It’s almost time for back-to-school, and this episode of WELSTech will introduce listeners to helpful Lutheran Schools personnel who many will recognize. They shed light on school statistics and products as well as give us a sneak peek at next summer’s WELS Education Conference, currently in the planning stages. Sallie is “certified” and can’t wait to show you how to differentiate your lesson resources. Martin has a pick so good he needs to share it a second time. Plus, we talk church worship live streaming, and there’s an infographic involved!

The brains – Sarah Krause and Eileen Rosenow from WELS Lutheran Schools join Martin and Sallie to share a behind-the-scenes look at the important work happening in preparation for a new school year. These ladies just can’t wait for you to get those school stats and product subscriptions taken care of!

Considerations for live streaming worship

Click image to view the full Infographic

Our Summer Tech Talks series finale features a conversation with Northern Wisconsin District President, Pastor Joel Zank.

Welcome to WELSTech! This episode focuses on our triple citizenship, in heaven, on this earth, and now, in a digital world. Pastor Ben Workentine shares thoughts for the Christian living in an increasingly opinionated and unfiltered digital world. We also report details on our latest hardware, print on demand, and church texting finds.

The mic is live – Joining Martin and Sallie this week is Pastor Ben Workentine from St. Mark Lutheran Church in Green Bay and De Pere, WI. Pastor Workentine presented a paper on the topic of digital citizenship at the recent Northern Wisconsin District Convention and shares highlights from the paper with the WELSTech audience. Spoiler alert: Your audience is the world while you live your digital life as Christ’s ambassador.

Were back with more of our Summer Tech Talks series. What ministry tech goodness will we uncover next?

WELSTech is celebrating summer with a series of tech-in-ministry interviews called “Summer Tech Talks.” This week we head west to the oil country of western North Dakota to talk with Pastor Joel Prange about starting a home mission church. Turn up the audio as Martin and Sallie both have sound-related picks of the week. In addition, there’s an opportunity to support a missions-centric videography effort.

Getting to know North Dakota – Home Missions Pastor Joel Prange talks with Martin and Sallie about his two-year journey starting a new congregation in Dickinson, North Dakota. Amazing Grace Lutheran Church is worshipping in their own space and reaching out to the people in the area.

Summer Tech Talks continue, but mums the word on who will be behind the extra mic. Tune in to find out!

The WELSTech “Summer Tech Talks” interview series continues with a trip to the other side of the world as we learn about the technology at work on WELS World Missions Asia One team. Sallie shares tips from the recent OpenLearning@MLC conference, and Martin has a new browser pick. Plus, we have the inside scoop on online professional development that not only includes college credit, but also has our favorite price tag – FREE!!

Asia One – Teacher Jeremy Seeger, who wears multiple hats on WELS Asia One outreach team, shares blessings and challenges around the efforts to share the good news. In addition to his duties for Asia Lutheran Seminary, where he serves as Dean of the English Certificate Program, he coordinates technology for the entire team. In the land of prolific 5G cellular, tech coordination doesn’t look much different than in the U.S.A.

Summer Tech Talks continue as we head west to check out a new Home Mission in North Dakota.

Welcome to the good ole summertime on WELSTech! Our “Summer Tech Talks” interview series will feature technology from around the synod and across the world. This week we start in St. Louis, MO, home of Concordia Technology Solutions. The back half of the show includes Sallie sharing teacher professional development resources and Martin divulging his new favorite AI chatbot.

Concordia Technology Solutions – Joining Martin and Sallie is Manager of Sales and Marketing for Concordia Technology Solutions (CTS), Rob Davidson. Rob shares the latest news about CTS products including Church 360°, Christian Worship Service Builder, and Shepherd’s Staff.

Summer Tech Talks continue with a (virtual) trip to Thailand to learn more about technology at Asia Lutheran Seminary.

Turn up the volume for WELSTech as we talk fantasy and escapism from a Christian perspective with Silas Dose. Martin has a trackpad pick and WELSTech friend, Philip Wels has been busy at the video editing desk crafting a video that captures the joy and excitement of graduation and assignment at Martin Luther College.

Pastor-elect Silas Dose and his wife Laurel Dose

Fig leaves and pelts – Senior seminarian and now Pastor-elect Silas Dose joins Martin and Sallie to discuss his master’s thesis at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, titled Here Be Dragons: Fantasy, Escapism, and a Christian Response.

Congratulations and God’s blessings to Silas and his wife Laurel as they prepare to move and Silas prepares to serve God’s people in his assigned congregation, Hope Lutheran Church in Chino Valley and Prescott, Az.

A PRAYER BEFORE FANTASY

Dear Heavenly Father, you call us to glorify you in everything we do, and all good things point to you. With your blessing, Lord, I would enjoy this gift of fantasy as a blessing from your hand. Help me avoid irresponsibility and temptation as I venture into a world not your own, but let it still be a blessing to me as a tiny fractal of your creative majesty. Help me to escape into it, find rest, enjoying it fully. Help me to escape from it, full of wonder, returning joyfully. Amen

Books mentioned in Silas’ research

Enjoy this happy WELS Together Martin Luther College Graduation recap video created by WELSTech friend, Philip Wels.

We kick off a summer series of interviews on ministry technology usage around the world. First up, we talk with Rob Davidson from Concordia Technology Solutions (CTS), the group behind Shepherd’s Staff, Church 360°, and Christian Worship Service Builder. Join WELSTech in the good old summertime!

On this episode of WELSTech we finish our book discussion of The AI Classroom with a focus on school leadership’s role in shaping AI policy, curriculum, and usage. Along with edtech gurus Rachel and Jason, we share oodles of AI tools, events, and news, plus some non-AI tech topics including cybersecurity, end of school-year activities, and iPads.

Leading School AI – We wrap up this season’s WELSTech book discussion of The AI Classroom: The Ultimate Guide to Artificial Intelligence in Education, looking at Part 4 of the book – The AI Horizon. Rachel Feld and Jason Schmidt join the conversation and agree on way more than normal!

Recent AI in Education headlines

We’ll celebrate Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Assignment Day with Senior Seminarian Silas Dose discussing his thesis topic – Here Be Dragons: Fantasy, Escapism, and a Christian Response.

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!

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!

Calendar Management Wakelet

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

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.

Join us for WELSTech 722 where we talk about tech decision making which will stand the test of time. We also share details on an upcoming webinar on the topic of mental health, a great invention to manage the cords in your computer bag, scanning and organizing Google-style, and Sallie’s latest hardware addition.

Tech that lasts – Martin and Sallie share considerations which should be part of technology decisions, and, spoiler alert, cost isn’t at the top of the list. It is helpful to have some experience with technology on your side as you evaluate potential tools, but your selections shouldn’t necessarily be the tech-lover’s dream if that means they are too complex for the average user. Examples of “Swiss army knife” tools which have stood the test of time for Martin and Sallie include Trello and Google Slides.

Register for the upcoming Women’s Ministry webinar – (mis) Understanding Mental Health happening May 2 at 7 pm

Tune in for time boxing!

Tune in to this episode of WELSTech for a discussion of ways Artificial Intelligence (AI) can assist teachers with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) plans. We also talk about AI policy for schools and evaluating AI tools. The Newline C series is an affordable new interactive flat panel with no operating system on board. And Northwestern Publishing House (NPH) announced a new Christian Authors Live series.

UDL + Tools – This season’s WELSTech book discussion of The AI Classroom: The Ultimate Guide to Artificial Intelligence in Education by Daniel Fitzpatrick, Amanda Fox, and Brad Weinstein continues. Martin and Sallie are joined by edtech extraordinaries, Rachel Feld and Jason Schmidt, and we talk about AI’s sweet spot with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as well as tips for wading through the myriad AI tools available for teachers and students.

Rachel put together an AI Tool Repository with links, tutorials, and Terms of Use for the AI tools mentioned in Chapter 9 of The AI Classroom

Future proof your tech