I was unable to access the website for Eisenhower Middle School:
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.
I always love to hear about broadcasting, etc. in schools. I love how it introduces a new world to student who are experiencing what it is like to work behind the scenes and even in front of the camera. We also had a morning show at one point but our biggest barrier was how to display live where every class can have access. Every classroom has a promethean board, so we are still on the hunt trying to figure out how to broadcast that way. However, Orca Live sounds like a good show and I will check it out
ReplyDeleteGreat blog Chasady! When I first interviewed for my Media Specialist position one of the most important jobs the principal stressed to me was that of the daily broadcast. This is my first year as a media specialist and now that I am in the school it seems as if the ONLY job the former media specialist did was the morning broadcast. LOL The broadcast is a BIG deal at my school and according to the teachers, parents, and students it determines whether or not you are a good media specialist. Before I even started officially working at the school I had to undergo a two week training with the former librarian (she insisted) so that I may learn “the ropes”. I am totally glad I did. Once I learned the “in” and “outs” of the show I started to do a little tweeking to make it more of my own. Before I got there the show was ran by half adults and half teachers. Now that I have taken over I have trained the students to run the entire show by themselves. The show is important to our school and I think if we did not “”go on air” each day the school would feel different.
ReplyDeleteIn my school the student news is created and filmed as one of the modules in the Technology and Innovations connections class. The news cast is filmed ahead of time, stored on our shared drive, and teachers show the video from their computers on the Smartboard. The students in the news cast module take pictures of current events around the school, conduct interviews, write the script, and film the news throughout the week. The news is broadcast on Fridays. It involves the Word of the Week, Moment of Silence, the Pledge of Allegiance, current events in the community and the school, announcements, and a photo slide show set to music. They incorporate graphics and transitions. It is quite a production, and luckily the responsibility has been taken off of our LMS. We are a school of 1100 students, and she is a one woman show in the LMC. Budget cuts took away the Media Clerk position, and she has to rely on volunteers just to run the library effectively. By incorporating the news cast into the curriculum of the connections class, it has ensured the continuation of the production.
ReplyDeleteMy son was actually part of the news production crew when he was in elementary school. It was open to fifth graders who applied and auditioned for the crew. They broadcast live daily. They used video equipment, computers, and green screen. The main components of the broadcast, like the Moment of Silence, the Pledge, and announcements, were live. However, the students also worked on pictures, interviews, and spotlight features that were taped ahead of time. All of this was facilitated by the LMS. It is a huge task, but the LMS makes it look easy because she trains the students so well.
Sorry about the last one but I typed about 200 words and it would not post.
ReplyDeleteHere I go again.
I think one of the things I enjoyed the most when working with my mentor was learning the morning news crew. I know technology has improved a lot but Chicopee Woods elementary merged with Jones Elementary in 2010. Jones was awarded a grant probably 3 years to that say 2008 by WSBTV and they brought. Jones a complete news casting room which was a huge big deal . The system has a teleprompter that was still in MS DOS which they may still all do that but I know with technology so happening today there are so many ways to have a news shown on laptops and ipads etc... MS DOS was the first thing the bank got when I worked there in the early 80s and we thought it was great. I don't understand though now why AS400 is still MS DOS. Who knows. Anyway Jeremy taught me how to make short commercials and play some cool music during the opening of the news show each morning little catch 25 seconds of "Who let the dawgs out" which would help get the wiggles out of the kids before the moment of silence and the pledge to the flag. Then the students would do the weather, lunch and other stuff. The most important part of the morning news crew was that the principal would be on for about 3 minutes informing, encouraging the students, and telling them always Knowledge is Power and make it a great day. This helped the students realize that there was a principal and to be able to put a face with a name and know he was real. This was so important not just because it was a (point gain or something ) for GAPPS or SACS that the students knew the principal and had contact with him. because of his face being seen on the news the kids accepted him more freely and would come up into the hallway and great him and talk to him. This made a great way to for him to become familiar with the students and he with them. Then Jeremy would help me with small video's from you tube for instance he showed a short lego commercial about Indiana jones when I was teaching my Indiana Jones map quest to the 3rd graders this helped build suspense and excitement about this Common Core standard. Another fun thing I learned how to do was when I volunteered at the South Hall Middle School and I was able to make a animato for the book fair to show on the news show. The teachers or other important figures would also appear from time to time on the news to give awards but almost every day the principal was there to cheer us on. Lots and Lots of fun. I think the main important thing would be to keep the morning news short no more than 6 minutes because one loses interest. The other important thing is to get your principal or assistant principal involved in the news show and it will help them become a popular person in your school. The kids will love it.
I have noticed in our school that our school news broadcast is the preferred way to get the news out! It has become such a trusted and cohesive way that communication happens on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteOur principal uses the broadcast weekly to announce students with excellent behavior, there are daily segments (mission statement, pledge, moment of silence) and weekly segments as well (Miss Manners, Book Nook, Spanish Spotlight and more).
The morning announcements are such a vital way for every member in the school to get the same information at the same time every day. It is a great way to announce upcoming events, give reminders to bring back school-wide fundraisers, and winners of contests.
Our school has a full-time technology coordinator who runs our news broadcast system. She does not do the work for the students -- but allows them to write, produce, and execute the show. She is there to ensure that things run smoothly, but not much else.
It is a great way to incorporate student involvement and keep everyone on the same page about what is going on in school that day, week, or month!
Lots of great ideas!! I am interested in Furnace and the Adobe Communicator - I will have to check it out!! I love the information you provide... as trivial as it seems, the lunch menu is one of the most important topics for a young adult!! Is there a media specialist AND a library media technology specialist at your school?? I think my school is moving towards having both positions as well - the incorporation of iPads to all students has required so much extra work through the media center that it just makes sense!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with several others that video announcements are a great way to present information. Student enjoy seeing their peers and may listen to them more than a voice over a speaker!!
Thank you for this insightful post Chassidy. I have to say that I've never been part of a school morning news program personally or professionally in the schools where I've worked. But I've always thought it would be a great opportunity for both students and teachers. With technology moving forward at mind boggling rates, kids who don't get the sort of exposure to this type of thing are really missing out. We currently have announcements from the front office each day, usually done by the principal or assistant principal. Our announcements do include the pledge to the flag, the school pledge, day and lunch menu, birthdays, and special events. Periodically there are children who are brought up to say the pledge or to make a special announcement. We also hear about who in the school got sighted by the eagle eye to recognize good behavior among our students. Those kids get to come to the office for a special treat. While this is good, I still maintain that it would be so beneficial to have a student media team for the news. I am currently in a clerk position, but when I grow up, I want to have a morning news cast in our school too!! I can see how the issue of tardy announcements would be problematic, and I think your response is the best way to handle it. By missing the opportunity a few times, students and teachers would have to stay ahead. Thanks for such a great and informative post!
ReplyDelete