273 – The Un-Conference

This week on the WELSTech Podcast learn about EdCamp, a grass-roots, free conference format that is spreading across the country.  Chances are there is an un-conference EdCamp scheduled near you, and on today’s WELSTech you’ll hear about what to expect when you attend.

The interview & discussion:

(3:46) No red jello – Jason Schmidt, Tech Coordinator for Bennington ISD near Omaha, NE, returns to the edtech guest host chair to join Martin and Sallie for a discussion of the EdCamp “un-conference” format.  Emily Dittmar (@MsDittmar on Twitter), a Library Media Specialist in the Marshall, WI public school system and EdCamp organizer, also talks with us about her experience of collaboration and networking among all types of educators and administrators in a relaxed, unplanned structure at EdCamps.

• EdCamp Wiki
• EdCamp Madison,WI – February 23, 2013
• EdCamp Omaha, NE – March 23, 2013
• New Forms of Professional Development

Picks of the week:

• (23:25) Family Science Night from PTO Today
• Doctopus
• SwiftKey Android Keyboard App

Community feedback:

• (32:20) In response to a question on the WELSTech Listserve, links were shared to various group text messaging services to assist with communication between teachers and parents:
  • One Call Now
  • Power School’s Power Announcement
  • Blackboard’s Alert Now
  • 7 Services for Sending Group Texts to Parents and Students
• There’s a brand new WELS Google Apps Schools Google group thanks to Jason Schmidt
• Flipping with Kirch
• Snapheal for Mac – remove “photo bombs” from your digital images
• 10 Good Tech Habits Everyone Should Have
• Create,edit and present with Google Slides offline
• Visualizing China
• Pastor Rob Guenther from Grace in Kenai, AK shared his sermon podcasting process:
  • Dropvox
  • Dropbox
  • WappWolf
• Jim Baur from Christ in Baxter, MN followed up regarding Sallie’s 10 Tools pick for February, BuddyPress. Jim recommends the Elgg open source social networking software as a (possibly superior) alternative to BuddyPress. Jim shared a link to his new Elgg site which he envisions will serve as an intranet for Christ Lutheran members.  Meanwhile Sallie’s evaluation of BuddyPress in underway and has turned into a comparison with her sample Elgg install. Stay tuned for updates from Jim & Sallie.

Coming up on WELSTech:

(49:40) Episode 274 – Next week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie celebrate Digital Learning Day and talk with Jim Grunwald from Martin Luther College and Rich Gurgel from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary about WELS digital education. (Release date – 02/05/13)

The featured artist:

(50:36) We close the podcast with the music of Corban Creek – Home Above

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