On this episode of WELSTech, the edtech guest hosts are back with more SAMR and how it supports budget and procurement decisions. Should 1:1 computing continue in all classrooms?  Plus, there’s lots more covered in the ministry resources, picks, and community feedback sections of the show.

The discussion

Remember that haircutting game? – WELSTech welcomes back Prof. Rachel Renno, Director of Academic Computing for Martin Luther College, and Jason Schmidt, Director of Technology for Oshkosh (WI) Area School District. This season our edtech discussions are in terms of the SAMR framework for education technology integration, and the important topics of budgeting and procurement have a tie to SAMR as well. Five-years post Covid and the necessity to adopt the 1:1 computing which ensued, decisions today are supported by the progression (or lack of progression) up the SAMR scale.

• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Ministry resource

• Guidance for the Federal E-Rate Program

Picks of the week

• Elevating Educational Design with AI by Catlin Tucker and Katie Novak
• Google Learn About
• Christ Begins by Luke Thompson – Christian Worship Hymn 385
  • Lyric video from Mount Lebanon Lutheran Church
• Daily Refresh in the Bible App
• How To Take Smart Notes by Sonke Ahrens

Community feedback & events

• Register for Church360° webinars from Concordia Technology Soulutions, scheduled for February 4
  • Members
  • Ledger
  • Unite
• Christ Hunt at BDJ Tech can supply church and school interactive panels

Next time

• Thoughts regarding Artificial Intelligence in ministry from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary senior Jon Pederson

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What’s that? WELSTech goes “anti-tech” this episode? Say it isn’t so!! But it is somewhat true, and for a very good reason. Corralling church tech use can lead to more tech adoption and more satisfied members when tech is done well verses overdone. Seeing straight is another challenge tackled, with a little help from AI. Plus, there’s more. Turn it up!

The discussion

Too much tech?? – Martin and Sallie discuss a recent article from Church Leader, Is Your Technology Use Hurting Your Church? Right-sizing technology use in the church and taking the slow road to tech adoption can help ensure success as well as curtail the potential of leaving some people out of the communication. It’s also very important to bake training & support into any tech initiative.

• Sample weekly e-news from St Paul’s in North Mankato, MN

Ministry resources

• ForwardInChrist.net

Picks of the week

• Edge image magic
• Perplexity AI weighs in on eye strain

Community feedback & events

• 17 Super Chrome Extensions
• WELSWare
• Cell Phone Policies

Next time

Jason and Rachel are back and the edtech topic is budgeting and procurement, SAMR-style!

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WELSTech starts 2025 with a look back at 2024, our 17th year of podcasting! Listeners will likely agree that the theme of the year was AI, and Artificial Intelligence weaves its way into many of Martin and Sallie’s “best of” picks for the year.

Events

• Summer Tech Talks series
• Best Show title – 733 – Silent Mice – Bonus: AI graph
• The WELSTech song from Suno AI

Ministry resources

• Printify
• AI Tool Repository
• 2024 Ministry Resources

Interviews

• Pastor Silas Dose – 725 – Here Be Dragons
• Sarah Krause & Eileen Rosenow – 730 – Summer Tech Talks
• 2024 Interviews

Picks of the year

• Midjourney
• Apple Air Pods Pro
• The 2-Hour Cocktail Party by Nick Gray
• Givebutter
• Canva Pro – Free for Non-Profits & Education
• Perplexity AI
• Honorable Mention: Notebook LM from Google (especially the podcasts!)
• 2024 Picks of the Week

Next time

Join us in a few weeks as we dive into our 18th year of tech-in-ministry conversations.

Get involved

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The WELSTech Christmas tradition continues as we bring you an interview with a synod administrator. This year the microphone is pointed at WELS Benefit Plans Office and Director Josh Peterman. We also send our best wishes to you and yours for a wonderful Christmas celebration!

The interview

All things benefits – Get an inside look at the work of WELS Benefit Plans (BPO) as Director Josh Peterman visits with Martin. From health insurance and prescription coverage to pension and defined contribution benefits, BPO is the central hub for WELS benefit administration for those covered across the country and worldwide.

• WELSBPO.net

Next time

Our annual “best of” look back at all things WELSTech in 2024.

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WELSTech this week features a discussion of the online form creation process. There’s also mention of WELS Youth Night resources, a free online edtech conference, and a nifty set of bits that could make the perfect Christmas gift. Plus, the listener mailbag is full of interesting items. Time to tune in!

The discussion

It all starts with a plan – Martin and Sallie discuss best practices when designing forms for online data collection, including understanding the goals before you start designing, keeping questions consistent, and security and privacy of the data collected.

Ministry resources

• WELS Youth Night

Picks of the week

• Sign up for the (FREE) Ditch Summit – December 16 to January 10
  • Join AI for Admins
• 64 precision bits from iFixIt.com

Community feedback & events

• How do you streamline church attendance data entry? Share your experience!
• Beware of “porch pirates” from Kim Komando
• EANS funded device management, a WELSTech Google Group discussion

Next time

Joshua Peterman from WELS Benefit Plans joins the Christmas conversation.

Get involved

• Add comments
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We’re back at the intersection of technology and ministry with another episode of WELSTech. The topic of the day is elementary tech integration, and it features a lively conversation with WELSTech semi-regular co-hosts, Jason & Rachel.  We also pack in news of an Advent devotional resource, transcription where you least expect it, and the new and improved Call Report. Don’t miss it!

The discussion

Elementary tech integration – Joining Martin and Sallie for an education-focused discussion are Director of Academic Computing for Martin Luther College Professor Rachel Feld and Director of Technology for Oshkosh (WI) Area School District Jason Schmidt. This season we’re letting the tech integration framework SAMR be our guide as we look at various edtech topics, and that leads to some interesting points when we consider the early elementary students who thrive on routine. Spoiler alert: They do best when the tech is boring! And don’t even bring up their need to learn typing. :-)

Ministry resource

• Martin Luther College (MLC) Advent Devotional
• Tune in – or better yet, attend – one of these special Christmas concerts ….
  • Martin Luther College
    • December 7 at 7:30 pm
    • December 8 at 4:00 pm
  • Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary
    • December 8 at 3:00 pm & 7:00 pm

Picks of the week

• Apple Notes audio recording and transcribe
• Google Vids
• Ditch That Textbook eBooks
• Dell XPS9425

Community feedback & events

• Northwestern Publishing House (NPH) Faith Footnotes Podcast featuring Pastor Andy Schroer discussing his book, 364 Days of Thanksgiving
• Check out the new and improved WELS Call Report

Get involved

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WELSTech welcomes MLC’s Dr. James Carlovsky for a look at Artificial Intelligence from his research and presentations to various audiences. The rest of the show includes thoughts on giving thanks, the AI prompts industry, AI YouTube resources, texting your congregation, and evaluating your worship live stream.

The discussion

Pros and Cons of AI – Dr James Carlovsky from Martin Luther College chats with Martin and Sallie about what may be the biggest disruptor in education. Does it make you more or less creative? Does it do the thinking for you or getting you thinking? The more you learn, the more there is to learn about AI.

• AI Power Hour resources from OpenLearning@MLC
• Brave New World: How AI Revolutionized Education (and Why That’s a Good Thing) by Sal Khan

Ministry resource

• 364 Days of Thanksgiving Bible Study
• Best AI Tools for Enhancing Productivity

Picks of the week

• PromptBase.com
  • Professional AI Prompt Whisperers
• Skill Leap AI YouTube channel

Community feedback & events

• Congregation texts

Next time

We talk elementary tech integration, SAMR-style, with Rachel and Jason.

Get involved

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On WELSTech this week we talk about the tech at our fingertips as we reveal our office setups. Additionally, we share gift ideas for welcoming church visitors and new members, an overview of the latest version of Logos which introduces AI into the Bible software, and where to find that wonderful smell of leather.

The discussion

Desk setup – Martin and Sallie share their workspaces and highlight their favorite tools for getting work done.

Martin’s work desk

• Standing desk
• SSD backup
• Apple Magic Trackpad
• Logitech G915 keyboard
• Dell monitor
• Magnetic cord holder
• Lamp

Sallie’s work-from-hone desk

• Logitech K380 keyboard
• Logitech M340 silent mouse
• Laptop stand
• Purple Royal seat cushion

Martin’s work-from-home desk

• Monitor
• Webcam
• Moniter arm
• Desk lamp
• Drawers
• Desktop
• Computer stand
• Chair & chair wheels
• Cable management
• Microphone & microphone arm
• Keyboard

Ministry resources

• 16 Unique and Thoughtful Church Welcome Gifts
• Guest gift table at St Paul’s, North Mankato, MN

Picks of the week

• Windows/Start + V for Copy history on PCs
• Pandora background music for your workday
• Nomad Magnetic Leather Back for iPhone

Community feedback & events

• WELS National Teen Bible Study
• The latest iteration of Logos Bible Software

Next time

Dr. James Carlovsky from Martin Luther College joins the AI conversation.

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We’re 15 years past episode 100 of WELSTech and back once again with your 735th dose of WELSTech goodness! Joining us is the first “Director of Digital Ministry” ever to appear on WELSTech. Listen and learn about the work behind that unique job title. Our picks have a gaming theme, and we share a great resource on church text messaging … for FREE!!!

The discussion

Online outreach – Joining Martin and Sallie is Michael Babler, Director of Digital Ministry at Victory of the Lamb in Franklin, WI. Michaels unique job title is intriguing and makes for an interesting conversation about the ministry efforts he is involved with. He emphasizes making intentional choices when it comes to content delivery platforms. He also discusses some of the behind-the-scenes software in use at Victory of the Lamb to create and share content to the digital world.

• Pathwright
• Canva
• Vista Social
• iMovie
• Adobe Premier

Ministry resource

• WELS Women’s Ministry Reflections on Our Unique Callings devotions

Picks of the week

• Let’s Play Bingo
• Logitech G502 Hero Gaming Mouse

Community feedback & events

• Gloo offers FREE text messaging for churches. Check out Pastor Dan Sprain’s (Shepherd of the Valley, West Fargo, ND) experience and tips (PDF).
• The newest podcast in town is from Northwestern Publishing House (NPH) titled Faith Footsteps
  • Pre-order Christ Through Us, celebrating 175 years of WELS and at a 20% discount until October 15
• Recommended by Alycia Cameron – Hubspot’s Marketing Against the Grain podcast #268 featuring a discussion of NotebookLM from Google

Next time

Join us for WELSTech 736 where we’ll discuss our desktop setups.

Get involved

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WELSTech meets edtech meets ministry this week as we talk tech integration steps for learning and building the infrastructure to support it. We also include details on upcoming classes and webinars of interest, AI image generation, and a surprise new DIY podcast method that gives AI a voice!

The discussion

Framing it with SAMR – We welcome back to WELSTech Director of Academic Computing for Martin Luther College Professor Rachel Feld and Director of Technology for Oshkosh (WI) Area School District Jason Schmidt. This season our episodes with Jason and Rachel will include references to the technology integration framework SAMR, which stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition. After a bit of a SAMR crash course, we learn more about how the basics of tech infrastructure in a school affect the implementation of SAMR.

Ministry resource

• Coming Soon from MLC
  • Enhancing Ministry with Technology taught by Martin Spriggs – Spring 2025
  • Open Learning webinar presented by Dr. James Carlovsky – AI Power Hour: Boost Your Productivity with Creative Tools – November 4 at 7 pm Central
• There’s still time to nominate for the WELSTech AI Summit

Picks of the week

• The Teachers Guide to Tech 2024
• Padlet
• MidJourney
• Miro

Community feedback & events

• MyLens AI creates teaching visuals

 

• NotebookLM from Google can generate a podcast

• Upcoming Women’s Ministry Webinar: Little Lives with Jesus – October 10 at 7 pm Central
• FCC Cyber Security Pilot Program

Next time

WELSTech will be back in a few weeks, and we’ll all be surprised by the discussion topic!

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On this episode of WELSTech, Martin and Sallie continue their discussion on ministry volunteers, with a look at the challenges of communication and showing appreciation. You’ll also hear about creating your own online store for branded merchandise from your church or school, learning the ins and outs of church speaker placement, and nominating someone for […]