We’re not kissing the Blarney Stone on today’s WELSTech episode. Instead you’ll get a great conversation with WELS Connection producer, Steve Boettcher, on media in the church. There’s also news on 3d printing innovations and the developing IoT plus Pinterest infographics galore!

Media: Friend or Foe? – Steve Boettcher, the man behind the WELS Connection camera for the past 28 years, chats with Martin about his impressions of media and its impact on the work of the church. He shares details on his latest project, a continuation of the Road to Emmaus/Come Follow Me video series which will focus on the life of Christ through the eyes of his mother, Mary. He also previews his keynote address at this summer’s WELSTech Conference 2015. Viewers will get a first-look at the new WELS studio.

Bible Study Resources for Road to Emmaus & Come Follow Me

3d Printing – A New Way

WELS Blogs

St. Patrick’s Day breaking news … we’ve discovered the rainbow’s end, and it’s at WELSTech Conference 2015! Register by April 1 to take advantage of the Early Bird price of $199.

Episode 385 – It’s Virus Day on WELSTech as Martin and Sallie share tips for avoiding the identity and data threats which are spreading across the web. Pastor James Wilcox from Good Shepherd’s, West Allis joins the conversation with a preview of his WELSTech Conference “Smart Computer Security” session. Watch and participate on 03/24/15 @ 4 pm Central – welstechlive.wels.net.

New additions on the WELSTech Presentation and Teaching playlist on YouTube are the full Road to Emmaus video and the trailer for Come Follow Me

On this week’s WELSTech we look at the heart of executing a gospel-focused productivity plan as we strive to efficiently and effectively use our gifts in service to God and others. Also on the docket are expensive watches, broken link finders, a free online conference from Google and more tabs that you can count!

Putting productivity into action – In part 6 of What’s Best Next, author Matt Perman details the method of executing your productivity plan including never skipping your weekly review and focusing on one task at a time. Martin and Sallie reveal their sometimes opposite (and colorful) methods for getting things done.

Apple announcements abound

Did you miss the Heart to heart parenting blog inaugural webcast? Check out the archived video!

Don’t miss out on the early bird pricing for WELSTech Conference 2015! Register by April 1 for $199.

Episode 384 – Martin and Sallie examine the role of media in our lives, and Steve Boettcher gives us a preview of his WELSTech Conference keynote. Watch and participate on 03/17/15 @ 4 pm Central – welstechlive.wels.net.

The newest addition to the WELSTech Presentation and Teaching playlist on YouTube is Concordia Publishing’s What is Lent video

This week on WELSTech we’re talking heart to heart with bloggers about a new blog for parents as well as revealing our Trekkie side and following the MLC College Choir on their Midwest tour. Martin shares a Windows-based Chromebook alternative, and we open the listener mailbag of WELSTech goodness.

Blogging for ministry – So you want to start a blog? Martin and Sallie cover the basics of blogging, from content ideas, style and challenges to popular blogging platforms and some of our favorite ministry blogs.

Platforms

Favorite Blogs

New blog on the block – Martin and Sallie welcome Wendy Heyn and Ann Jahns to WELSTech to talk about a new parenting column from Forward in Christ magazine, Heart to heart. Each month a group of parents discuss a parenting topic and the conversation continues online via Heart to heart blog posts and comments. Ann and Wendy share their firsthand experience as new bloggers, and impressions of the supportive Christian community which is developing.

Frequent Church Attendance survey from Gallup

Reflecting on Leonard Nimoy’s recent death led to Star Trek technology that we use today

MLC College Choir is currently touring the Midwest.

Need clock hours? Join us at WELSTech Conference 2015, and we’ll provide a certificate for 13.5 to 21 clock hours!

Episode 383 – We’ve arrived at Part 6 of What’s Best Next, WELSTech’s current book selection by Matt Perman, and it’s time to Execute our productivity plans! Watch and participate on 03/10/15 @ 4 pm Central – welstechlive.wels.net.

Want to learn more about WordPress? Visit the WordPress Quickstart Video Library or tune in to the WELSTech Instructional YouTube playlist for the WordPress Tutorial 1: Introduction, part of the WordPress Theme Development playlist from LearnWebCode.

This week’s WELSTech has it all: literary adventures, a winery tour, and even fashion advice. Get the inside scoop on great deals from ShopWELS vendors as well as the hottest pre-conference workshops planned for this summer’s WELSTech Conference. All this, and more, awaits.

Ahoy, Mates – Whether students are spinning pirate tales, researching gasoline or mapping the sites mentioned in Johnny Tremain, there are edtech Language Arts resources to assist and extend their work. Gail Potratz from Emanuel in New London, WI joins Martin and Sallie as we continue the WELSTech Goes to School series with a focus on Language Arts for all grade levels.

OneNote is now (even more) free!

ShopWELS Insider for Winter 2015

Don’t miss out on great Logos deals and the Google Apps pre-conference workshop at WELSTech Conference 2015!

Episode 382 – Next week on WELSTech, Mart and Sallie talk about Heart to Heart, the new NPH parenting resource. (03/03/15)

The newest video on the WELSTech Instructional YouTube playlist introduces you to the 60secondrecap.com format – Overview of Huckleberry Finn

This week on WELSTech we look at project management software. From special events to school initiatives to worship planning, there are many large, multi-faceted projects to oversee in the church and school setting, and project management software may be the solution to that need.

Project management – Churches and schools can benefit from the organizational and collaborative capabilities of project management software. Martin and Sallie are joined by WELSTech Conference presenter, Julia Wagenknecht, to discuss uses for the various project management software solutions.

Task Management

Online Project Management

Mind Mapping

Additional resources

In His Sandals on Audible

AnthemFacts.com

Check out the Wisconsin Lutheran Institutional Ministries (WLIM) new web site

Register for WELSTech Conference 2015 and help us spread the word using our new Press Kit

Episode 381 – We welcome teacher Gail Potratz to the conversation as the series WELSTech Goes Back To School continues with a focus on Language Arts resources for all grade levels. (2/24/15)

We’ve dedicated a brand new WELSTech YouTube playlist to Lenten Hymns and Music by Koine, and we feature their song O, Dearest Jesus to usher in the Lenten season

WELSTech is back with tips for eliminating some of your workload and serving others in the process. There’s also news on the Google Apps front, a fun survey app for the classroom, online classes and new wiki pages to explore. Join the conversation!

Don’t Do Everything – Martin and Sallie return to this season’s book discussion, looking at Part 5 of Matt Perman’s What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done. This part of the book focuses on the “R” step in Matt’s DARE process for managing work, Reduce, and offers practical ideas for eliminating portions of your workload.

Online Friendship Evangelism Course

Register for WELSTech Conference 2015

Episode 380 – Tune in for a discussion of Project Management software options. (2/17/15)

Check out this week’s video to the WELSTech Product Demos playlist on YouTube – Introduction to redesigned Admin Console

Enjoy the Texas warmth on this week’s WELSTech, and learn all about the goodness in store at this summer’s WELSTech Conference. Parenting in the digital age resources, Outlook comes to smartphones and Logos 6 giveaways round out this very full episode.

Tech in Ministry Smorgasbord – Martin and Sallie walk through the variety of topics and speakers who will be part of this summer’s WELSTech Conference 2015, happening July 9-11 at Country Springs Hotel and Conference Center in Waukesha, WI. David Tess, Director of Digital Education at Wisconsin Lutheran College shares details about the keynote presentation he’s preparing for the conference.

Parenting in the Digital Age

Microsoft Releases Outlook for Android (Preview) and iOS

Listen to WELS Radio on the Streams media network

WELS Interactive Faith online Bible study continues the study of Judges for the next two Wednesday’s at 6:00 and 8:00 pm CST.

Episode 378 – Join us for WELSTech on a special date and time – Monday, February 9 at 11:00 am CST – as Martin and Sallie look at ways to improve productivity by reducing our to-do list. (02/09/15 at 11:00 am)

This week we’ve add two new videos to the WELSTech Product Review playlist on YouTube – A quick look at Outlook for iOS and Android and Get Office for Android Tablet

Is WELSTech real or simply virtual reality? This week’s education focused episode includes a series kick-off, out of this world picks and the final countdown to WELSTech Conference 2015 registration.

Math and Technology for the Classroom – Martin and Sallie are joined by Jason Schmidt, Technology Coordinator from Bennington ISD, and they kick off the new WELSTech Goes To School series with a look at Math and Technology web sites, apps and extensions for all grade levels.

Check out the WELS Annual Report in your favorite format …

Episode 378 – Martin and Sallie walk viewers through the exciting lineup of speakers at this summer’s WELSTech Conference. (02/03/15)

This week we’ve add a new video to the WELSTech Instructional playlist on YouTube – Khan Academy exercise software, part of the Khan Academy Teacher Workshop playlist

WELSTech is live from Martin Luther College this week with all kinds of special techie MLC treats. Martin and Sallie podcast from the same location and welcome a special guest and his “shiny” tech to the show as well.

Flying high – Martin Luther College sophomore Jonathan Witte talks with Martin and Sallie about several of the techie tools that are used to enhance MLC communication.

Take a virtual tour of MLC – Sallie shares an overview of the recently released virtual tour of the MLC campus, which features 25 full view 360 degree panorama images shot at various locations around campus and inside the beautiful Chapel of the Christ and new Early Childhood Learning Center. Thanks to Caleb Cordes of OutreachVirtualTours.com for producing the tour.

Dutch Girl’s Guide to Becoming a Better Writer from ChurchM.ag

WELSTech Conference 2015 is happening July 9-11 at Country Springs Hotel and Conference Center in Waukesha, WI. We hope you can join us for some serious tech goodness!

Grab the newly re-tooled WELS mobile app for your smartphone or tablet and enjoy easy access to the synod yearbook and call reports, among other things.

Episode 377 – WELSTech is back next week at our normal Tuesday @ 4 pm Central time slot when Martin and Sallie will be joined by Jason Schmidt for a new educational technology series focusing on tech for classroom success by subject. Tune in for the Math and Computer Science kickoff. (01/27/15 at 4:00 pm)

This week we feature a bit of the MLC quadcopter coolness on the WELSTech “Like’s” list on Vimeo  – MLC’s First Snow filmed by Jonathan Witte

This week on WELSTech we return to this season’s productivity book discussion and consider the merits of setting our alarms a bit earlier. We also hear the story behind a new outreach-focused video short, learn about a major update of the WELS Mobile app, discover a new platform for ebooks and get motivated by the three greatest words ever spoken.

Wake Up! – Part 4 of What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done by Matt Perman introduces ideas for blocking out your daily schedule for focused time on tasks and projects. Martin shares his new (early) morning schedule inspired by Matt’s suggestions in this section.

We’re excited to share Ben Champion’s Blessed video short. Ben is a member of Beautiful Savior in Marietta, GA. He tells us that this zero budget film is the first of what he hopes will be a series of outreach focused messages. Consider sharing it and perhaps making your own video short. Find the video on the WELSTech’s Presentation/Teaching playlist on YouTube.

WELS Mobile Upgrade

Meet Diigo Outliner

Episode 376 – WELSTech is LIVE from MLC as Martin and Sallie enjoy a rare opportunity to podcast from the same location and talk with student Jonathan Witte about MLC’s Quadcopter, GoPro camera and Instagram presence.  (SPECIAL date & time – 01/22/15 at 4:30 pm)