It’s a special day on WELSTech as Martin celebrates a milestone event with the WELSTech audience! The discussion topic centers on the popular open-source online learning platform Moodle and whether it might meet the needs for churches and schools interested in delivering course content online. Facebook has a new streaming video service, MLC has a lengthy list of interesting summer classes and WELSTech Hall-of-Famer Pastor Rob Guenther shares a method for automated catechism quiz grading.

Moodle and more – As online learning becomes widely adopted, it may be time for churches and schools to look for ways to deliver course content digitally. Moodle is a free, open-source learning management platform which is widely used in WELS circles (Area Lutheran High Schools Online | MLC | WLC | WLS). There’s even a hosted option for small installations (50 users or less) which may be just right for church and school settings.

WELS distance learning opportunities

Facebook Live

Summer class offerings at Martin Luther College

Pastor Rob Guenther uses Flubaroo to automate grading catechism quizzes

From the Moodle channel on YouTube, we share What is Moodle?, featured on the WELSTech Product Demo playlist.

Episode 441 – Martin and Sallie share the latest chapter of the WELSTech book project, With All Your Heart, this time focusing on troubleshooting project roadblocks. Release date: Wednesday, April 20

The WELSTech discussion this week centers around the tools for personal productivity and why it may be time to make a switch. Sallie’s laced up her red shoelaces for a special day and there’s a brand new photo challenge for April. Tune in for the details!

So many great tools – Personal productivity, a favorite topic on WELSTech, is front and center as Martin and Sallie do a run down of the multitude of tools that enhance calendaring, task management, communication, collaboration and document storage. Is it the right time for a change?

Amazon Echo Dot – CNET review

Gospel Outreach With Media online conference

Featured in the Gospel Outreach With Media conference is an article from videographer Jonathan Witte where he shares ideas on Christian Media for a Non-Christian Audience. As an example, Jonathan shares one of his most popular videos, a parody which features the Martin Luther College Cafeteria – Singing in the Shower by Becky G – Caf Edition – and we’ve added it to our WELSTech Promo playlist.

Episode 440 – Martin and Sallie explore the online learning platform Moodle. Release date: Thursday, April 14

This week on WELSTech Martin is away, but the show must go on! Sallie and guest host Jason Schmidt discuss robotics in education. The show also includes news of Latin American mission tech-enhanced outreach, a review of the best smartphone, and audio books for your listening pleasure.

Storming the castle – Sallie is joined by guest host Jason Schmidt, Tech Coordinator in the Bennington Public School District in the Omaha, NE area and the edtech discussion centers on a popular STEM topic, robotics. Jason recently returned from the Iowa Regional FIRST Robotics Competition (Team 5906), one of many regional high school robotics competitions sponsored by FIRST.

Samsung Galaxy S7 named top smartphone by Consumer Reports

Gospel Outreach With Media online conference

Watch the March 2016 Update from WELSTech friend, Missionary Mike Hartman, regarding online outreach efforts via Academia Cristo.

Learn more about FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) in this new WELSTech Promo playlist video.

Episode 439 – Always in need of tweaking, tune in for tips to sharpen your personal productivity skills. Release date: Wednesday, April 6

This week on WELSTech the community of viewers share links and ideas including open source resources for educators, using Google Keep for notetaking, several free conferences and webinars, and a great deal on Microsoft Office 2016 for school faculty and staff. Martin shares a method for granting emergency access to your LastPass account, plus the listener-contributed ministry resource may prove helpful for those developing materials for Bible and religion classes.

The community speaks – Martin and Sallie share all of the latest news and discussion from the various WELSTech channels.

Take the WELSTech Photo Challenge for March

A Helpful List of Short Apologetic Videos

Consider using this video as a discussion starter – Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? – new on the WELSTech Presentation & Teaching playlist on YouTube.

Episode 438 – Martin is away, but Jason Schmidt is a sunny stand-in as we discuss robotics and virtual reality in the classroom. Release date: Thursday, March 31

On this week’s WELSTech we return to our project management book discussion and share ideas for communicating project news to your church, school or organization. Listen also for Lenten resources for elementary classrooms, a Chrome browser cleanup utility and an interesting look at the upcoming Gospel Outreach With Media online conference.

Communication – Chapter 7 of the WELSTech DIY project management book project, With All Your Heart, takes a look at expanding project communication beyond your project group to engage your congregation, school or organization actively every step of the way.

Professor Tom Kuster, director of Bethany Lutheran College’s Christ in Media Institute, talks with Martin and Sallie about the communication involved in organizing, promoting and carrying out an online conference. Listen for more details regarding the upcoming Gospel Outreach With Media conference, scheduled for March 28 – April 17. Scan the conference agenda, and make plans to “attend” this free online conference!

Visit ShopWELS and subscribe to the ShopWELS Insider for electronic news on great deals for WELS organizations and members

Rachel Feld blogs on the topic of Teaching Little Ones About Lent at Bread for Beggars

In this last week of Lent we feature Jesus, Grant that Balm and Healing by Koine. Find it on YouTube in WELSTech’s Music playlist as well as Koine’s Lenten Hymns and Music playlist and their Footsteps to the Cross Illuminated playlist.

Episode 437 – Community feedback is center stage on next week’s podcast. Share! Share!! Share!!! Release date: Wednesday, March 23

On this week’s WELSTech we spotlight digital tools to enhance our daily walk with the Lord, and we talk with the creator of a free Lutheran memory work system. Plus, listeners learn how to join the new WELSTech Google Group for e-mail-based discussion of all things tech-in-ministry!

Daily! Deep! Devoted! – Martin shares a Digital Devotions Bible study he wrote, and it guides the discussion of ways to grow your faith digitally.

On My Heart – Amanda Moldstad talks with Martin and Sallie about the Lutheran memory work program she and others developed and share at on-my-heart.com.

First live ransomware targeting Macs

New on the WELSTech Product Demos Playlist is this short introduction to Making Music Online from the Soundtrap Youtube channel.

Episode 436 – Communication plays a key role in project management done With All Your Heart, and Martin and Sallie discuss just that in the latest chapter of the WELSTech book project. Professor Tom Kuster joins the conversation with news of an upcoming online conference. Release date: Wednesday, March 16

It’s education technology week again on WELSTech as Gail Potratz shares her insights into the transformation of learning through the use of technology. Listen for a thoughtful discussion which educators and administrators can use as a springboard to examining the state of transformative learning in their own schools. Where do you stand on the SAMR path?

Consumers to creators – Gail Potratz, Technology Coordinator at Emanuel in New London, WI, joins Martin and Sallie for a WELS-style discussion of the New Media Consortium’s K-12 Horizon Report. As we observe dropping prices allowing for increased tech adoption in WELS schools, the new challenge becomes having administrative vision plus necessary time investment by all teachers (not just the tech coordinator) to redefine learning.

Check out the Educational Technology Certificate program at Martin Luther College

Check out the Jelly Telly channel on YouTube – Sample 1 Samuel video

With a special shout out to Bread for Beggars for the link, enjoy the music of Joey Schumann … “If God Himself Be For Me” is saved on the WELSTech “Like’s” list on Vimeo

Episode 435 – Amanda Moldstad from On-My-Heart.com, a downloadable Lutheran memory work system, joins Martin and Sallie as they discuss ways to grow your faith digitally. Release date: Wednesday, March 9

On WELSTech this week the community is front and center as we share feedback and explore new tech finds that can have a positive impact on church, school and personal ministry. Tech news includes a controversial customer letter from Apple, and this week’s picks leads to an “official” name for a new design element from Google.

From all the channels – Martin and Sallie share tips and tricks from the WELSTech audience via all our social channels. From printing the moon to church websites to digital media, there’s WELSTech goodness of all flavors represented!

On My Heart Lutheran Memory Work Program

New to the WELSTech “Like’s” list on Vimeo is a promotional video tour of Divine Savior Lutheran Academy in Doral, FL.

Episode 434 – Gail Potratz is in the {virtual} house for what promises to be a lively discussion of the edtech horizon. Don’t miss it! Release date: Wednesday, March 2

This week’s WELSTech features a discussion of the key role volunteers play in the work of faith-based organizations. Leaders of the Member Ministry team at St. Paul’s, New Ulm, share their experience with nurturing spiritual gifts of congregants. Sallie shares an image hack that doesn’t require Photoshop, and there’s a special Lenten video in the Ministry Resources segment of the show.

Volunteers- Martin and Sallie write the next chapter of With All Your Heart, this season’s DIY book discussion. Many church and school projects are entirely dependent on the work of volunteers in the organization.  Turning those volunteers from renters to owners of the project is key to motivation and success. The good news is there are many tech tools to help!

Linette Scharlemann and Jeff Boyce, part of the Member Ministry team at St. Paul’s, New Ulm, share their experience (and awesome resources) with Discovery Workshops, which help members find out who they are in Christ and live that out to God’s glory each day .

Twitter changes on the way

What is Lent video from Concordia Publishing House

Enjoy Do Something from the St. Paul’s, New Ulm, Member Ministry team. We’ve added it to the YouTube Promo playlist.

Episode 433 – Next week Martin and Sallie dip into the WELSTech mailbag to share a variety of community feedback. Release date: Wednesday, February 24

This week’s WELSTech features a discussion of the hardware, software, browser extensions and devices which Martin and Sallie use in their day-to-day digital work. We also take a look at the newly redesigned Martin Luther College web site, discuss open source church software and feature a video from Lakeside Lutheran High School’s uber popular YouTube channel.

Information workers – Martin and Sallie share the tech that makes them smile {big monkey grins}!

Hardware

Desktop

Software

Browser & Extensions

Devices

Google for Education Presents – Content 2.0 Webinar

Open Source Church Software Roundup

This week we feature Lakeside Lutheran High School’s Soaring to New Heights video on the WELSTech Promo YouTube Playlist.

Episode 432 – Chapter 6 of With All Your Heart, the WELSTech book project, is on the docket. The focus will be volunteers, and we’ll talk with folks from the Member Ministry team at St. Paul’s Lutheran in New Ulm, MN. Release date: Wednesday, February 17