This week on the WELSTech Podcast we return to our monthly book discussion and have the special privilege of talking with one of the authors, Lynne Schrum.

Millennials and Gen Zs – In Chapter 2 of Leading 21st Century Schools by Lynne Schrum and Barbara B. Levin the focus turns to today’s students and teachers and the technology experience and expectations they bring into the classroom.

(13:20) A chat with the author – Lynne Schrum, author of the current WELSTech book selection, joins Martin and Sallie with tips for leaders to help them identify where they are in terms of technology integration and work within the various comfort levels of all types of teachers to provide “just in time” training on the tech tools of today.

(41:05) Google Translate Adds Latin

(1:12:47) Episode 154 – Office workers will want to tune in for next week’s discussion of all things volunteer related.  (Release date 10/20/10)

(1:13:34) This week we close with the music of Revelation, a music ministry of Wisconsin Lutheran College (www.revelationwlc.com) – You Are the God from their CD titled ”Led by the Light”

This week the WELSTech Podcast centers around the effective use of e-mail.

What kind of e-mailer are you? – Is your electronic correspondence short and to the point, prompt, respectful and without error?  Martin and Sallie talk about e-mail best practices and share new ways to use the tool effectively.

(24:48) Create a “Free Bible” page from YouVersion – youversion.com/free-bible

(28:38) Xmarks is going out of business

(38:08) View the Love In Action video series from Special Ministries

(49:00) Episode 153 – We’ll continue our book discussion of Leading 21st Century Schools, looking at chapter 2 and talking with author Lynne Schrum. (Release date 10/13/10)

(49:44) We close the podcast with music from Cross to Glory (www.crosstoglory.com) – The Father’s Song from their CD titled “Life’s Song”

This week WELSTech welcomes back our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, Gail Potratz, and we talk about technology accountability for teachers.

Technology accountability – After a summer hiatus, Martin and Sallie are happy to welcome back to WELSTech Gail Potratz from Emanuel in New London, WI.  Gail shares her ideas about encouraging teacher technology proficiencies and discusses the plan they will follow in her school this year.

(21:12) Information Literacy – Dr. Bernard Bull, Assistant Professor of Education at Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, WI, talks with Gail about teaching digital natives to be educators and shares advice for all teachers of today’s digital native students.

(38:38) Double authentication coming to Google

(57:37) Follow WELS online:

(1:04:15) Episode 152 – WELSTech addresses “The Evils of E-mail” as we share tips and tricks for managing your overwhelming e-mail inbox. (Release date 10/06/10)

(1:05:50) We close the podcast with the instrumental music of In His Service (www.adagioconcepts.com) – Thy Strong Word from their CD titled “In His Time”

This week the WELSTech podcast discussion topic is online image hosting with Flickr plus graphic designer, Diahann Lohr, joins the conversation.

Photo Sharing – Living in a Web 2.0 world means churches and schools can take advantage of online photo sharing sites such as Flickr to post, organize and share digital images.  Martin and Sallie explore Flickr and talk about ideas for using it for ministry advancement.

(15:05) Design Elements – Diahann Lohr, owner of Adunate Word & Design in Watertown, WI chats with Martin and Sallie about the many questions that go into discovering a good graphic design for congregations and schools.

(32:35) The New Twitter is rolling out

(59:47) Episode 151 – WELSTech welcomes back Gail Potratz, our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, and we talk about teacher professional development in the area of technology plus listen in as Gail interviews education professor Bernard Bull. (Release date 09/29/10)

(1:01:31) We close the podcast with the music of Corban Creek – Epitaph from their CD titled “Could It Be Me?”

This week on the WELSTech podcast we begin a new series focusing on the technology used by church and school secretaries and administrators.

Something new on WELSTech – The new fall season of podcasting is in full swing and there’s a new topic to explore!  With this episode we kick off a series which will focus on the important role of office administrator or secretary for the church and/or school and the technology they use to do their jobs.  Martin and Sallie encourage listeners to share the podcast with office personnel and talk about ways to help them network and share ideas.

(16:45) Managing the school office – Joanne Nemmers, school secretary for Calvary in Dallas, TX talks with Martin and Sallie about life in the school office.  Find out about her favorite piece of office equipment, the challenges of after-school-care accounting and more.

(35:36) KidBlog.org

(38:36) Google Instant Search – Introduction video & details

(52:39) Visit the WELSTech Wiki for online worship links and add your congregation

(1:04:20) Episode 150 – Next week we explore Flickr photo sharing for churches and schools plus we talk with designer Diahann Lohr from Adunate Word & Design. (Release date 09/22/10)

(1:05:45) We close the podcast with the music of Michael Schroeder (www.michaelschroeder.com and on Facebook) – Forgiveness Is Grace from his CD titled “The Way”

This week the WELSTech Podcast “hits the books” with the kick-off of a new book discussion.

A new book selection – Leading 21st Century Schools by Lynne Schrum and Barbara B. Levin (browse sections on Google Books) is the latest book discussion selection for WELSTech.  To get the ball rolling, Martin and Sallie highlight Chapter 1 and apply the concepts to school leaders, teachers and pastors.

(19:19) Men’s Network

(41:47) Episode 149 – Joanne Nemmers, school secretary at Calvary in Dallas, TX, joins Martin and Sallie as we look at technology in the school and church office.  Encourage your office administrator to tune in!  (Release date 09/15/10)

(44:01) We close the podcast with the music of Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com and mikewestendorf on Twitter) – Press On from his CD titled “Climb the Mountain”

This week the WELSTech Podcast includes a summer Road Trip recap and the return of some of our favorite features.

Remember, you can use your smartphone or an online decoder to decipher the message.  Additional contest details available here.  Have fun!

Reliving the trip – Coming off of an 11-week virtual tour of the synod, Martin and Sallie revisit each stop and reflect on the lessons learned.  From managing the church office to integrating technology in the classroom, from video conferencing for counseling and Bible class to video closed captioning, from Bible study software to pastoral blogging, the Road Trip highlighted creative uses of technology to assist with and further gospel ministry.

(26:30) Seminary Video Library (RSS)

(27:47) Updates to Office Web Apps and Facebook Docs

(39:52) Episode 148 – We kick off a brand new book discussion, this time looking at Leading 21st Century Schools by Lynn Schrum and Barbara B. Levin.  (Release date 09/08/10)

(41:15) We close the podcast with the music of Stephen Bautista (www.stephenbautistamusic.com or stephenbautista on Twitter) – Forged in the Fire from his CD titled “Abandon”

This week the WELSTech Podcast summer Road Trip wraps up with a round table discussion of three leading Bible software packages.

(5:16) Bible software – On this week’s final virtual road trip, Martin and Sallie travel via the magic of technology to three destinations at once!  Pastor Steve Bauer from Faith in West Newton, PA, Pastor Dan Witte from Risen Savior in Lakewood Ranch, FL and Pastor Aaron Frey, President of Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw, MI, participate in a lively discussion about their favorite Bible software tools, Accordance, BibleWorks and Logos respectively.

(54:59) Episode 147 – Our travelin’ days are over so we pause to reflect on the summer “Road Trip” series and get back into the swing of things with our normal features.  (Release date 09/01/10)

(56:20) We close the podcast with the music of Kevin Loersch – When Love Is Found from his CD titled ”Abide With Me”

The WELSTech Podcast Road Trip travels to California to hear the tech-in-ministry success story of St. Mark’s in Citrus Heights.

(3:20) Technology serving St. Mark’s – Joining Martin and Sallie today are Maren McPeak, Webmaster, and Matt Bauer, Principal, from St. Mark’s in Citrus Heights, CA.  Listen as they share technology ideas from their church and school including use of their web site, iTunes, Facebook and Moodle.

(36:34) Episode 146 – The summer 2010 WELSTech Road Trip series wraps up with a virtual visit to three states as we compare and contrast Bible study software.  (Release date 08/25/10)

(37:44) This week we feature the music of  Koine (www.koinemusic.com | Facebook) – Fight the Good Fight from their CD titled ”Church Bells”

The WELSTech Podcast Road Trip visits the Pacific Northwest to talk with John Shoosmith about closed-caption videos.

Remember, you can use your smartphone or an online decoder to decipher the message. Additional contest details available here. Have fun!

(3:51) Clearing the fog around closed-caption video production – John Shoosmith, lay member of Redeemer in Yakima, WA, hosted a welcome stop on the WELSTech Road Trip in the Pacific Northwest District.  Martin and Sallie interviewed John previously on WELSTech way back on episode 55 in January 2009 regarding his work with closed-caption video. Much has changed in our Web 2.0 world since then, so it is great to have an opportunity to check in with John for an update.

(43:40) Episode 145 – California, here we come!  WELSTech rolls into Citrus Heights to learn about the technology in use at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and School.  (Release date 08/18/10)

(45:03) This week we feature the music of Branches Band (www.branchesband.com | Facebook) – The Name of the Lord from their CD titled ”My Tongue”