On this week’s WELSTech we share web sites and mobile apps useful in the classroom for the study of God’s Word and Hymnology. Listen also for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card, teacher resources for participating in the student hymn survey, and free stock photography and personal font resources.

The ladies of tech – Martin is outnumbered this week with not one, but three, high-tech gals sharing the mic. WELSTech welcomes Gail Potratz, our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent from Emanuel, New London, WI, and Rachel Feld, teacher and WELSTech Conference presenter from Bethany, Kenosha, WI, along with Sallie to continue the WELSTech Goes to School series. This month’s focus is tech to enhance and extend the study of God’s Word and Hymnology.

Say hi to Fi – Google’s new mobile phone plan

Google Cultural Institute’s Dead Sea Scrolls – Project Site

The newest addition to the WELSTech Product Demo playlist on YouTube is Echoes of the Hammer

Episode 391 – Martin and Sallie are joined by Martin Luther College Vice President, Mike Otterstatter, who will share the “inside scoop” on the MLC Day celebration planned for May 6. Watch and participate on 05/05/15 @ 4 pm Central – welstechlive.wels.net.

This week on WELSTech we take a deep dive into worship planning and get a preview of Matt Weseloh’s WELSTech Conference presentation on the topic. Listen also for a new online teen Bible study opportunity, a ministry marketing focused Pinterest board, and mobile-centric news galore!

Is it in the right key? – WELSTech Conference 2015 presenter Matt Weseloh, a member of Holy Word, Pflugerville, TX, chats with Martin and Sallie about the worship planning experiences he will be sharing in his conference breakout session titled “Worship Planning in a Mobile World.”

Google rolls out mobile-friendly search results

The newest addition to the WELSTech Product Demo playlist on YouTube is PCO (PlanningCenterOnline) – A Guided Tour

Episode 390 – WELSTech Goes To School with guest host Gail Potratz as we explore tech for teaching God’s Word & Hymnology – 04/28/15 @ 4 pm Central – welstechlive.wels.net

This week WELSTech marks the end of the What’s Best Next book series with a reflection on what we’ve learned along the way. There’s also discussion of an exciting opportunity for WELSTech Conference attendees, a favorite hymns survey, free fonts, the verse of the day, and much more. Join the conversation!

Say Goodbye – Martin and Sallie discuss Part 7 of Matt Perman’s What’s Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done and wrap up this season’s book discussion by reviewing the five takeaways in the book recap.

Google Education on Air – Free online conference, May 8-9

The newest addition to the WELSTech Instructional playlist on YouTube is Understanding Exposure: The Exposure Triangle with Mark Wallace

Episode 389 – We’ll take a look at the important task of worship planning and how technology can assist – 04/21/15 @ 4 pm Central – welstechlive.wels.net

WELSTech is on the road this week as Martin vacations in warm Austin, TX and both he and Sallie did a worship tour of district president congregations over Easter. The topic for discussion is what to carry in your computer bag when traveling. Geek out with their gadget list, and stay tuned for more great ministry-tech ideas including Bible costumes, a meeting fable and QR code treasure hunts.

Pack Your Bag – Don’t get caught without the things you need when you are away from home and office. Martin and Sallie share the contents of their computer bags with the hope that their lists can serve as a checklist for future packing efforts.

Google under fire for YouTube Kids app

Something to tweet about! The WELSTech Conference Early Bird registration price of $199 has been extended to April 15!

Bible costume ideas on Pinterest

This week we link to the Martin Luther College Concerts 2014-2015 Livestream archive for the College Choir Homecoming Concert 2015

Episode 388 – Martin and Sallie wrap up the discussion of Matt Perman’s What’s Best Next. Watch and participate on 04/14/15 @ 4 pm Central – welstechlive.wels.net.

On this week’s WELSTech Jason Schmidt brings his enthusiasm and great science and social studies apps for all ages. In our community feedback section we also enjoy a Kickstarter project that will make pancakes in any shape you can draw.

Back to School – Semi-regular classroom technology correspondent Jason Schmidt, from Bennington ISD, joins Martin and Sallie as we share edTech resources for the science and social studies classrooms, part of the WELSTech Goes to School series.

World Back Up Day!

Easter Resource Roundup from Church Tech Today

The newest addition to the WELSTech Instructional playlist on YouTube is Social Animals, Solitary Creatures, just one of the 100+ videos on the Kids Animal Channel

Episode 387 – Martin and Sallie share their carry-along tech that they can’t do without. Watch and participate on 04/07/15 @ 4 pm Central – welstechlive.wels.net.

WELSTech is back with a discussion on congregational, school and personal data and device security. Martin admits he’s warming up to Pinterest with our first-ever Pinterest-centric Ministry Resource. Plus the “Please Open the Door” site for outreach to Mormon missionaries is highlighted.

Be safe out there – Pastor James Wilcox from Good Shepherd’s in West Allis, WI shares a preview of his WELSTech Conference 2015 breakout session titled Smart Computer Security for Church, School and Life. Interestingly, we learn that security and convenience are diametrically opposed!

Pinterest Christian Easter Resources

Streaming music drowns out CD sales in US for the first time – Deezer

Please Open the Door – Reaching Mormon missionaries

We’re giving away Chromebooks, including the new Chromebook Pixel, and lots more “shiny” tech at WELSTech Conference 2015! Register by April 1 to take advantage of the Early Bird price of $199.

Episode 386 – Jason Schmidt is back to talk Science and Social Studies educational technology sites and apps. Watch and participate on 03/31/15 @ 4 pm Central – welstechlive.wels.net.

Koine makes another appearance on the WELSTech Music playlist on YouTube as we feature Chapter 1 of their Footsteps to the Cross playlist

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