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

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

Glide Apps Examples

Gospel Outreach With Media – Fall 2019 Online Conference

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

We talk edtech with Jason Schmidt!

The cat takeover continues on WELSTech with this week’s revelation that cat photography is the number one reason to purchase the new iPhone. In other news … we talk about 4 shifts in technology integration, a gamified geography (and more) web app, the latest Google goodness, creating infographics, and more!

Shifting edtech gears – Prof. Rachel Feld from Martin Luther College shares details about the 4 Shifts Protocol, the methodology behind the book Harnessing Technology for Deeper Learning.

Fantasy education – Eric Nelson, WELS member and teacher-founder of FANschool.org, shares the story behind harnessing the fun of fantasy football for use in education. Students draft countries and score when their countries are mentioned in the news. Teachers can set up a league for free for up to 35 players. Learn more.

Google spotlight

5 Tips for Creating Infographics with Students using Adobe Spark Post and the Noun Project

At South Side Elementary School in Kendalville, IN, students learn computational thinking starting in kindergarten and develop advanced reasoning skills throughout their elementary school years. Supporting Powerful STEM Learning with Technology: Computational Thinking

The Gospel Outreach with Media online conference is in full swing and includes a presentation from Sallie about an easy way to build mobile apps using Glide Apps. Tune in for more about the conference and about Glide!

WELSTech is back with a timely discussion topic of social media for churches as you head into the busy holiday season. Martin shares what interests him from the recent Amazon event, and Sallie has lots of options for listening to the Bible. Christian apologetics is in the limelight (and the video archives) following the recent Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Symposium on the topic. And the WELSTech community feedback is great, as usual!

Get Social – Martin and Sallie share tips for enhancing your church or school’s social media presence. Also Trish Nitschke, Social Media Manager for Time of Grace, joins the conversation to share her social media expertise.

Echo everything

5 Audio Bible Listening Options – Overview video

Learn more about the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Symposium on Apologetics from this Together Video update.

This cat-friendly WELSTech school-year season opener marks the return of our extended format, including news in tech, WELS now, and ministry resources. We’re talking about apps for creating verse images, updates to the Google Lectionary Calendar, and church video connections. Plus, we are happy to welcome Dr. Tom Kuster to the conversation as he shares details on an extended-reality-in-ministry project!

Sample Bible Lens verse image featuring Mia Draper – Click to view larger

Create verse images – A smartphone can fill a key role in church, school, and personal communication efforts. Martin and Sallie discuss the many apps that make it easy to create images with Bible text overlaid, perfect for sharing on social media.

How can XR technology be used to serve the Lord? – Dr. Tom Kuster from the Christ in Media Institute shares details on their current XR (extended reality) Project and Festival and how schools can get involved. The first 10 schools to sign up will receive a $200 Oculus-GO VR headset to further their research.

The Google Lectionary Calendar has been updated with the next three church years! Learn more on the WELSTech Wiki.

WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership – Register now for early bird pricing

WELSTech Challenge Album – Search flickr using WELSTechPhotoChallenge

This week we feature a double-header of congregation “Connection” video examples. First up is the Fall 2019 Good Shepherd Connect from Good Shepherd, Sioux Falls, SD.

And second is the September 2019 Pilgrim Connection from Pilgrim, Menomonee Falls, WI.

This week on WELSTech we wrap up our summer focus on WELS Congregational Services with a look at the important work done by the Military Services Committee. We also have feedback, advice, and picks on a variety of topics including online giving, counting files in Google Drive, setting up a new computer, and a collaborative programming platform.

Serving those who serve our country – Pastor Paul Ziemer joins Martin and Sallie to share details on his role as WELS Civilian Chaplain to the military and the work of the WELS Military Services.

Get an insider’s look at Glitch in this Welcome to Glitch! video.

The WELSTech Summer series continues this week with an interview with the Coordinator of WELS Congregational Services. Sallie’s learning new programming skills on her phone while Martin is keeping things doubly secure with Google. In the Community Feedback segment, one listener shares his experience with an affordable digital display solution.

Congregational Services – Pastor Jon Hein serves as both Director of WELS Commission on Congregational Counseling and Coordinator of WELS Congregational Services. Martin and Sallie chat with him about another important job he filled at the recent Synod Convention, that of convention essayist (with a modern twist). He also shares info on several new initiatives in Congregational Services.

Watch Pastor Jon Hein’s Synod Convention presentation.

WELSTech comes to you from WELS Synod Convention 2019 where Martin and Sallie talk with four of the attendees about their convention experience. And we even have video this time!

Paperless for the win – Many hands (and a dash of technology) make the Synod Convention experience a success.  Even more impressive is this year they did it without one click of a binder! Martin and Sallie learn about the convention experience from a variety of perspectives.

Beat the summer heat with the cool voices of Martin and Sallie on this week’s WELSTech. We take a look at WELS Women’s Ministry, yet another area where WELS Congregational Services supports ministry. Martin alerts us to an “iconic” celebration, plus Sallie shares tips for recording on the go.

Living Stones – Fresh off attendance at WELS Women’s Ministry Conference, Sallie shares her experience. Check out resources from the conference and learn more about Women’s Ministry at wels.net/womens-ministry.

Interviews include …

Enjoy archived videos of all devotions, worship and keynote speakers from the WELS Women’s Ministry Conference, courtesy of Luther Preparatory School. Watch Pastor Mike Novotny’s kick-off keynote, focused on 1 Peter 2:4-5.

This week the WELSTech summer series on WELS Congregational Services focuses on Prison Ministry, part of Special Ministries. Plus, there’s afterglow to enjoy related to the recent Education, Technology, and Leadership Summit, including presenter resources and photos. Community feedback covers social media ideas, QR codes, and multiple monitors for worship.

Prison Ministry – Dave Hochmuth, WELS Prison Ministry Administrator, shares some of the history of the group and the current blessings and challenges of ministry to prisoners in the digital age.

Check out the EdTechLead19 photo album and this slideshow video of the event.