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This week on WELSTech Martin, Sallie and Gail Potratz take a look at the components of a school technology plan.

Listen now or download Episode 060 (53:11)

The discussion:

• School Technology Plans - Martin and Sallie are joined by Gail Potratz, Technology Coordinator at Emanual Lutheran School in New London, WI and our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, for a discussion of school technology plans.  Why do schools need a tech plan, who should be involved in writing it and what should go into it are a few of the questions addressed.
  • Online teacher technology assessments – www.loticonnection.com
  • Visit the WELSTech wiki page on School Technology Plans for sample plans which you can download and modify for your school

The tidbits:

• Picks of the week (25:15)
  • Mashup and narrate web sites, photos, PowerPoint and more- www.FlowGram.com
    • Watch a demo video
  • Create online Jeopardy games - www.JeopardyLabs.com
  • Search for images of Maui & more – www.google.com/images
• Community feedback (33:55)
  • Richard Travis sent us a link to Scribd.com for professional looking web publishing
    • Check out God’s Yellow Pages
  • Vicar Michael Johnson from St. Andrew in Middleton, WI shared a creative use for his iPod in church
  • David Savastki from Living Word in Waukesha, WI asked about sending text messages to a group (try Twitter) and invited us to join the new facebook group for his congregation, Friends of Living Word
  • Pastor Paul Jansen from Holy Scripture in Ft. Wayne, IN shared a link to a Microsoft Photosynth 3D view of his sanctuary, compiled from 88 photos
  • Ryan Rosenthal from Faith in Fond du Lac left us a voice mail full of great money saving ideas you may want to implement in your school or church including using free audio of public domain books at www.LibriVox.org and receiving a free subscription to Technology & Learning Magazine 
  • Pastor Chris Koschnitzke from Christus in Delavan, WI shared details about their new audio/video system, and we’ve added his notes to the Church Media section of the WELSTech wiki at welstech.wetpaint.com
  • Jason Schmidt from Gethsemane in Omaha, NE uses www.mailchimp.com for mass e-mail
• Coming up on WELSTech (49:19)
  • Episode 061 - Martin shares notes from his Digital Outreach seminar, and we talk with Pastor Ken Fisher about the WhatAboutJesus.com site

The featured artist:

• This week we close with the beautiful piano music of Dawn Gehlhar - Christ Be My Leader from her CD titled Inspirations (50:25)

Get involved:

• Add a comment below
• E-mail: welstech@wels.net
• Voice mail: 414-375-2334
• Add to the WELSTech wiki: welstech.wetpaint.com
• Contribute to the #WELSTech Twitter conversation
• Follow us on Twitter: mspriggs and welstechtrainer
• Use the del.icio.us tag: welstech
• Join the WELSTech community:
  • WELSTech listserve
  • WELSTech on facebook
         

This week on WELSTech the conversation focuses on tech tips for effective ministry in a challenging economy and Martin and Sallie talk with Pastor Daron Lindemann about the new Message from the Master web site.

Listen now or download Episode 059 (58:51)

The discussion:

• Technology in Tough Economic Times - Martin and Sallie share a host of ideas for wise use of technology in the church and school setting to save money. From reducing paper printing and distribution costs to prolonging the life of hardware, there are many ways to carry out effective ministry in times of economic challenge.
  • How To Win In a Recession Like a Ninja by Chris Brogan
  • www.ShopWELS.net
  • www.OpenOffice.org
  • www.Picnik.com

The interview:

• Message from the Master (20:14) - Martin and Sallie talk with Pastor Daron Lindemann from Grace in Milwaukee, WI about his work on the Message from the Master project and their brand new web site.
  • www.MessageFromTheMaster.com

The tidbits:

• Picks of the week (39:40)
  • Online diagrams and charts – www.LovelyCharts.com
  • Micro-blogging mashup - www.Tumblr.com
    • Martin’s Tumblr site – spriggs.tumblr.com
    • Wikipedia on tumblelogs
• WELS.net feature (44:55)
  • Parents Crosslink Podcast
    • Listen on Streams – streams.wels.net/podcasts?series=parents-crosslink-podcast
    • Read more on the Parents Crosslink web site
• Community feedback (46:50)
  • Pastor Chris Koschnitzke from Christus in Delavan, WI recently added video sermons to his congregation web site
  • The WELSTech listserve has been buzzing with discussion on electronic banking options and ideas for outreach in a digital world
  • Join the #WELSTech Twitter conversation and follow Martin (@mspriggs) and Sallie (@welstechtrainer)
  • Dan Smith from Holy Trinity in Des Moines, WA asked about our experience running a CafePress.com store. Anyone need a WELSTech coffee cup?   www.cafepress.com/welstech
  • Pastor John Borgwardt from Risen Savior in Pooler, GA is looking for solutions for mass e-mail.  Listen to WELSTech Episode 026 for ideas.
• Coming up on WELSTech (55:52)
  • Episode 060 - Gail Potratz, our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent, joins us and we discuss setting up a School Technology Plan

The featured artist:

• Revelation, a music ministry of Wisconsin Lutheran College, performs You are the God from their CD Led By The Light - www.revelationwlc.com (57:06)

Get involved:

• Add a comment below
• E-mail: welstech@wels.net
• Voice mail: 414-375-2334
• del.icio.us tag: welstech
• Join:
  • WELSTech listserve
  • WELSTech on facebook
       

This week on WELSTech the discussion topic is distributing ministry-related video via the web and Martin and Sallie share ideas and resources to help you get started.

Listen now or download Episode 058 (46:43)

The discussion:

• Streaming Video Ministry – Martin and Sallie discuss ways to expand your outreach using the power of the web and free video streaming sites.  Both live and archived video can be included in your web site and be used to reach a variety of viewers with the gospel.
  • Ustream.tv
    • Watch a sample archived sermon
  • Mogulus.com
    • Martin’s YouTube video mashup - www.mogulus.com/welscto
  • Zaplive.tv
  • Stickam.com
  • Kyte.tv
  • Check out the WELSTech wiki for audio/video equipment ideas

The tidbits:

• Picks of the week (25:50)
  • Parent resources for wise use of media – www.MediaFamily.org
  • Sync bookmarks and passwords – www.FoxMarks.com
• Of interest (33:20)
  • WELS International Youth Rally 2009 – www.welsyouthrally.net
    • July 8-11 in Ames, IA
    • It’s time to get organized because online registration starts March 2nd
• Community feedback (36:23)
  • Steve Brown from Messiah in South Windsor, CT and blogger at Worship Ideas You Can Use enjoyed episode 057 and wrote to share stats on how his self-publishing voice is reaching 98 countries!  Congratulations Steve and keep up the great work!
  • Laurie Esch Taylor from Grace in Yorba Linda, CA wrote to tell us how the idea of closed-captioning sermon videos, which we discussed in episode 055, was especially appealing to her because she has family members who are hearing impaired.
  • Karen Zastrow from Zum Kripplein Christi in Iron Ridge, WI and blogger at Paper Delights had some nice things to say about WELSTech in a recent post.  Thanks Karen!
  • Follow us on twitter.com – mspriggs and weltechtrainer – and join the twitter conversation by tagging your WELSTech related twitter posts with “#welstech“
• Coming up on WELSTech (41:40)
  • Episode 059 - We’ll discuss ways technology can assist ministry efforts in these tough economic times, and we talk with Pastor Daron Lindemann about the “Message from the Master” radio show and web site.

The featured artist:

• We close with music of WELS artist, Michael Schroeder (www.michaelschroeder.com) - Forgiveness is Grace from his CD titled The Way (42:22)

Get involved:

• Add a comment below
• E-mail: welstech@wels.net
• Voice mail: 414-375-2334
• del.icio.us tag: welstech
• Join:
  • WELSTech listserve
  • WELSTech on facebook

This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie discuss the effects on gospel outreach of the shift from traditional mass media to individual self-publication via the web.

Listen now or download Episode 057 (42:11)

The discussion:

• Are You a Media Outlet? - Continuing the discussion of Clay Shirky’s book, Here Comes Everybody – The Power of Organizing Without Organizations, Martin and Sallie look at chapter 3 and discuss the amateurization of mass media and the effect self-publishing is having on ministry.
  • Listen to previous WELSTech discussions of chapter 1 and chapter 2
  • Looking for answers to questions of faith for personal growth and sharing the Word?  Check out the WELS.net Topical Q&A.

The tidbits:

• Picks of the week (22:19)
  • Create your own RSS reminders – www.ReminderFeed.com
  • Digital pen and audio recorder - www.LiveScribe.com  
• WELS.net feature (29:39)
  • “Everyday” teen devotional video series
    • Watch on Streams – streams.wels.net/video/?series=everyday
    • Learn more - www.livingbold.net/media/everyday
• Community feedback (31:51)
  • MLC student Jeffrey Clark sent in a request for an upcoming WELSTech episode – Libronix software tips and tricks.  Check out details on the new addition of Christian Worship and Christian Worship Supplement lectionaries to Libronix – www.wels.net/jump/cwsupplement.
  • The WELSTech listserve members have been sharing ideas about electronics recycling.  We also heard from Cindy Krueger from Shepherd of the Hills in Lansing MI who shared a link to a new recycling program from Best Buy launching February 15th in all U.S. stores.
• Coming up on WELSTech (36:48)
  • Episode 058 - Martin shares highlights from his Mission and Ministry presentation on streaming video, and we talk with Pastor Daron Lindemann about the “Message from the Master” web site.

The featured artist:

• We close with music of WELS artist, Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com) – Press On from his CD titled Climb The Mountain (38:50)

Get involved:

• Add a comment below
• E-mail: welstech@wels.net
• Voice mail: 414-375-2334
• del.icio.us tag: welstech
• Join:
  • WELSTech listserve
  • WELSTech on facebook