The WELSTech Podcast Road Trip heads to Watertown, WI, and we learn about school hardware solutions.

(8:03) School hardware ideas – Our virtual tour of the WELS 12 Districts continues with a stop in Watertown, WI to talk with teacher and technology director Drew Willems from Trinity-St. Luke’s.  Join Martin and Sallie as we learn about the school hardware configuration for their two-campus setting which includes a network, SMART Boards, a dedicated computer lab and, most recently, a batch of netbooks on a secure charging mobile cart.

(49:23) Episode 144 – WELSTech heads to the Pacific Northwest to visit with John Shoosmith for an update on closed-caption video and more.  (Release date 08/11/10)

(50:12) We close the podcast this week with the beautiful piano music of Dawn Gehlhar – Christ Be My Leader from her CD titled ”Inspirations”

This week the WELSTech Podcast Road Trip takes us to Houston, TX where we visit with Sally Valleskey about church management software.

(4:30) Church management software – Martin and Sallie journey deep in the heart of Texas to Houston and catch up with Sally Valleskey from Abiding Word.  Sally shares her experience with their church management software, Shepherd’s Staff.

(34:31) Job posting – WELS is looking for a .NET/SharePoint/C# Programmer.  Contact Martin for more details.

(44:22) Episode 143 – Tune in for a surprise road trip destination.  Our WELS districts tour would be complete with visits to the Dakota/Montana, Western Wisconsin, Pacific Northwest and Arizona/California districts.  (Release date 08/04/10)

(45:20) This week we close with the music of Revelation, a music ministry of Wisconsin Lutheran College (www.revelationwlc.com) – Agnus Dei from their CD titled ”More Than Conquerors”

Buckle up for this week’s WELSTech Podcast Road Trip.  We visit Fond du Lac, WI and talk with teacher Ryan Rosenthal about integrating technology in the classroom.

(2:18) Integrating Technology into the Classroom – Seveth grade teacher Ryan Rosenthal from Faith in Fond du Lac, WI joins Martin and Sallie for an interesting conversation about his Web 2.0 classroom experience.  Ryan offers great advice including encouraging teachers to “tweak” existing projects to include technology elements, rather than coming up with a new project.

(33:57) Episode 142 – We talk with Sally Valleskey from Abiding Word in Houston (deep in the heart of), Texas about their use of Shepherd’s Staff church management software. (Release date 07/28/10)

(34:12) We close the podcast with music from Cross to Glory (www.crosstoglory.com) – My Old Friend from their CD titled “Life’s Song”

This week the WELSTech Podcast Road Trip heads south to talk with Pastor Ben Kratz in Birmingham, AL about distance Bible classes with Skype.

The Draper boys check out a high tech vending machine in the Minneapolis airport.

(5:02) Distance Bible Class – Martin chats with Pastor Ben Kratz from Our Savior in Birmingham, AL about his use of Skype for distance Bible class.

(30:32) Episode 141 – Fond du Lac, WI is the destination of next week’s virtual road trip.  We’ll talk with teacher Ryan Rosenthal about Web 2.0 in the classroom. (Release date 07/21/10)

(31:15) We close the podcast with the instrumental music of In His Service (www.adagioconcepts.com) – O God, Forsake Me Not from their CD titled “In His Time”

This week the WELSTech Podcast Road Trip visits Teacher Jason Schmidt at Gethsemane in Omaha, NE to chat about SMART Board resources.

(2:49) SMART Classrooms – Our travel plans take us to the Midwest where we visit with teacher Jason Schmidt from Gethsemane in Omaha, NE.  WELSTech listeners will recognize Jason’s name from his many contributions to the show (and even a previous interview), and today’s show won’t disappoint as Jason shares a ton of classroom-oriented SMART Board resources and ideas with Martin and Sallie.

(35:04) Episode 140 – Join us as we head south to Birmingham, AL to talk with Pastor Ben Kratz about long-distance Bible classes via Skype. (Release date 07/14/10)

(35:45) We close the podcast with the music of Corban Creek – It Seems to Be the Day from their CD titled “Could It Be Me”

This week the WELSTech Podcast Road Trip heads to Liverpool, NY to talk with Pastor Jeremiah Gumm about blogging.

(5:50) Pastoral Blogging – The WELSTech Road Trip makes a virtual stop in upstate New York where Martin and Sallie chat with Pastor Jeremiah Gumm from Cross of Christ.  Pastor Gumm, the blogger behind The Shepherd’s Study, shares thoughts on his 2+ years of blogging – how and why he started his blog, the mechanics of setting up and managing a blog, and the blessings (64,000 hits and counting) and connections blogging has given him.

(52:18) Episode 139 – We’re on the road again, but this time to an unknown techie virtual destination.  Tune in to find out where we visit, and learn something new in the process. (Release date 07/07/10)

(56:39) We close the podcast with the music of Michael Schroeder (www.michaelschroeder.com and on Facebook) – I Do Believe from his CD titled “The Way”

This week the WELSTech Podcast Road Trip stops by Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School in New Ulm, MN.

(2:11) Student Management System – The next stop on the WELSTech Road Trip takes Martin and Sallie to New Ulm, MN to talk with Heath Dobberpuhl, teacher and registrar at Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School (MVL).  MVL recently converted to a new student management system, making their cookie sales (and grade management) much easier for teachers, staff and parents alike.  Listen as Heath shares their experience with the system.

(28:45) Martin shared several noteworthy links:

(34:07) Episode 138 – The WELSTech summer 2010 Road Trip heads east to Liverpool, NY to meet Pastor Jeremiah Gumm and learn about pastoral blogging. (Release date 06/30/10)

(34:55) We close the podcast with the music of Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com and mikewestendorf on Twitter) – Found from his CD titled “Climb the Mountain”

Go on the road with the WELSTech Podcast as we explore distance counseling in Aurora, CO.

(3:13) Distance Counseling – Martin and Sallie pack their virtual bags and head across the country to visit Aurora, CO where we visit with Liz Seelow from New Beginnings – A Home For Mothers and Dan Nommensen from Wisconsin Lutheran Child and Family Services (WLCFS).  Liz shares her first-hand experience with the WLCFS Member Assistance Program distance counseling service.  Listen for tips on starting a similar program in your area.

(24:40) Pastor Rob Guenther from Gethsemane in Raleigh, NC shared lots of ideas and questions including a link to Format Factory, and audio video converter

(30:42) Episode 137 – The next stop on the WELSTech summer 2010 Road Trip is Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School in New Ulm, MN where we’ll talk with teacher and registrar Heath Dobberpuhl about their new student management system. (Release date 06/23/10)

(31:30) We close the podcast with the music of Stephen Bautista (www.stephenbautistamusic.com or stephenbautista on Twitter) – Trying to Catch the Wind from his CD titled “Abandon”

This is book discussion week on the WELSTech Podcast as we wrap up our look at Shane Hipps’ The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture.

Wrapping Up – Martin and Sallie complete their discussion of Shane Hipps’ book, The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture: How Media Shapes Faith, the Gospel, and Church, looking at chapter 8, “Worship in Electronic Culture”.

(33:50) “Like” WELS on Facebook – facebook.com/welslutherans – and you may win a $20 gift card to Northwestern Publishing House (NPH).  There will be one giveaway per week through August!

(48:04) Episode 136 – The WELSTech summer 2010 Road Trip gets underway.  Tune in to find out where we stop first. (Release date 06/16/10)

(49:14) We close the podcast with the music of Kevin Loersch – When Love is Found from his CD titled “Abide With Me”

This week on the WELSTech podcast the topics of ministry-oriented internet research and logo design share the stage.

Pay attention to the research – Martin and Sallie discuss various methods for keeping up with emerging trends, especially in regard to their effect on church and school outreach.

(14:27) Designer Spotlight – Graphic designer Steven Stelter, lay member of Grace in Seattle, WA, shares tips with Martin and Sallie on great church web design and what to expect when working with a graphic designer.

(35:27) 30 churches on Facebook (and four observations) from Communicate Jesus

(57:18) Episode 135 – We’ll wrap up our discussion of Shane Hipps book, The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture, focusing on chapter 8. (Release date 06/09/10)

(58:47) We close the podcast with the music of Koine (www.koinemusic.com) – Draw Us To Thee from their CD titled “Church Bells”