WELSTech Video

We’re back with another episode of WELSTech starring your handy, dandy calendar. Learn all about time blocking and how it can boost your productivity. We discuss an interactive book creation tool that looks like fun for the classroom and a simple but effective task manager which might be in your pocket right now. We also celebrate a new grandson for one of your “Awesome” WELSTech hosts!

Work Your Calendar – Martin and Sallie discuss a key tool for productivity, your calendar. Specifically, the topic is using your calendar to set up blocks of time to focus on specific tasks you need to accomplish. Mix in a bit of self-discipline, and this method could be a ticket to more productive days!

Calendar Management Wakelet

The topic which never goes out of style: I need advice on my church and/or school website.

Just like that we’ve reached the end of another school year and another year of edtech discussions with Rachel and Jason. Tune in for the wrap up of The AI Classroom.

Join us for WELSTech 722 where we talk about tech decision making which will stand the test of time. We also share details on an upcoming webinar on the topic of mental health, a great invention to manage the cords in your computer bag, scanning and organizing Google-style, and Sallie’s latest hardware addition.

Tech that lasts – Martin and Sallie share considerations which should be part of technology decisions, and, spoiler alert, cost isn’t at the top of the list. It is helpful to have some experience with technology on your side as you evaluate potential tools, but your selections shouldn’t necessarily be the tech-lover’s dream if that means they are too complex for the average user. Examples of “Swiss army knife” tools which have stood the test of time for Martin and Sallie include Trello and Google Slides.

Register for the upcoming Women’s Ministry webinar – (mis) Understanding Mental Health happening May 2 at 7 pm

Tune in for time boxing!

Tune in to this episode of WELSTech for a discussion of ways Artificial Intelligence (AI) can assist teachers with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) plans. We also talk about AI policy for schools and evaluating AI tools. The Newline C series is an affordable new interactive flat panel with no operating system on board. And Northwestern Publishing House (NPH) announced a new Christian Authors Live series.

UDL + Tools – This season’s WELSTech book discussion of The AI Classroom: The Ultimate Guide to Artificial Intelligence in Education by Daniel Fitzpatrick, Amanda Fox, and Brad Weinstein continues. Martin and Sallie are joined by edtech extraordinaries, Rachel Feld and Jason Schmidt, and we talk about AI’s sweet spot with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as well as tips for wading through the myriad AI tools available for teachers and students.

Rachel put together an AI Tool Repository with links, tutorials, and Terms of Use for the AI tools mentioned in Chapter 9 of The AI Classroom

Future proof your tech

On this episode of WELSTech, we learn about the tech side of mission outreach via Academia Cristo and TELL Network, including the messaging tool which has had a huge impact on that work. We also share details on a boatload of WELS summer events and classes, plus picks of the week that will have you drawing org charts and getting organized!

Mission conversations – Martin and Sallie are joined by Jon Gross, Field Producer for Multi-Language Productions (MLP) Latin America’s Academia Cristo, and Grace Ungemach, Marketing Operations Manager for TELL Network. Jon and Grace share information and blessings about the mission work they support, as well as how Respond.io has positively impacted their broad efforts.

Summer events

We’ll talk AI in the Classroom with Jason & Rachel on the next WELSTech!

We’re celebrating Leap Day WELSTech-style as we leap back in time in 4-year increments to find out what was on the podcast docket on four leap days of the past. We also have details on an upcoming webinar, AI and e-giving picks of the week, and a techie e-newsletter of note!

Leap Back with Us – It’s Leap Day 2024, and Martin and Sallie are revisiting four previous leap year’s podcast episodes to check out the topics on our minds and changes over time.

Register for the upcoming Women’s Ministry webinar – Part 2 of Reviving Relationships Through Biblical Hospitality happening March 7 at 7 pm

From WELS Intersections Facebook group

Jon and Grace from Multi-Language Productions share the global messaging tool that’s having a positive impact on outreach efforts.

Webinars may be just the platform your ministry needs to spread a message or host an event. On this episode of WELSTech, we dig into webinar’s purpose and logistics. And we welcome Women’s Ministry to the conversation as executive committee member Rachel Halldorson takes us on a “backstage” tour of their recent webinars. Martin has a pick that will really stick with you, and there’s lots to discuss in WELS Intersections.

Webinars 101 – Martin and Sallie are joined by Rachel Halldorson from WELS Women’s Ministry Executive Committee as we discuss what it takes to host ministry-related webinars. The to-to list includes panelist, equipment, promotion, extra hands for moderation and crowd control, and more.

Women’s Ministry webinars

From WELS Intersections Facebook group

Celebrate Leap Day, WELSTech-style with Martin & Sallie, as we leap back in time in 4-year increments.

AI in education and church makes for an interesting WELSTech episode! Tune in for special guest hosts Rachel and Jason and help with crafting and refining useful AI prompts to assist with everything from report card comments to church graphics.

PREP and EDIT – Martin and Sallie are joined by edtech gurus Rachel Feld and Jason Schmidt to continue the discussion of The AI Classroom: The Ultimate Guide to Artificial Intelligence in Education by Daniel Fitzpatrick, Amanda Fox, and Brad Weinstein. Chapters 6 & 7 are all about the prompts we give AI and what we do with the results.

Posts on AI for Church from Church Tech Today

Women’s Ministry webinars with Rachel Halldorson

Welcome to WELSTech in 2024! We kick off the new year with a discussion of the challenges around coordinating our many digital personas for work, home, church, and more. NPH has a new book discussion group, Martin has a new-found appreciation of Goodnotes, and we share have a great cheat sheet to get you started with online form creation.

Staying atop your digital life – From work, home, and church to volunteer responsibilities and extended family, our digital lives overflow with email, tasks, and calendar events. Martin and Sallie discuss their tech solutions for managing and shifting between the varied roles they play.

Our edtech gurus, Rachel and Jason, are back to discuss AI prompts from chapters 6 & 7 of The AI Classroom.

Just like that, 2023 draws to a close, and it’s time to wrap up the 16th year of WELSTech! Martin and Sallie reminisce about the year’s best events, ministry resources, interviews, and picks, and look forward to lots more tech-in-ministry goodness in 2024!

We kick off the new year with a look ahead at what’s coming on the tech-in-ministry horizon.

The WELSTech Christmas tradition continues as we feature an interview-only show with someone from WELS Headquarters, the Center for Mission and Ministry, to share more about their area of responsibility for WELS. Dan Nommensen, Operations Manager for WELS Congregational Services joins Martin and Sallie to reflect on his first few months on the job and share what’s on the horizon for Congregational Services. Merry Christmas!!

Developing relationships – Martin and Sallie chat with Dan Nommensen, Operations Manager for WELS Congregational Services, on the new role he is filling, the 35,000 video meetings he’s attended since July, and the beacon of light each believer can be, reflecting our love for Christ!

The spotlight shines on the best of WELSTech in 2023.