Today’s WELSTech Podcast features a continuation of the Presentation Zen book discussion and an interview with Prepared to Answer author Professor Mark Paustain. It’s all about being engaged in the moment, and sometimes that results in great ideas for WELS apps!

A double-header book discussion – Martin and Sallie hit the WELSTech book discussion again, this week looking at chapters 7 & 8 of Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds. Check out the links below for examples of great presentation visuals mentioned in chapter 7 and listen for tips of being an engaged presenter.

(13:03) Answering with a story – Pastor and Communications Professor Mark Paustain from Martin Luther College joins Martin to talk about using narrative or storytelling as a memorable and indirect way to share important gospel truths. He also shares tips for communicating effectively with digital natives in the digital age.

(51:24) Episode 280 – Pastor Jon Schroeder from Faith in Sharpsburg, GA talks with Martin and Sallie about Bible translations. (Release date – 03/19/13)

(52:46) We close the podcast with the music of  Revelation, a music ministry of Wisconsin Lutheran College – Via Dolorosa

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we talk with Pastor Rob Guenther, a long time WELSTech contributor, about his gospel outreach publishing efforts and Martin has a geeky RSS-to-bookmark-bar solution to share.

(2:54) Hall of Fame – Pastor Rob Guenther from Grace in Kenai, AK talked with Martin and Sallie about his recent self-publishing efforts which resulted in both an Amazon paperback and e-book listing of a collection of his sermons titled In Their Sandals. Penning your own book isn’t as hard as it sounds thanks to some amazing (and free) web 2.0 tools.

(29:55) Study guides and reviews of The Bible miniseries created by Pastor Jon Schroeder from Faith in Sharpsburg, GA

(53:49) Episode 279 – Next week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie talk with Pastor and MLC Communications Professor Mark Paustian and look at chapter 7 of Presentation Zen. (Release date – 03/12/13)

(54:40) We close the podcast with music and video from Koine’s new Footsteps to the Cross concert DVD (koinemusic.com | DVD info) – Jesus, Grant that Balm and Healing

This week we turn WELSTech upside down as we discuss the growing “flipped classroom” trend with our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, Gail Potratz.

Flipped Classrooms – The idea of providing instructional resources for students to consume at their own pace outside of the classroom and then dedicating classroom time to exploration and individual assistance on a topic is the concept behind “flipping” your classroom. Gail Potratz, Technology Coordinator at Emanuel in New London, WI, joins Martin and Sallie to discuss the basics for flipping lessons, tools to use and some early feedback on outcomes of this technique.

(23:47) WordPress for Classrooms

(44:05) Episode 278 – Pastor Rob Guenther will join Martin and Sallie from Kenai, AK next week and share his tech-in-ministry success stories including his recent self-publishing efforts. (Release date – 03/05/13)

(44:22) Another new WELS recording artist joins the WELSTech lineup today as we share the music of Michael Armstrong (pinemountainmusic.com) – Overwhelmed

On this edition of the WELSTech Podcast we share many web-based (and often free) tools which assist with all types of collaboration including sharing documents and calendars, creating mind maps and wikis, and holding private conversations and video conference calls.

Working together online – Martin and Sallie share scenarios for online collaboration in church and school ministry and a list of web-based tools that can assist with that process.

(21:24) Global collaboration – Pastor Brad Wordell, who serves our synod as Missionary to Japan as well as Coordinator of Asia Publications for Multi-Language Publications, sat down with Martin recently to talk about the management tasks involved in translating gospel resources into many new languages. That work is made easier with the use of online collaborative tools.

(45:08) Episode 277 – You’ll flip over next weeks edtech discussion of flipped classrooms, featuring Gail Potratz in the guest host chair. (Release date – 02/26/13)

(45:45) We close the podcast with the debut of a new WELS artist, pianist Kirk Meyer (www.kirkmeyer.com) – Chief of Sinners Though I Be

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we review key design principles for effective presentations and talk about a new web find for easy project management.

Design Principles – Martin and Sallie return to their book discussion of  Presentation Zen, by Garr Reynolds, with a look at chapter 6 of the book. This chapter is “worth the price of admission” because of the many before and after slide transformations which are demonstrated.  Concepts of signal-to-noise ratio, respect for empty space, imagery, and concept alignment are discussed.

(15:43) Glo Bible 1.4.3 Update available to fix issues with notes, crashes and synchronization

(40:17) Episode 276 – Next week’s podcast is dedicated to those who want to start collaborating online, and Martin interviews Missionary Brad Wordell about the collaborative work being done by translators through Multi-Language Publications. (Release date – 02/19/13)

(41:30) We close the podcast with the music of Cross To Glory (www.facebook.com/crosstoglory) – Rescued

Today the WELSTech Podcast celebrates Distance Learning Day with ideas for raising awareness of your school’s technology offerings as well as an interview with Profs. Jim Grunwald and Rich Gurgel about the synod school’s online offerings.

Worth celebrating – February 6 is Digital Learning Day, and Martin and Sallie share ideas for celebrating the many ways education is changing as more and more schools integrate technology.

(12:04) Profs. in Digital Ed – Dr. Jim Grunwald from Martin Luther College and Pastor Richard Gurgel from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary join Martin and Sallie to discuss the current distance education initiatives being offered by synod schools.

(48:28) Episode 275 – Martin and Sallie return to their current book discussion, looking at chapter 6 of Presentation Zen. (Release date – 02/12/13)

(49:20) We close the podcast with the instrumental music of In His Service (www.adagioconcepts.com) – Go To Dark Gethsemane

This week on the WELSTech Podcast learn about EdCamp, a grass-roots, free conference format that is spreading across the country.  Chances are there is an un-conference EdCamp scheduled near you, and on today’s WELSTech you’ll hear about what to expect when you attend.

(3:46) No red jello – Jason Schmidt, Tech Coordinator for Bennington ISD near Omaha, NE, returns to the edtech guest host chair to join Martin and Sallie for a discussion of the EdCamp “un-conference” format.  Emily Dittmar (@MsDittmar on Twitter), a Library Media Specialist in the Marshall, WI public school system and EdCamp organizer, also talks with us about her experience of collaboration and networking among all types of educators and administrators in a relaxed, unplanned structure at EdCamps.

(49:40) Episode 274 – Next week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie celebrate Digital Learning Day and talk with Jim Grunwald from Martin Luther College and Rich Gurgel from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary about WELS digital education. (Release date – 02/05/13)

(50:36) We close the podcast with the music of Corban Creek – Home Above

This week WELSTech is all about how to create, produce and distribute podcasts, and we’ve recruited some of our favorite WELS podcasters to aid in the discussion. We set a new record for picks of the week, and there’s a cool new ministry resource and some great advice about web site images to boot!

Podcasting 101 – Pastor Tom Barthel from Christ in Baxter, MN, Philip Wels and Bob Martens join Martin and Sallie for what could be characterized as a robust conversation about podcasting, complete with a Google Hangouts crash to keep things real. Learn tips and tools for creating and sustaining your own podcast.

(28:47) PrayrList

(50:17) Episode 273 – Teachers will want to tune in next week as Jason Schmidt and Emily Dittmar join us for an overview of the EdCamp “un-conference” format. (Release date – 01/29/13)

(51:07) We close the podcast with the music of Stephen Bautista (www.stephenbautistamusic.com or stephenbautista on Twitter) – Who Will Tell Them

This week the WELSTech Podcast is going “all in” with Pinterest, today’s top social network for the visually inclined. Listen for ways to use Pinterest to spread the good news!

A picture is worth … – Listen up ladies as WELSTech takes on the female dominated social network sensation, Pinterest. Martin and Sallie discuss the reasons churches may consider having a Pinterest presence and share ideas for pin boards themes that would work well for churches such as special holidays, inspirational imagery, advocating the church town, and a church events scrapbook.

(14:05) Pinning the Good News – Katy Klinnert-Ellison, Creative Marketing Manager at Time of Grace, talks with Martin about the development of their Pinterest page and ideas for congregations who want to use Pinterest for outreach.

(30:41) From the Bible Glo Blog – Notes not appearing and other issues related to the latest release

(38:54) New Calendar Desktop Wallpapers from Streams

(51:41) Episode 272 – Tune in next week as we gather a “Podcasting Posse” including Pastor Tom Barthel, Philip Wels and Bob Martens to talk about how to produce your own podcast to spread the gospel. (Release date – 01/22/13)

(52:25) This week we close with the instrumental music of flutist Jeannine Dennis – Celebration Medley

This week as we begin the 6th year of the WELSTech Podcast we look at reasons for simplifying presentations. We also share loads of great ministry resources, WELS.net finds and picks, plus a ton of terrific finds from WELSTech listeners.

A Story of Fresh Fish – Martin and Sallie kick off their sixth year of podcasting with the continuing discussion of the current WELSTech book selection, Presentation Zen, by Garr Reynolds. Chapter 5 of the book, titled “Simplicity: Why It Matters,”  looks at the benefits of simple, uncluttered slide design which communicates subtle, elegant messages.

(51:55) Episode 271 -Is there a place for the popular social image sharing site Pinterest in your ministry communication plan? Martin poses this important question and Sallie enjoys the response! (Release date – 01/15/13)

(53:16) We close with the WELSTech debut of WELS musician and staff minister Benhur Khamrang (Reverbnation) – Amazing Grace