102 – Promises, Tools, and Bargains

This week on the WELSTech Podcast we take a final look at the concepts presented in the book Here Comes Everybody by Clay Shirky.

Listen now or download Episode 102 (45:58)

The discussion:

Expanding Your Life Scope - Martin and Sallie wrap up their discussion of Clay Shirky’s Here Comes Everybody, looking at chapter 11 and the epilogue.  Tying all the concepts from the book together, three key components of digital groups emerge, and we see that these revolutionary changes should be accepted and taken for granted as we make use of them to spread the gospel message.

Ministry resources:

glo(22:44) BibleGlo.com – Multimedia Bible software

News in tech:

(26:28) Google Wave invites are trickling out.

  • Join the WELSTech public wave – search for this phrase …

with:public “Calling all WELSTech-ers!”

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

  • (36:30) Perry Lund from Grace in Oskaloosa, IA sent us a link to his catechism class timeline of Luther’s life.
  • David Schuman from Peace in Janesville, WI shared thoughts on the use of virtual meetings in congregations and further thoughts on raising congregational awareness of technology.
  • As a follow up to our new public Google Calendar with the Christian Worship and Christian Worship: Supplement lectionary, Mark Ochsankehl shared a sample site with Google Calendar instructions for members.

Coming up on WELSTech:

(42:26) Gail Potratz joins the WELSTech crew as we share our picks of safe web sites for kids of all ages. (Release date 10/28/09)

The featured artist:

(43:25) This week we close with the music of WELS instrumentalist In His Service - Gabriel’s Message from their CD titled ”In the Fullness of Time”

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099 – Books In The Cloud

This week on the WELSTech Podcast Gail Potratz joins the discussion as we look at Google Books.

Listen now or download Episode 099 (43:50)

The discussion:

Google BooksGoogle Books - Google’s mission to organize the world’s information extends to offline content with their Google Books initiative.  Gail Potratz, Technology Coordinator at Emanuel in New London, WI joins Martin and Sallie to discuss the impact Google Books will have on the future of education.

Ministry resources:

(16:44) Church Marketing Lab Flickr group

Picks of the week:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(34:37) The long anticipated 100th episode awaits and you won’t want to miss this special episode dedicated to YOU, the WELSTech listeners! (Release date 10/07/09)

  • Send us your tech-in-ministry (public or personal) success story for inclusion
  • All submissions will be including in our prize drawing for a WELSTech Sigg Water Bottle
  • Deadline for entries is October 2, 2009

Community feedback:

The featured artist:

(39:37) This week we close with the music of WELS pianist Dawn Gehlhar - Nearer My God To Thee from her CD titled ”Inspirations”

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096 – Failure For Free

This week the WELSTech podcast includes motivation to try something new for gospel outreach as well as an interview about midi music for worship.

Listen now or download Episode 096 (1:00:49)

The discussion:

Do something! - Martin and Sallie return to their discussion of Clay Shirky’s Here Comes Everybody, this time focusing on chapter 10, Failure For Free.  In terms of ministry opportunities this chapter helps us realize that it’s easy and free for our outreach, communication and technology committees to brainstorm creative methods and test drive today’s digital resources as tools for sharing the gospel without fear of failure. 

  • WELSTech & YOU! – Help us celebrate WELSTech’s 100th episode by sharing your tech-in-ministry success stories via any of the WELSTech communication channels.

The interview:

Danny Weymeyer(16:00) Digital music for worship – Layman Danny Weymeyer from Good Shepherd in Deltona, FL joins Martin and Sallie to talk about the use of MIDI in worship settings, particularly when congregations do not have full time instrumentalist available for worship.

Ministry resources:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(56:04) Episode 097 - Tips for maintaining your computer including fighting mal-ware, registry cleanup and disk de-frags wil be the topic of next week’s podcast. (Release date 09/16/09)

The featured artist:

(57:45) This week we close with the music of WELS artist Michael Schroeder (www.michaelschroeder.com) - Paradise from his CD titled ”A Witness”

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082 – It’s A Small WELS After All

This week the WELSTech podcast includes more discussion of the book Here Comes Everybody as well as an interview with a software consultant from ProCare Software.

Listen now or download Episode 082 (1:00:12)

The discussion:

Bonding and Bridging – Martin and Sallie revisit Clay Shirky’s book, Here Comes Everybody, and discuss chapter 9, “Fitting Our Tools to a Small World”.  Lessons from the chapter illustrate the potential pitfall of congregations focusing solely on closed group, insider fellowship while excluding groups, cultures and ideas outside the “network”.

The interview:

Shelley Spliethof, ProCare Software(16:00) Technology heads to daycare – Martin and Sallie talk with Shelley Spliethof, Executive Software Consultant with ProCare Software, about the information challenges daycare and preschool organizations face and how ProCare Software addresses those needs.

New Technology Showcase:

(29:40) Firefox 3.5 – The latest version of the Mozilla browser

Picks of the week:

  • (33:50) SparkleBox – A teacher’s treasure chest of free printables
  • Diigo – Social bookmarking meets the writable web

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(52:22) WELSTech2 continues:

  • Episode 083 – Join us for a summer “Picnik” of image editing tips on the latest installment of “Bonus WELSTech Goodness” (BWTG). (Release date 07/13/09)
  • Episode 084 – Joel and Jeremy from the Youth Discipleship office share a recap of the International Youth Rally as we take a look at ways we can use technology to reach out to teens. (Release date 07/15/09)

The featured artist:

(53:49) The music of WELS group Corban Creek closes this week’s podcast – We hear Psalm 13 from their CD titled ”Could It be Me”

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076 – Where’d My Bowling League Go?

This week the WELSTech podcast discussion focuses on real-time, face-to-face fellowship challenges and ways technology can assist.

Listen now or download Episode 076 (52:51)

The discussion:

Meet UpDeclining social capital – Martin and Sallie discuss chapter 8 of Clay Shirky’s book Here Comes Everybody titled “Solving Social Dilemmas”.  The decline of “social capital” has effected congregations and schools as they experience the difficulty of getting people together for fellowship, but the good news is there are ways technology can assist in connecting people.

  • Meetup.com – Find a niche group to meet face-to-face

New Technology Showcase:

(18:30) Google Wave – A developing communication tool

Picks of the week:

Announcing BWTG:

(31:50) Something new - Bonus WELSTech Goodness (BWTG)

  • Mid-week mini “how-to” episodes set to launch on Monday, June 22nd
  • Look for Episode 077 – BWTG: Google Calendars

Community feedback:

  • (35:00) Gail Potratz from Emanuel in New London, WI asked about twitter hashtags, left a voice mail about using iGoogle for her Personal Learning Network and shared a link to her Twtpoll
  • Jason Schmidt from Gethsemane in Omaha, NE tweeted several tech goodies
  • Sallie shared a link to an article on Scareware from USA Today
  • Check out the WELSTech listserve archives for recent discussions on
    • Video sources
    • MIDI resources
    • Installing XP on newer computers
  • John Shoosmith from Redeemer in Yakima, WA created a “copyright friendly” scripture recording

Coming up on WELSTech:

(48:08) Episode 078 – Next Wednesday’s topic will be “Twitter in Education” with guest host Gail Potratz and interviewee/teacher/twitterer, Jason Schmidt

The featured artist:

(49:21) This week we close with music of WELS musician Stephen Bautista (www.stephenbautistamusic.com) - Brand New Day from his CD with the same title

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