The WELSTech summer series on “mobile ministry” continues with a fun discussion of the many ways mobile devices both make our lives easier and can help our ministries. Martin does an unboxing! Also tune in for some great community feedback, especially if you have a church or school library that needs to be cataloged.

Mobile devices – Martin and Sallie share tips for purchasing a mobile device and all the extras.

Episode 451 – Next week we wrap up the “mobile ministry” series with a discussion of mobile friendly web sites. Release date: Wednesday, June 29

The WELSTech summer series on “mobile ministry” continues as Martin and Sallie explore photography. The cameras we carry on our smartphones can be powerful tools for ministry. Listen in for good camera apps, tips and accessories. Plus, Sallie shares some TechSmith love, and Martin has a square jellyfish for his phone.

Mobile photography – As the old saying goes, the best camera is the one you have with you. And your smartphone camera may be just the thing you need to accomplish more ministry goals than you realized.

Episode 450 – Mobile hardware, operating systems (iOS vs. Android) and peripherals will be the topic of next week’s podcast. Release date: Wednesday, June 22

WELSTech kicks off our first summer series on “mobile” with a show all about apps…especially those apps useful for ministry. Pastors, teachers, and anyone interested in what a smartphone can do for them will find plenty of ideas. There are also mobile-friendly picks of the week and a review of an adventure-ready Bluetooth speaker.

There’s an app for that – After answering the Miss America question of the day, Martin and Sallie share loads of useful apps for public and personal ministry.

Pastor Emile Burgess from Trinity in Caledonia, WI shares his experience with a rugged, adventure-ready Bluetooth speaker, the ECOXGEAR EcoCarbon from REI

Episode 449 – The focus on mobile ministry continues with a look at all things about mobile photography. Release date: Wednesday, June 15

It’s summer, and WELSTech kicks off three months of lighter shows focused on three very practical topics sure to help some aspect of your ministry: mobile, security and publishing. Sallie finds a tool that will help you analyze your word choice habits, while Martin resurrects one of his favorite pieces of tech that anybody who does presentations might want to take a look at. Plus, there’s a brand new photo challenge with a summer “R&R” focus.

Here he is folks – Side by side at the Center for Mission and Ministry, Martin and Sallie look ahead to not one but three exciting how-to summer series planned for WELSTech.

Episode 448 – Martin and Sallie share an abundance of helpful mobile apps in week 1 of our summer Mobile series. Release date: Wednesday, June 8

Tune in to WELSTech this week for edtech sunshine in the form of SRCTC Jason Schmidt. The discussion topic covers a variety of outdoor and rainy day tech ideas for educators including geocaching, astronomy and coding. This show also includes excited news for Chromebook users, summer training opportunities and a site for purchasing low-priced smartphones and tablets.

Eeekk, a rat! – Martin and Sallie are joined by WELSTech’s SRCTC (Semi-Regular Classroom Technology Correspondent) Jason Schmidt, Tech Coordinator in the Bennington Public School District in the Omaha, NE area, for a discussion of outdoor and rainy day tech projects for the classroom.

Android apps, coming to a Chromebook near you

Enjoy this fun MLC Day video from Lakeside Lutheran High School, a new addition to the WELSTech Promo playlist.

Episode 447 – Martin and Sallie broadcast from the CMM with a preview of several upcoming summer series. Release date: Wednesday, June 1

WELSTech has something for everyone on this community feedback episode. Topics include social media strategy, mobile photography, Google Apps for Education, church bulletins and more! Martin and Sallie also share the latest news from TechSmith and Google, helpful tips on Excel and the Chrome browser and worship/bulletin artwork from WELS artists.

The listeners speak – Martin and Sallie share recent WELSTech community feedback.

Women’s Ministry Conference – July 21-23 at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary

Learn more about the upcoming Women’s Ministry Conference in this Together video update, saved on the WELSTech “Like’s” list on Vimeo

Episode 446 – Jason Schmidt joins Martin and Sallie for the last edtech discussion of the school year focusing on outdoor and rainy day tech for schools (and beyond). Release date: Wednesday, May 25

This week Martin and Sallie finish up the WELSTech Project Management book project with a look at steps to close out a project to ensure future project’s success. We share all the details of the exciting season of synod school commencement and assignments which has arrived, plus Sallie shares, perhaps, the lengthiest pick of the week of all time – all about the fun Breakout EDU craze.

Going retro – Martin and Sallie complete their DIY book effort this week with chapter 9 of With All Your Heart: Project Management For Churches, Christian Schools & Other Faith-Based Organizations. The chapter includes best practices for wrapping up a project to maximize success on future projects.

Upcoming Commencement events

Logos 6 Features YouTube playlist

Check out the new Google Slides Q&A feature on the WELSTech Product Demo Playlist on YouTube.

Episode 445 – You write the script for next week’s community feedback episode! Release date: Wednesday, May 18

This week’s WELSTech features the return of edtech leader Gail Potratz and a discussion of the expected digital literacy skills students should possess and how tech giant Mozilla is answering the need. In addition, there are Google Chrome extensions, a snappy mobile image editor and online Bible study resources shared. All this, plus we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day!

Tech skills – On Teacher Appreciation Day it’s fitting that Martin and Sallie welcome our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, Gail Potratz, Technology Coordinator at Emanuel in New London, WI for a discussion of curriculum standards for technology education.

Interactive Faith “Who Is Your God?” online Bible study archive – Videos | Study guides

Tune in to a Heart to Heart discussion on training children how to handle money with Kerry Ognenoff, saved on the WELSTech “Like’s” list on Vimeo

Episode 444 – Martin and Sallie pop the cork to celebrate the conclusion of the WELSTech DIY book project, With All Your Heart, with a discussion of ways to wrap up a project. Release date: Wednesday, May 11

This week’s WELSTech features a variety of community feedback including tips for improving your Facebook page reach, an interesting new collaborative education game, free worship countdown timer videos, a tool for legally and easily editing out undesired scenes and language in movies, and lots more. Plus, we share event discounts, a great Gmail productivity add-on, and ideas for improving VBS registration. There’s something for everyone!

Party time! – Join Martin and Sallie for the festive sharing of a month’s worth of great community feedback. You’re guaranteed to learn new tech goodness which may have a positive impact on your public or personal ministery efforts.

Facebook Messenger launches Group Calling to become your phone

Early-bird pricing ends this week for these two summer events:

5 Ways to Simplify VBS Registration

This week we’ve added not just one, but three new videos to the WELSTech Product Demos playlist on YouTube, all having to do with the new edtech collaborative “game” called Breakout EDU. Check out Introducing Breakout EDU, posted below, and watch Game Design Studio for an overview on designing your own game. Use the Breakout EDU Timer video when you are ready to try the race against the clock game.

Episode 443 – Gail Potratz joins the conversation to share her thoughts on edtech standards. Release date: Wednesday, May 4, 2016

WELSTech is back with ideas for overcoming project obstacles when they arise as well as an interview with members of the project team behind the successful Academia Cristo outreach efforts in Latin America. There’s an exciting announcement regarding WELSTech’s availability on a brand new platform plus ideas for using the new Facebook Live feature in your church setting. All this, and a birthday celebration, WELSTech-style!

Troubleshooting – In Chapter 8 of With All Your Heart, WELSTech’s current book project, readers will learn about typical project roadblocks which can occur and methods to overcome the obstacles and see projects through to completion.

Missionary Mike Hartman, WELS Field Coordinator for Latin America, and Pastor Nathan Wagenknecht, Latin America Project Coordinator for WELS Multi-Language Publications, join the conversation to share their project management experience, including revising plans when needed to overcome obstacles along the way.

Find WELSTech in the new podcast section of Google Play Music

7 Ways to Use Facebook Live This Week

New to the WELSTech Presentation/Teaching Playlist on YouTube is this productivity tip from David Allen – Dealing With Interruptions.

Episode 442 – Community feedback is center stage on next week’s podcast. Share! Share!! Share!!! Release date: Wednesday, April 27