This week the WELSTech web site is all new, after a major upgrade and relocation, and the WELSTech goodness abounds. Guest host Gail Potratz, along with Tyler Shadick, bring us up to speed on the emerging trend of digital badges for assessment in education. We even dole out a few of the first-ever WELSTech badges. FinalWeb training registration is unveiled, plus much more.

Endorse, Honor and Certify! – Badges in education are changing the way teachers assess and motivating students to achieve. Gail Potratz, WELSTech’s semi-regular classroom technology correspondent from Emanuel in New London, WI and Tyler Shadick, Online Learning Systems Analyst from Concordia University, Wisconsin, talk with Martin and Sallie about the reasons to consider badges as part of your assessment strategy and the tools to help you get started.

Check out the new WELSTech Badges

Registration is officially open for summer FinalWeb training with Martin and Sallie at the Center for Mission and Ministry. Learn more and sign up at bit.ly/fwtraininginfo.

Episode 331 – Martin flies solo and shares secrets for building web apps. (Broadcast date – 03/04/14)

This week only, download a free music single from WELS musician and staff minister Benhur Khamrang (Reverbnation) – Brothers, Sisters, Let Us Gladly

This week’s WELSTech focus is on the necessary but formidable topic of copyright as it relates to all types of intellectual property – audio, video, images, music and lyrics – used in church and school settings. Martin and Sallie are joined by Northwestern Publishing House copyright expert Kristine Laufer for the discussion. Also this week we learn about video resources for youth ministry, canned responses in Gmail and a creative way to keep fit.

Copyright answers – Kristine Laufer, Rights and Permissions Coordinator for Northwestern Publishing House, talks with Martin and Sallie about copyright issues including various use of Christian Worship and Christian Worship Supplement.

Doing copyright right – Martin and Sallie share resources to assist churches and schools with their compliance with the complex issue of copyright law.

Royalty-Free Image Resources:

With special thanks to WELSTech’s very special anonymous contributor …

Episode 330 – Gail Potratz from Emanuel in New London, WI joins Martin and Sallie as we talk about the latest technology trends in education. (Broadcast date – 2/25/14)

This week enjoy a free music download from WELS praise band Koine (www.koinemusic.com | Facebook)- Lord Jesus, You Have Come In Love

Google’s place in our lives and influence over the way we think is the subject of chapter 8 of Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows and also the subject of today’s WELSTech discussion. Martin and Sallie may be on opposite sides of the debate, but they find common ground in today’s discussion.  Listen for that, plus a ton of community feedback covering everything from midi music to webcam doorbells.

Is Google Evil? – The WELSTech book discussion is back, and today’s topic is chapter 8 of Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing To Our Brains which focuses on Google’s powerful position and how they may be using it to influence the way we think. Recognizing this, but also pointing out the author’s premise focuses only on the effect of these changes on our brains while overlooking our souls, Martin makes a great point about the Christian’s soul in light of all the changes around us.

Join the online interactive Bible study led by WELS President Mark Schroeder on the topic of “I’d like to read the Bible, but …” happening Wednesdays in February at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Eastern time. Learn more.

Episode 329 – Join Martin and Sallie for a discussion for the important topic of copyright as it relates to the church and school. (Release date – 02/18/14)

This week only, download a classic WELS tune from ExCorde – Lutheran Woman

Feature image courtesy of Maria Guimarães

It’s edtech week on WELSTech, and we have not one, but two, great additions to this week’s podcast. Drew Willems shares the “State of Technology at Shoreland”  (and simultaneously enrollment numbers likely spike), plus Jason Schmidt guest hosts with Martin and Sallie and talks wireless infrastructure. Martin gives us the rundown on a new Kindle, and Jason shares some enhanced Raspberry Pi.

Chrome Academy wannabes – Shoreland Lutheran High School Technology Director, Drew Willems, talks with Martin and Sallie about their tech initiatives including flipped classrooms, x:1 support of digital devices, training student tech leaders for manning the Chrome Depot, and much more.

Wifi the right way – Setting up wifi to support the needs of multiple users with multiple devices should be the starting point of planning for school and church technology. Martin and guest host Jason Schmidt explain the basic areas for consideration when implementing a wifi network, most importantly that it takes expertise, not just a few generic routers from the local tech-in-a-box store, to do wifi right.

(1:06:25) Episode 328 – The WELSTech book discussion is back as Martin and Sallie look at Chapter 8, “The Church of Google”, from Nicolas Carr’s The Shallows. (Broadcast date – 2/11/14)

(1:07:20) This week enjoy a free music download from WELS artist Chris Driesbach (chrisdriesbach.com) – Modern Evangelist

Tune in to this week’s WELSTech for links galore to help you (and Sallie) get started in a paperless existence. Listen for ideas to begin digitizing both personal and ministry paperwork. Webmasters will appreciate this week’s ministry resources for enhancing search engine optimization. And find out if Martin knows where to find Bible-minded people.

A digital life – Martin and Sallie share ideas for converting the paper we are so fond of filing away into digitized bits and bytes and in the process improving our access to important information, enhancing our stewardship of time and allowing for easy sharing and collaboration.

Episode 327 – Mr. Sunshine, Jason Schmidt, guest hosts with Martin and Sallie on our edtech focused podcast as we talk wireless infrastructure. Drew Willems from Shoreland Lutheran High School is set to share a “state of Shoreland technology” report as well. (Release date – 02/05/14)

This week only, download a free music single from Stephen Bautista (www.stephenbautistamusic.com or stephenbautista on Twitter) – A Brand New Day

We’re broadcasting live from Martin Luther College for this week’s WELSTech. Martin and Sallie are side-by-side with MLC students as they discuss the future of technology in ministry. Live Q&A keeps us on our toes, we find time for an exercise break, plus Martin gets a special surprise.

The students’ perspective – Martin Luther College students Katie Schultz, Joel Hopper, Emily Waldek, Dan Schallert and Jared Natsis talk with Martin and Sallie about ministry and technology and their expectations for future. It turns out that these Millennials surprisingly think “less is more” when it comes to shiny tech.

Get ready for an online interactive Bible study led by WELS President Mark Schroeder on the topic of “I’d like to read the Bible, but …”. The 4-week study begin February 5th at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Eastern time. Learn more and download bulletin inserts and posters to promote the study in your congregation.

Episode 326 – Going paperless is easier than you think! Martin and Sallie share ideas to digitize (and organize) your life. (Release date – 01/29/14)

This week only, download a free music single from WELS musician and staff minister Benhur Khamrang (Reverbnation) – Crown Him With Many Crowns

This week on WELSTech we return to our current book discussion, The Shallows by Nicolas Carr, with a lively discussion of the effects the Internet is having on our ability to get beyond cursory levels of thinking. Musicians will be happy to learn about this week’s ministry resource. There are tips and picks and events and teacher resources shared as well. And, for the first time ever, WELSTech-ers joined the conversation in real time using the Google Hangout Q&A tool!

One thimble at a time – Martin and Sallie debate the points of Chapter 7 of The Shallows by Nicolas Carr, titled “The Juggler’s Brain”. The Internet’s hyperlinks and multi-media coupled with our response to the often-times overwhelming stream of information by multitasking and power-browsing are rewiring our brains and interfering with our ability to process and store meaningful knowledge.  Or perhaps it isn’t that bad?

Defining Technology by Pastor Caleb Bassett, WELS Hymnal Committee Technology Chairmen

Episode 325 – Join us for WELSTech Live from Martin Luther College. Martin and Sallie talk with MLC students about their ideas for tech in their future ministries. (Release date – 01/22/14)

This week only, download a free music single from Cross To Glory (www.facebook.com/crosstoglory) – He Is

Welcome to 2014 WELSTech-ers! Join Martin and Sallie as we begin our 7th year of WELSTech with a discussion of techie new year’s resolutions. Ideas for security, education and passwords are shared as well as some resolutions we’ve made to enhance WELSTech. This episode also includes a user-submitted ministry resource, a Google tip and information on the upcoming interactive Bible study with President Mark Schroeder.

Out with the old – The turn of the calendar traditionally provides the opportunity to reflect and identify areas for improvement. Pastor Rob Guenther from Grace in Kenai, AK shared a free online self-assessment tool from Fire Your Excuses, and Martin and Sallie discuss their tech-related resolutions. Worth noting are dates for upcoming FinalWeb training – July 8 to 11 at the Center for Mission and Ministry in Waukesha, WI.

Changes are even in store for WELSTech:

Get ready for an online interactive Bible study led by WELS President Mark Schroeder on the topic of “I’d like to read the Bible, but …”. The 4-week study begin February 5th at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Eastern time. Learn more and download bulletin inserts and posters to promote the study in your congregation.

Episode 324 – Martin and Sallie discuss chapter 7 of Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows – The Juggler’s Brain. (Release date – 01/15/14)

This week only, download a free music single from WELS artist Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com and mikewestendorf on Twitter) – You Are Amazing 

Don’t miss this last WELSTech Podcast of 2013 as Martin and Sallie review the entire year of WELSTech content and share some of their favorite moments. From Pinterest to Bread for Beggars, The Shallows to new smartphones, WELSTech Camp to MathCounts and healthy doses of Google Apps for Education and Chromebooks to boot, the past year didn’t disappoint in terms of tech-in-ministry progress.

What a year – Martin and Sallie look back at 2013, a very full year of WELSTech goodness including memorable interviews, new tech-enhanced ministry efforts, outstanding picks, reviews and episodes and face-to-face meetings with members of the WELSTech community. There were even cupcakes as we celebrated the 300th WELSTech episode. Join us for a trip down memory lane!

(2:30) Favorite events

(49:25) Episode 323 – Join Martin and Sallie as we start year 7 of the WELSTech Podcast with a look ahead at WELSTech in 2014. (Release date – 01/07/14)

(49:49) We continue to celebrate the Christmas season with a free music download from CrossWalk (YouTube | iTunes) – He Is The Life

Celebrate Christmas Eve with a special WELSTech interview.  Martin and Sallie talk with the new president of Northwestern Publishing House, Bill Ziche, about his immediate and long range vision for NPH. Merry Christmas WELSTech-ers!

Within WELS and beyond –  Martin and Sallie interview with Bill Ziche, President of Northwestern Publishing House, about his first 6 months on the job and his goal of making NPH relevant today and into the future in hopes of spreading the gospel message to all.

(21:13) Episode 322 – Martin and Sallie head down memory lane to review the best episodes, events, interviews, picks, reviews and more from WELSTech 2013. (Release date – 12/31/13)

(21:45) As a special treat on Christmas Eve, enjoy a free download from pianist Dawn Michelle Williams (www.dawnmichellewilliams.com | Twitter | Facebook) – Away In A Manger