This week on the WELSTech Podcast the discussion topic is our need for “connection”, and we examine the root of our motivation to use technology.

Connection – Martin and Sallie discuss the latest WELSTech book selection, Chapter 1 of The Church of Facebook. The author, Jesse Rice, lays the foundation for the phenomenon of Facebook, pointing out the most basic of human needs … the need for “home”.

(9:47) Death of Apple’s Steve Jobs

(33:52) Episode 206 – Martin and Sallie explore all the variations of VoIP or Voice over IP (Internet) including Skype, Magic Jack and Google Voice. (Release date – 10/19/11)

(37:22) We close the podcast with the music of Dawn Michelle Williams (www.dawnmichellewilliams.com | Twitter | Facebook | My Space) – Where I Belong from her CD titled ”Dawn Michelle Williams”

This week the WELSTech Podcast is all about searching the web as GoodSearch.com co-founder JJ Ramberg joins the discussion.

Finding a world of information – Searching the information super highway is a must-have skill for everyone these days and certainly a skill that comes in handy in the ministry setting.  Martin and Sallie share search tips from the biggies – Bing and Google – as well as other tools that prove useful when doing internet research.

(19:17) Search for pennies – JJ Ramberg, co-founder of GoodSearch.com and GoodShop.com, joins Martin and Sallie to talk about how the search tool has earned WELS over $8,000, one penny at a time.

(35:34) Amazon Launches $200 Tablet, Slashes Kindle Prices from Wired

(58:36) Episode 205 – Martin and Sallie discuss the latest WELSTech book selection, Chapter 1 of The Church of Facebook. (Release date – 10/12/11)

(59:28) We close the podcast with the music of Revelation, a music ministry of Wisconsin Lutheran College (www.revelationwlc.com) – Shine On Us from the CD titled “Led By The Light”

This week is WELSTech classroom week as we welcome back Gail Potratz and talk to teacher Kurt Gosdeck about his new school year in a 1-to-1 environment.

What did you learn – Our WELSTech semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, Gail Potratz from Emanuel in New London, WI, is back to talk with Martin and Sallie about her busy summer of learning.

Kurt Gosdeck

(16:35) In the hands of digital natives – Kurt Gosdeck, Director of Technology and 3rd and 4th grade teacher at St. Lucas in Kewaskum, WI, joins Martin and Sallie to talk about his new school year in a 1:1 student netbook environment.  Hear how the program was started including the funding of the netbooks, their plans for rolling it out to all students in 3rd to 8th grade, and details of the experience thus far into the school year.

1:1 Kids – Click to view larger

(39:47) Christian Computing Magazine

(41:28) Facebook changes

(56:22) Episode 204 – J.J. Ramberg, co-founder of GoodSearch.com, joins Martin and Sallie as we talk about all things search. (Release date – 10/05/11)

(57:43) We close the podcast with the music of L. A. Miller – Flyin’ Free from the CD titled “Night and Day”

This week the WELSTech Podcast discussion topic is centered around calendar utilities.

Calendar solutions – The heartbeat of the church and school office is the event calendar. Listen as Martin and Sallie share utilities to make working with your calendar and scheduling appointments, events, volunteers and resources a breeze.

(40:59) Episode 203 – It’s our first tech-in-education podcast in the new school year! We welcome back Gail Potratz to the conversation as well as chat with teacher Kurt Gosdeck regarding the 1-to-1 computer implementation in his classroom. (Release date – 09/28/11)

(42:01) We close the podcast with the music of Cross to Glory – I Have Ev’ry Reason from their CD titled “Life’s Song”

This week the next WELSTech Podcast book discussion kicks off and we hear about new digital products from Northwestern Publishing.

Grab your reading glasses – Martin and Sallie kick off the latest WELSTech book selection, The Church of Facebook by Jesse Rice.  The book, subtitled “How the Hyperconnected Are Redefining Community”, looks at the effect social media has had on our lives and on the connections we make.  Listen to a discussion of the book introduction, including a look at the strange occurrence at the opening of the Millennium Bridge in London, and grab a copy to read along with us.

(12:22) NPH goes digital – Kurt Adams and Mark Buske from Northwestern Publishing House (NPH) join Martin and Sallie to talk about the recent addition of a variety of digital items to their product line.

(50:48) Episode 202 – Key to church office success is managing the ever-changing calendar of events. Tune in as Martin and Sallie share tips on effective calendaring. (Release date – 09/21/11)

(51:50) We close the podcast with the instrumental music of In His Service (www.adagioconcepts.com) – Send Me from their CD titled “In His Time”

The WELSTech Podcast 200th anniversary celebration features the voices of our listeners as they share their own WELSTech goodness.

Treats for the new century – Martin and Sallie reveal the redesigned WELSTech website and new podcast theme music.

(7:30) Special messages from WELSTech listeners – Listen with Martin and Sallie to well wishes from listeners old and new, from the church office to a 3rd and 4th grade classroom, from past interviewees to some folks we’ve met face-to-face along the way, and from Alaska to Massachusetts to Mexico!

(37:24) The moment we’ve all been waiting for – The winner of the custom WELSTech Flip Mino HD video camera is announced.  Is it you??

(38:22) Outstanding – After recording 200 episodes, hear about the podcast moments that stand out for Martin and Sallie.

(46:46) Episode 201 –  Back in the swing of things, we kick off our latest book for discussion, The Church of Facebook by Jesse Rice.  Also Kurt & Mark from Northwestern Publishing House join us to share the details on their latest digital products.  (Release date – September 14, 2011)

(48:38) We close the podcast with a new WELSTech featured artist, instrumentalist Joey Schumann (JoeySchumann.com | Joey on Facebook) – Americana Medley from his CD with the same title

This week on the WELSTech Podcast the summer WELS Hacker series continues with a discussion of PogoPlug and Print My Cal.

End of summer – The WELS Hacker series is winding down, but the Martin and Sallie haven’t exhausted all of their tips and tricks arsenal yet. This week they talk about PogoPlug file sharing tips and a Google Calendar print utility.

(24:11) We close the podcast with the music of Michael Schroeder (www.michaelschroeder.com and on Facebook) – Fall from his CD titled “The Way”

This week on the WELSTech Podcast the topics include batch photo re-sizing for the web and live video from the iPad.

Hacking away – The summer WELS Hacker series continues as Martin shares tips on batch re-sizing of images and Sallie shares her mobile broadcasting breakthrough.

(33:33) We close the podcast with the music of Stephen Bautista (www.stephenbautistamusic.com or stephenbautista on Twitter) – Abandon from his CD titled “Abandon”

This week the WELSTech Podcast topics center around touch screen tablets, and Pastor Guy Marquardt lends his voice to the discussion.

(3:28) Cold Turkey with the iPad – Pastor Guy Marquardt from Christ in Lodi, CA joins Martin and Sallie to discuss a recent post on his iPad in Ministry blog – My two week iPad only experience – which describes his use of the iPad at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Summer Quarter.

(19:46) Tablets continued – This week the WELS Hacker summer series includes discussion by Martin and Sallie about additional ideas for tablet usage.

(45:40) We close the podcast with the music of Kevin Loersch – Children of the Heavenly Father/Jesus Loves Me from his CD titled “Abide With Me”

This week the WELSTech Podcast discussion topics include free web sites and Microsoft Office Web 2.0 style.

A place in the cloud – The WELS Hacker summer series continues as Martin and Sallie share ideas for creating web sites and working with files on the Internet.

(32:26) We close the podcast with the music of Koine (www.koinemusic.com| Facebook) – Fight the Good Fight from their “Church Bells” CD