagram
                                                                        • Add to the WELSTech wiki welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net
                                                                        • Contribute to the #WELSTech Twitter conversation
                                                                        • Follow us on Twitter – welstech, mspriggs and salliedraper
                                                                        • Share with the Diigo group welstech
                                                                        • Feature image by Erol Ahmed on Unsplash

                                                                          54 min
                                                                        • 663 – #edu22

                                                                          Welcome to the season opener of WELSTech! We’ve packed this special episode with our favorite edtech guest hosts, exciting announcements about the upcoming WELS Education Conference, a first-hand review of the iPhone 13, lots of Logitech love, and a new Christian Worship digital lectionary. All this, and you can consume it in either audio or video format! Fancy like!!

                                                                          The discussion

                                                                          It’s a full house on WELSTech today as Martin and Sallie kick off a new season and are joined once again by our favorite education technology guest hosts, Professor Rachel Feld from Martin Luther College and Jason Schmidt, Executive Director of Wisconsin Virtual School.

                                                                          And if that wasn’t enough excitement, WELSTech is re-introducing video! Our audio podcast continues without a blip, but now listeners will have the option to be watchers, if they prefer video!

                                                                          The interview

                                                                          WELS Education Conference – Paul Patterson from WELS Lutheran Schools joins the conversation to share some of the first details about the upcoming WELS Education Conference, June 20-22, 2022 at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee, WI. Under the theme United in Christ, Diverse in Service, attendees will choose from topics in six strands – Feedback and Assessment, Higher Order Thinking, Student Achievement, Student Centered Classroom, Social Emotional Learning, and Leadership in Ministry. There’s much for educators to get excited about!

                                                                          News in tech
                                                                          • Martin reviews the iPhone 13 Pro.
                                                                          • Revisit the green vs blue discussion on WELSTech 611 – iBullying
                                                                          • Picks of the week
                                                                            • Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard
                                                                            • Logitech C922x Pro Stream webcam
                                                                            • Silhouette Cameo
                                                                            • Getting Into Vlogging & the RODE Wireless Go II portable mic
                                                                            • Ministry resources
                                                                              • New Christian Worship hymnal digital lectionary
                                                                              • Search “WELS” in your favorite podcast tool for all the great devotional content produced as podcasts. You’ll find us on Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Stitcher.
                                                                              • Community feedback
                                                                                • In a comment on Episode 420, Erica Chapman gave a special shoutout to Pastor David Witte’s Through My Bible podcast.
                                                                                • Christ In Media is back with an XR Project and Festival plus the annual Gospel Outreach with Media online conference.
                                                                                • Coming up next on WELSTech

                                                                                  Learn a new acronym – PKM – and the ideas behind Personal Knowledge Management.

                                                                                  Get involved
                                                                                  • Add comments
                                                                                  • Send us an e-mail [email protected]
                                                                                  • Join the WELSTech community:
                                                                                    • WELSTech Google Group
                                                                                    • WELSTech on Facebook
                                                                                    • WELSTech on Pinterest
                                                                                    • WELSTech on Instagram
                                                                                    • Add to the WELSTech wiki welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net
                                                                                    • Contribute to the #WELSTech Twitter conversation
                                                                                    • Follow us on Twitter – welstech, mspriggs and salliedraper
                                                                                    • Share with the Diigo group welstech
                                                                                    • 53 min
                                                                                    • 662 – From LEGOs to Email

                                                                                      WELSTech is back with LEGO news and a wrap up of the book discussion of A World Without Email. Martin shares a free tool for creating diagrams and flowcharts, and the community mail bag includes the ability to ride along with a raindrop. Did we mention LEGOs?

                                                                                      The discussion

                                                                                      Every techie loves LEGOs, so it’s appropriate we offer huge WELSTech congrats to Caleb and Jacob Schilling, WELS members recently featured on Season 2 of LEGO Masters.

                                                                                      • LEGO Masters Season 2 on Fox
                                                                                      • Bethany (Lutheran College) alum competes in Lego Masters’ show
                                                                                      • Protocols & Specialization – Martin and Sallie conclude the discussion of A World Without Email by Cal Newport with practical suggestions for improving workflow and moving away from the hyperactive hive mind way of working.

                                                                                        • Listen to the entire book discussion
                                                                                        • Picks of the week
                                                                                          • 20 Best Stock Photo Sites with Free Images for Churches – from Church Tech Today
                                                                                            • Pro Church Media on Unsplash
                                                                                            • Diagrams.net
                                                                                            • Community feedback
                                                                                              • WELS RSS feeds
                                                                                              • River Runner
                                                                                              • Bible Lesson Media Resources
                                                                                              • WELS Communication microphone recommendations
                                                                                                • Wired – Sony ECM-44B
                                                                                                • Electro-Voice RE50/B
                                                                                                • Coming next on WELSTech

                                                                                                  A new season of WELSTech kicks off, loaded with all kinds of WELSTech goodness, of course! We welcome guest hosts Rachel Feld and Jason Schmidt as well as Paul Patterson from the Lutheran Schools Office who will preview the upcoming WELS Education Conference 2022. All that, and we’re adding video to the show too!

                                                                                                  Get involved
                                                                                                  • Add comments
                                                                                                  • Send us an e-mail [email protected]
                                                                                                  • Join the WELSTech community:
                                                                                                    • WELSTech Google Group
                                                                                                    • WELSTech on Facebook
                                                                                                    • WELSTech on Pinterest
                                                                                                    • WELSTech on Instagram
                                                                                                    • Add to the WELSTech wiki welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net
                                                                                                    • Contribute to the #WELSTech Twitter conversation
                                                                                                    • Follow us on Twitter – welstech, mspriggs and salliedraper
                                                                                                    • Share with the Diigo group welstech
                                                                                                    • 46 min
                                                                                                    • 661 – Adding Value to Information

                                                                                                      This week on WELSTech, we resume the book discussion of A World Without Email by Cal Newport with chapters 4 & 5, all about knowledge work processes. Martin shares his first blog post in a “Getting Into Vlogging” series, and Sallie has news about free Bible verse motion video content for church screens.

                                                                                                      Ford assembly line, 1913 – via Wikipedia

                                                                                                      The discussion

                                                                                                      WELSTech is adding a blog. Subscribe today to receive updates!

                                                                                                      Manage the Workflow – Martin and Sallie share thoughts on chapters 4 & 5 of A World Without Email by Cal Newport, which begins to explore improved options for knowledge workers to offset the hyperactive hive mind.

                                                                                                      • Sample Trello Board
                                                                                                      • With All Your Heart – Chapter 3
                                                                                                      • WELSTech Episode 418
                                                                                                      • Picks of the week
                                                                                                        • Faithlife Bible Screen – featured on Church Tech Today
                                                                                                        • Getting Into Vlogging – Part 1
                                                                                                          • SonyZV-1 review
                                                                                                          • Community feedback
                                                                                                            • From WELS Intersections – a discussion about a recent Carey Nieuwhof podcast on Everything You Need to Know About Church Online
                                                                                                            • Anker Docking Station
                                                                                                            • YouTube Premium
                                                                                                            • ViewPure.com
                                                                                                            • From Free Tech 4 Teachers – 5 Ways to Display YouTube in Class
                                                                                                            • Coming next on WELSTech

                                                                                                              The book discussion concludes with a discussion of chapters 6 & 7 and the conclusion of A World Without Email by Cal Newport.

                                                                                                              Get involved
                                                                                                              • Add comments
                                                                                                              • Send us an e-mail [email protected]
                                                                                                              • Join the WELSTech community:
                                                                                                                • WELSTech Google Group
                                                                                                                • WELSTech on Facebook
                                                                                                                • WELSTech on Pinterest
                                                                                                                • WELSTech on Instagram
                                                                                                                • Add to the WELSTech wiki welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net
                                                                                                                • Contribute to the #WELSTech Twitter conversation
                                                                                                                • Follow us on Twitter – welstech, mspriggs and salliedraper
                                                                                                                • Share with the Diigo group welstech
                                                                                                                • 44 min
                                                                                                                • 660 – Is Email Making Us Miserable?

                                                                                                                  The WELSTech book discussion of A World Without Email by Cal Newport continues this week with chapters 2 & 3. Martin is excited about a new bookmark manager that ends a multi-year search for a suitable tool. And Sallie is off in space maintaining the stations.

                                                                                                                  The discussion

                                                                                                                  A Mind of Its Own – Martin and Sallie dive into chapters 2 & 3 of A World Without Email by Cal Newport, which look at the genesis of email and similar technologies and how tech can take on its own, unexpected usage and consequences.

                                                                                                                  Picks of the week
                                                                                                                  • Lockdown Productivity: Spaceship You
                                                                                                                  • Raindrop.io bookmark manager
                                                                                                                  • Community feedback
                                                                                                                    • 10 Tips for Producing your Church Podcast
                                                                                                                    • Showing movies at church: Do I need a License?
                                                                                                                      • CVLI
                                                                                                                      • Coming next on WELSTech

                                                                                                                        The book discussion continues as we look at chapters 4 & 5 of A World Without Email by Cal Newport.

                                                                                                                        Get involved
                                                                                                                        • Add comments
                                                                                                                        • Send us an e-mail [email protected]
                                                                                                                        • Add to the WELSTech wiki welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net
                                                                                                                        • Contribute to the #WELSTech Twitter conversation
                                                                                                                        • Follow us on Twitter – welstech, mspriggs and salliedraper
                                                                                                                        • Share with the Diigo group welstech
                                                                                                                        • Join the WELSTech community:
                                                                                                                          • WELSTech Google Group
                                                                                                                          • WELSTech on Facebook
                                                                                                                          • WELSTech on Pinterest
                                                                                                                          • WELSTech on Instagram
                                                                                                                          • 39 min
                                                                                                                          • 659 – Are You Checking Your Email Again?

                                                                                                                            After a bit of a hiatus, WELSTech is back, and we’re kicking off a book discussion of A World Without Email by Cal Newport. Google goodness, more reading, and tech-in-ministry practical solutions for network management and video editing round out the rest of the show.

                                                                                                                            The discussion

                                                                                                                            Martin and Sallie start a new book discussion of A World Without Email by Cal Newport. Pastor Peter Hagen shared the book idea after listening to an author interview on episode 403 of the Carey Nieuwhof podcast. Today we cover the Introduction and Chapter 1, and we learn about the “Hyperactive Hive Mind.”

                                                                                                                            Picks of the week
                                                                                                                            • Google Goodness
                                                                                                                              • Learn to use Google’s Applied Digital Skills in your curriculum in upcoming professional development training
                                                                                                                              • 16-Day Organize Your Google Drive YouTube playlist
                                                                                                                              • Digital Binder for Technology
                                                                                                                              • Deep Work by Cal Newport
                                                                                                                              • Community feedback
                                                                                                                                • WELSTech Google Group
                                                                                                                                  • Network switch recommendation
                                                                                                                                  • Wireless Access Point naming convention
                                                                                                                                  • WeVideo
                                                                                                                                  • Coming next on WELSTech

                                                                                                                                    The book discussion continues as we look at chapters 2 & 3 of A World Without Email by Cal Newport.

                                                                                                                                    Get involved
                                                                                                                                    • Add comments
                                                                                                                                    • Send us an e-mail [email protected]
                                                                                                                                    • Add to the WELSTech wiki welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net
                                                                                                                                    • Contribute to the #WELSTech Twitter conversation
                                                                                                                                    • Follow us on Twitter – welstech, mspriggs and salliedraper
                                                                                                                                    • Share with the Diigo group welstech
                                                                                                                                    • Join the WELSTech community:
                                                                                                                                      • WELSTech Google Group
                                                                                                                                      • WELSTech on Facebook
                                                                                                                                      • WELSTech on Google+
                                                                                                                                      • WELSTech on Pinterest
                                                                                                                                      • WELSTech on Instagram
                                                                                                                                      • 34 min
                                                                                                                                      • 658 – Dan Schmidt

                                                                                                                                        On WELSTech this week we wrap up the summer “techy-Sem-theses” interview series with recent Sem graduate, Pastor Dan Schmidt, on today’s gospel ministry in a time of dramatically changing media. App and YouTube picks plus a full calendar of WELS events round out this episode.

                                                                                                                                        The interview

                                                                                                                                        Martin and Sallie talk with Pastor Dan Schmidt, a recent Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS) graduate assigned to Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, WI, about his senior thesis titled Changing Media and the Changeless Message: Sharing the Gospel Through New Media. You may read the essay in the WLS Digital Library (PDF).

                                                                                                                                        • The Shallows by Nicholas Carr
                                                                                                                                        • The Death of Expertise by Tom Nichols
                                                                                                                                        • Picks of the week
                                                                                                                                          • Power Thesaurus app – iOS | Android
                                                                                                                                          • How to Make a Playlist on YouTube
                                                                                                                                          • WELS now
                                                                                                                                            • Finalweb 2.0 webinars – Starts July 12
                                                                                                                                            • Taste of Missions – July 11-17
                                                                                                                                              • Live Events & Moments with Missionaries including Rev. Geoff Cortright from Vancouver, British Columbia
                                                                                                                                                • 2021 Synod Convention – July 26-28
                                                                                                                                                • Community feedback

                                                                                                                                                  A Google inside street view discussion from WELS Intersections

                                                                                                                                                  Coming next on WELSTech

                                                                                                                                                  We kick off a new book discussion of A World Without Email by Cal Newport. Pastor Peter Hagen shared the book idea after listening to an author interview on episode 403 of the Carey Nieuwhof podcast.

                                                                                                                                                  Get involved
                                                                                                                                                  • Add comments
                                                                                                                                                  • Send us an e-mail [email protected]
                                                                                                                                                  • Add to the WELSTech wiki welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net
                                                                                                                                                  • Contribute to the #WELSTech Twitter conversation
                                                                                                                                                  • Follow us on Twitter – welstech, mspriggs and salliedraper
                                                                                                                                                  • Share with the Diigo group welstech
                                                                                                                                                  • Join the WELSTech community:
                                                                                                                                                    • WELSTech Google Group
                                                                                                                                                    • WELSTech on Facebook
                                                                                                                                                    • WELSTech on Google+
                                                                                                                                                    • WELSTech on Pinterest
                                                                                                                                                    • WELSTech on Instagram
                                                                                                                                                    • 44 min

                                                                                                                                                    About WELSTech Audio

                                                                                                                                                    From the publisher's feed

                                                                                                                                                    WELSTech explores the use of technology to further the spread of the gospel. This show is sponsored by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).