It’s always a happy day when Martin and Sallie are in the same location for a WELSTech recording, and that’s the case on this episode! Join us in Sallie’s living room for a discussion of to do list, upcoming big events, chair cushions, and a bit of AI in education. You won’t want to miss this dose of WELSTech goodness!

To Do lists – Perhaps the first component of any productivity effort is the “simple” to do list. Martin and Sallie discuss their expectations of the perfect to do list tool, including the ability to set reminders, manage recurring tasks, and integrate with email and calendars, as well as a full host of potential tools from paper to digital and across all platforms.

Mark your calendar for these events happening in the summer of 2024:

One thing leads to another in church and school management. Martin and Sallie discuss automating tasks using a variety of utilities.

The future has arrived on WELSTech as we kick off a series of shows on artificial intelligence. We also discuss The Foundation series from Congregational Services, making stickers on the Cricut Xtra, using your phone as a webcam, and more. Turn it up and enjoy!

The Uprising – A new season of edtech discussion is underway with special guest host, Prof. Rachel Feld from Martin Luther College. We’re discussing the recently published book The AI Classroom: The Ultimate Guide to Artificial Intelligence in Education by Daniel Fitzpatrick, Amanda Fox, and Brad Weinstein. Part one of the book is a bit of a history lesson on artificial intelligence (AI). We talk about what it is, how it works, and ways we’re already using it, plus we look at its potential for the future, and some of the not so admirable qualities of AI.

We don’t know the topic yet, but it will be great because Martin and Sallie will be in the same place!

This episode of WELSTech kicks off with news of a docuseries in development to reach ex-Mormons with the gospel message. We learn that the Christian Life Resources Convention is just a month away, plus picks of the week include Bible video resources and an important productivity tip. There’s also a call for distance English teachers which has outreach potential as well. We’re happy to join you are at the intersection of tech and ministry!

New docuseries – Pastor Mark Parsons from Truth in Love Ministries and Brian Urbanek from GoldWing Productions share details with Martin and Sallie about a new outreach effort to ex-Mormons which will feature a docuseries of videos titled Jesus is Enough.

Educational technology takes the stage, featured our friends Jason and Rachel.

WELSTech is back with a wrap up discussion of Tech Like a PIRATE, our Summer 2023 book selection. Teacher Donovan Waege joins the book conversation. Sallie tips her hand on two of her favorite e-newsletters, and Martin shares a new recommended password keeper solution. Plus, there’s a new podcast for your playlist!

That’s a wrap – Martin and Sallie share highlights from the closing chapters of Matt Miller’s Tech Like a PIRATE: Using Classroom Technology to Create an Experience and Make Learning Memorable. Donovan Waege, 5th & 6th grade teacher and Technology Director at St. Peter Lutheran School in Weyauwega, WI and Tech PIRATE, shares his impression of the book as well.

Check out the latest podcast from Blueprint Schools, hosted by WELSTech friend Dana Kirchoff and featuring another WELSTech friend, Cindi Holman, WELS National Coordinator for Early Childhood Ministry.

Telling Truth in Love to Mormons (TILM) using tech.

Welcome back to WELSTech! Today’s segment of summer reading from Tech Like a PIRATE focuses on exploration and global communication in the classroom. Plus, we learn that even Martin breaks a sweat sometimes, and that’s ok! Sallie plays the hardware pick “ultimate trump card” while Martin does some star gazing. All this, and more, awaits!

eBallot.com – Synod Convention electronic voting

Exploration and Global Communication – WELSTech lite summer reading continues with an overview of 7 & 8 of Matt Miller’s Tech Like a PIRATE: Using Classroom Technology to Create an Experience and Make Learning Memorable.

We wrap up Tech Like a Pirate with Chapter 9 and an interview with a pirate.

Collaborate with WELSTech on our classroom technology discussion of Matt Miller’s book, Tech Like a PIRATE! We review chapters 5 & 6 this week and share a few summer hardware pics we’ve added to our setups. There’s community news covering AI Sermons, Google Ads for Non-Profits, and video professional development for teachers.

Image is AI-generated using Canva.com

Collaboration and Imagery – Martin and Sallie discuss chapters 5 & 6 of Matt Miller’s Tech Like a PIRATE: Using Classroom Technology to Create an Experience and Make Learning Memorable.

Tech Like a Pirate – Chapters 7 & 8

It’s summertime on WELSTech, and this week the discussion is on chapters 3 & 4 of our current reading selection, Tech Like a PIRATE. Martin and Sallie share their picks of the week (royalty free images for your phone and an Apple watch competitor) plus lots of Community Feedback. Join the conversation!

Video, Audio, and Games, oh my – Martin and Sallie discuss chapters 3 & 4 of Matt Miller’s Tech Like a PIRATE: Using Classroom Technology to Create an Experience and Make Learning Memorable.

Register for the free SPARCC EdTech Conference – Live streaming on July 18

Tech Like a Pirate – Chapters 5 & 6

Welcome to summer on WELSTech! Martin and Sallie share an abbreviated show centered on chapters 1 & 2 of the summer reading selection, Tech Like a PIRATE. Picks include puzzles with a tech twist to entertain and passkeys with a storage solution to keep you safe. Plus, the Taste of Missions event is coming up quickly. Enjoy the show!

Aaarrrggg – Martin and Sallie kick off a summer book discussion of Matt Miller’s Tech Like a PIRATE: Using Classroom Technology to Create an Experience and Make Learning Memorable.

“Don’t just teach a lesson. Create an experience!”

-Dave Burgess, Teach Like a PIRATE

Register for Taste of Missions

Tech Like a Pirate – Chapters 3 & 4

WELSTech is back! They may be a bit rusty, but Martin and Sallie are happy to be back at the podcasting desk and happy to be joined by edtech guest hosts, Rachel and Jason. The discussion focus is the currently “hot” tech topic, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and its effect on education. They share details on a free summer online conference from Martin Luther College (MLC) which includes that same topic, as well as watches and notes and streaming from Sweden to enjoy.

Incredible AI – We welcome our semi-regular classroom technology correspondents, Prof. Rachel Feld, Director of Academic Computing and Online Learning from Martin Luther College (MLC), and Jason Schmidt, Executive Director of Wisconsin Virtual School to the show for a wrap up of our The Incredibles of EdTech series. This week we focus on the versatile, powerful, and somewhat scary character of baby Incredible, Jack Jack, and compare him to Artificial Intelligence (AI). From email to quizzes to images (Jack Jack in a Spiderman suit), and much more, an assortment of AI tools stand ready to generate whatever content a user desires. We discuss the challenges and blessings AI presents for education.

Register now for Open Learning @MLC

On this episode of WELSTech, Martin and Sallie talk with e-news expert Amanda Klemp about the content and desired statistics for e-newsletter efforts. Plus, we share image resources and ideas for both church and school e-news to support the efforts. The picks this week are helpful for detecting ChatGPT content and for upping the ante on your Mac webcam.

Shoot for 3% – WELS Editorial Projects Manager Amanda Klemp joins Martin and Sallie to share her experience overseeing the many WELS e-newsletters. Listen for insight into desired thresholds for open and click rates that may surprise (and relieve) you. Amanda also details important considerations for determining the format and style of your messages.

Stock images

Tune in for ideas to use your calendar to get creative!