Team 7 MEDT 7477 Spring - School TV News - Shanda Schaefer

School TV News

Upon reviewing the two websites suggested by Dr. Cooper I quickly realized our school needed to “up our game” when it comes to our school news.  Currently at McEver Arts Academy we use a closed circuit cable system, a PowerPoint presentation including the pledge and screenshots of our school mission statement, and a video that includes sound for our introduction.  Our school news can be improved in so many areas.  One thing I really enjoyed when watching the Eisenhower Middle School broadcast and would like to start using is teacher and staff interviews.  This can be interviews about a favorite book, upcoming activities, inviting students to join a club, etc.  I think this provides a more inviting and personal message to the students.  I would also be interested in how to produce the school news broadcast through SchoolTube.  Currently, we do not record our broadcast.  It is fed live through our closed circuit cable system which gives way to many blunders and technical difficulties when something should happen to mess up.  If we were able to prerecord these broadcast some of these things might be edited or fixed. 

The school news at my school is rather scripted and boring.  In more detail, the news crew includes four 4^th and 5^th graders that put in a rather simple application asking why they should be on the McEver News Crew.  The media specialist will then take all applicants and place them on a schedule for the year.  All applicants will get to participate unless behavioral issues arise.  The rotation for the crew is usually on a 4-5 week basis unless there are holidays involved.  One person operates the laptop and mixer and one person operates the camera.  The other 2 students are the anchors that announce the date, weather, school mission statement, lunch choices and pledge.  The pledge concludes our broadcast unless we have a special announcement from the principal, student council, or the school nurse.  Unfortunately, that’s where the only excitement really comes into our broadcast and it is usual only 2-3 times a week. 

Researching and exploring different ways to improve our school news broadcasting needs to be the next steps for our school.  Some ideas that I have found with my current research is using a green screen to show live backgrounds, including a list of birthdays in an exciting way, discussing poplar topics in the local news today, etc.  Students are similar to an adult news broadcast audience, they need attention grabbing topics, graphics, and themes.  I would be interested in meeting with our schools technology committee (which is made up of myself and teachers) and drafting a list of new and improved ideas for our schools news with the teachers input.  I would then possibly conduct a survey of the students, asking what topics they would like to hear about on "their" news broadcast. 

As it appears now, the news at my school has taken a backseat to a lot of other priorities and it is time for a much needed update.  How would you rate your schools current news broadcast?

Orenco  Elementary in Hillsboro, Oregon, (http://schools.hsd.k12.or.us/orenco/Home/tabid/2559/Default.aspx)

Eisenhower Middle School, Wyckoff, New Jersey's ETV (https://www.youtube.com/user/ETVEisenhower/videos).

Lights, Camera, Action: The Lowdown on the School TV News

Let's face it...at some point or another, some of us, in our childhood days, have always dreamed of being in front of the camera. Well, students at Orenco Elementary School, located in Hillsboro, Oregon, are making dreams a reality! Orenco Elementary has an amazing set called Orca Live. Their presentation is phenomenal. In the opening credits there are a series of screenshots that display the children in their respective roles. After the credits are over, the news anchors get right down to business. They introduce themselves, give the date, welcome substitutes, extend birthday wishes, and lunch schedules with menu, just to name a few. There are a lot of cool graphics that are used throughout the presentation. I really like how they transition to different segments throughout the show. The show that I watched was from February 9, 2015. It was approximately 24 minutes and 27 seconds long. The segment was a bit long and with my school schedule, there is no way we would be able to accommodate something of that magnitude. 

I was unable to access the website for Eisenhower Middle School:

Currently, we aren't producing a morning news show this school year; however, we did last year. The morning news show was done Monday through Friday from 8:00-8:15 or longer for whatever reason. We used a student broadcast system along with Adobe Visual Communicator 3, to display the script to the anchors. The student body is able to view the show live from the mounted televisions
or projectors in the classrooms. Teachers are able to access the show via Video Furnace, also known as Furnace, to display on the projectors. Our show consisted of the following content:

I. Welcome: Give date, time, weather report,

II. Lunch menu

III. Inspirational Quote of the Day

IV. Word of the Day: includes definition and example of using it in a sentence

V. Announcements: from various clubs, teachers/staff

VI. Closing with Raider Rap.

Through Furnace, teachers are able to stream live t.v. from pre-approved channels available via Comcast. Those channels are:

• PBS,
• CSPAN,
• DSC,
• WEATH,
• CNN,
• TLC,
• HISTORY,
• NGC,
• SCIENCE, and
• HISTORY.

The show is produced by the Morning News Crew and Library Media Technology Specialist. At the beginning of the school year, I solicit talent by having the Principal make a general announcement over the intercom. I also display posters around the school as well. I came up with an application for interested individuals to fill out. All applicants must have a teacher recommendation in order to be considered. I have a couple of retired teachers that come and volunteer in the media center on occasion. So, when it's time to weed through applications, I get them to help. At the time, I was working without a clerk so my volunteers were instrumental in holding auditions while I ran the media center. We would pick two students and two alternates (for each position, such as anchor, camera operator,etc.) from each grade level (6-8). The same students would perform their duties all year but they would rotate every week by grade level. A constant problem that we've had is that students and/or staff would wait until the last minute to bring us announcements and birthday shout-outs. I always required 24 hour notice so that I could type them ahead of time into the visual communicator so that the kids would have enough time to practice. In order to solve the issue, I had to just turn people away that refused to comply with the rules. 

MEDT 7477 Blog 3 Social Networking and School Library Media Centers

MEDT 7447 BLOG 3 
Social Networking and school library media centers
posted by:  Angie Wood

Social networking sites are used by educators, the work force, law enforcement, and businesses alike.  Law enforcement agencies are using social networking sites to catch and prosecute criminals.  School systems are using Facebook for collaboration and a learning tool because students are already familiar with the platform it is built on and the knowledge to use it.   In one classroom, Facebook was used to gather pictures from student’s personal Facebook pages and then cut and paste the photos into a power point presentation.  There is also video and URL plus other texts presented in this platform that students use because of the easy and familiar ways to download, upload, and share information.   In a college setting it can allow students to ask questions to an instructor that they might not ask in person.  This is one 2.0 web tool that can allow shyer students to voice their questions and thoughts to the class.  Although it could open up more student to student and teacher to student communications teachers in k - 12 setting are strongly discouraged to be friend fellow students via Facebook.   Web CT, Blackboard, or interfaces like Course Den are web tools that college campuses use where students are more likely to post their educated comments.  The AASL reports that social networking tools/technology is becoming more and more vital in a student education.  These web tools help with group collaboration and discussions are becoming more evident in the learning process.  Schools are accepting it as part of the 21st century learners     there is a place for social networking when used in the right way.  Many schools do filter out the social networking sites due to language and photos that could be present in them.   The middle school that I work at allows Facebook to filter into their school.  This was a huge help as my class built an "All about me" power point during the first couple of weeks of school the students could go in to their Facebook and save photos for their project.  This was a very helpful tool.   I can see it also as a big drama queen playing field.  It can be distracting because students have their cell phones and can ready post at any time or reply to post at any time.  This is where the user agreement policy would have to go into effect for a school and its district. This policy would also state that the teacher has the right to decide if the students will be using their devices and what for.   The policy would state that if the student does not use the device properly and in accordance with the teachers and school rules then the device would be taken up and the student would not get it back till the end of the year.    
     On Destiny there is Destiny Quest and this allows students to use it similar to the way someone uses Facebook.  Here again just like with web pages the school system would need the media center specialist to monitor this type of social networking because drama would show up in a heartbeat and students would be getting their feelings hurt, fighting, or just messing up while using Facebook.  With Destiny Quest it is the first social networking site tied to a OPAC interface system.    In Destiny the media specialist and or teachers can post book titles and start blogs about these books. The students can also post reviews of books as Destiny promotes safe social networking. It is k-12 user friendly for students and teachers alike. In an article from EditLib, author Michelle Ritger states nine reasons to use Destiny Quest and get your students logged into it. I have listed them below which helps explain the use of the social networking in the library. Here is the link: http://www.editlib.org/p/36929/ 

9. Users can see what they have checked out and when items are due back to the library. 

8. Users can renew their own books; I have it set to one renewal per item.

7. Users can create their own virtual shelves and keep track of What I Am Reading, What I Have Read, and What I Want To Read (especially handy for those users who read voraciously, like me.

6. Users can put books on hold that they want to read but are checked out to someone else.

5. Users can notify me of items to purchase for the library that we don’t already own.

4. Users can rate the books they’ve read and write book reviews which other users can see.

3. Users can create a network of “friends” within the system which allows them to recommend books to each other and have online discussions about books with their “friends.”                  

2. Because logging in to Destiny Quest uses the power of social media to create a personal experience around the library collection, students are excited about books and love using the library.

1. Students are excited about books and love using the library.

I think Destiny Quest is a great tool to get your students involved in.  It is not currently used at the middle school I work at but I have seen it in action in an elementary school and it works great!  Take the first step and get the students set up and the teachers trained and start social media explosion in your school.

References

Cheasty- Ritger, M. (2011). Using Destiny Quest to Teach Social Networking. In M. Koehler & P. Mishra (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2011 (p. 3843). Chesapeake, VA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).

Blog 2 Media Center Web Pages

I believe that Web Pages are still the way to go when it comes to the media center. While I switched from a web page to a blog in my classroom I think that the web page fits the needs of the media better than blogs or wikis. While in my classroom I want to interact with my students and them to interact with each other I do not feel this is the primary purpose for a media center web outlet. While I don't think that the web page should be dumped I do think that blogs and wikis can and should be incorporated into the web pages. This can be done in a variety ways for a variety of reasons. This way interaction can still take place but it is not at the fore front and the focus is still on the main resources and current events.

I like the web page because I like a familiar home screen each time you go to it. This home screen should be aesthetically pleasing as well as easy to navigate. With the target audience of the web page being students and parents there need to be tabs to the resources that they will use on a regular basis. There should also be a page dedicated to what's going on in the media center at that time as well as upcoming events etc. My number 1 pet peeve when it comes to web pages are links that are not linked to anything. All links need to work and go to the correct location. If a web page is difficult to use or if people are constantly having issues with the web site they are not going to frequent the web page therefore not using the resources and not receiving vital information.

I feel like web pages are more formal than wikis and blogs and I like the formality of them. I like the communication that blogs and wikis allow as long as approval is gained before posts are posted. It is tricky because you can't  just let people post without approval on a public school blog.

Simplicity is important when creating a web page, you don't want so much going on that users can focus or find the information they are looking for.  Web pages are also not something to be set up and not maintained. In order for a web site to be useful it needs to be monitored and updated frequently. Links should be checked frequently and information needs to be accurate.

Top Pet Peeves

1. Links not working
2. Not asthetically please
3. Confusing to Navigate
4. Cluttered pages
5. Inconsistent Formatting
6. Some pages should open in new windows automatically and don't 

Media Center Web Page Must Haves 

1. Destiny
2. Events
3. Book Recommendations
4. Students Book Reviews/Recommendations (Could feature one student at a time or this could be where the blog is incorporated into the webpage)
5. Resources
6. Teacher Resources
7. Policies
8. Student Spotlight
9. Galileo

To me our current media center page is not an ideal page. Here is the link Waycross Middle School Media Center Link  This page is cluttered with just links to me and not the most useful, informative or aesthetically pleasing. 

This is a link to my blog which the more I think about it a blog could work well. There are so many methods to deliver information to people it is hard to choose what is most appropriate. While on this blog we have not begun to us it as a communication took for kids I am open to suggestions on how to make this more interactive. 

My Blog for a Blog Example

My view on what I thought I liked more may have changed as I typed the entry. #technology #everchanging 

MEDT 7477 Spring 2015 Blog 2 MC Web Pages S. Schaefer Team 7

The Media Center’s web page can be an essential part to the Media Centers success.  When a media specialist begins to design a web page there are many things and resources to consider. I have made a list of basic items that should be included and some that should not.  I correlated this list of personal opinions from reviewing other schools webpages and my experiences while on these pages.

Top 5 “Basics” for Media Center Web Page

1.       Housekeeping items – Hours, staff, upcoming events, etc.

2.       Procedures

3.       Link to School’s look up/check out system

4.       School specific Resources and Reference materials

5.       Communication area such as an email or drop box. 

Top 5 “No No’s” for Media Center Web Page

1.       Website not up to date

2.       Error message or no page when a link is clicked on

3.       Irrelevant resources - grade appropriate

4.       Overwhelming or not user family structure

5.       Information not related to the Media Center

Students, teachers, and parents, can become easily frustrated when a schools media center webpage is not accurate, not up-to-date, or too “busy” to locate information.  Being a first year media specialist I was clueless about what the students and teachers wanted on “their” media center webpage.  I surveyed the teachers and questioned random students and found out exactly what I needed to know.  The answer I received the most was, “I would like everything to be in one place and easy to find”.  I began to research ways to organize and structure a web page to meet those needs and I came across a program called Symbaloo.  I was able to find someone in my county that was familiar with creating Symbaloo’s so I quickly learned and created one for my school.  I have received very rewarding comments about our Media Center web page and have noticed an increased use of the site.  Check it out!  McEver Arts Academy Media Center

I was also able to include the school symbaloo on the media centers Destiny cataloging front page.  The Destiny cataloging page also has a short cut added throughout our network so that it appears on every computers desktop when the students or teachers log on.

                                                                                                    Destiny 

This being on the desktop of every computer in the school has been extremely efficient and used on a daily basis in the classroom.  Symbaloo has proven to be a wonderful resource for our school and a great addition to our media center web page.

When designing a webpage such as a schools media center page for public use I do not feel a blog or wiki would be very appropriate.  Accurate information needs to be provided for these types of pages with information that is current and useful.  Given public access can change the entire purpose of the page or its direction.  With the new technologies of today, web pages do not have to be the same boring thing.  There are so many new and fun ideas to be incorporated and constructed.  Therefore it is imperative to have the right person for the job when it comes to creating a successful web page.