My school's video distribution system is a closed circuit cable system. One of my responsibilities this year as media specialist is to set up the closed circuit so that we will have a morning news program running every morning by next school year, so this is a topic that I have already researched. Earlier this year, the music teacher/technology specialist from another school came to my school one day and taught me how to set up a live broadcast with my system. With his help I was able to broadcast the school's spelling bee live.
I have also visited another school in the county and learned how they run their closed circuit news program. Their system is newer than mine and the technology better. The media specialist has one computer with two monitors that display the teleprompter information. She uses a program called EZprompter. I talked with another mediat specialist who also uses this program. She says it is easy to use and not too expensive.
All the schools I talked with have one newscast each morning where students say the pledge and announcements. It lasts about 5 minutes or less (usually). Schools chose their students differently. One school used ASP students as their newscasts (4th and 5th graders). One school had 4th and 5th grade students try out. The middle school media specialist used a questionnaire for potential student helpers (upcoming 8th graders only). Then each of the student candidates had to have a questionnaire filled out by a teacher. The teacher reference had to answer questions about grades, behavior, attendance, etc. The middle school also had a rotation schedule for student helpers. They worked alternate weeks.
The channel we use for closed circuit broadcasts at my school is 6. We use channel 4 for closed circuit videos. The middle school has 3 or 4 closed circuit channels (I don't remember the channel numbers). The teachers at my school have no control over the closed circuit channels from their classroom (except to turn off the TV).
Two of the schools created a rolling powerpoint of announcements that played during the school day. Other events are occasionally broadcast (such as the spelling bee).
GPB
We have United Streaming at my school. It is one of my duties to train and help teachers with it. Unfortnately, I only had a short (30 minute) training session on it a few years ago. If I have questions about it, I usually e-mail another media specialist.
I liked the Teachers' Domain resources. It was great to have the elements of each subject divided and resources for each of those elements. For example--math was divided into Numbers and Operations, Algebra, geometry, measurement, etc. Then Numbers and Operations was divided further into Counting, Decimals, fractions, etc. These divisions are similar to the divisions we have for the Georgia Performance Standards. It is easy for teachers to locate the resources they need.
Rhonda, It sounds like there is so much to learn about as a first year media specialist! I appreciate your research on this subject because it sounds complicated in many ways. Congratulations for broadcasting the spelling bee---what a treat for students to watch live!
ReplyDeleteFrom what I gather from these posts and from my own observations and questions is that school news is a time-consuming endeavor for the LMS. I do feel though, that the product is worth the time in the long run. Great post!
Do you think you will be looking into getting EZ Prompter for your school?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind seeing a spelling bee every now and then. It is great that you had the opportunity to broadcast one.
Good luck on your media specialist role in coordinating the school news program. I think it is an excellent opportunity for you, and I hope I recieve the same opportunity when I get a media specialist position. In the high school where I teach, Video Broadcasting is an actual course where our technology teacher coordinates the student production of our "Knight News", so my media specialists have little or no involvement with the student news program. After viewing several other blogs, the trend in elementary schools tends to place a larger role of the media specialist in the production of the school news program, and I think this is an excellent opportunity for the media specialist to yet provide another medium or foundation for student learning. Like you, I am sure there is much to learn with regards to actually set up and executing a student news production, but the final product will certainly make the experience rewarding.
ReplyDeleteI think it is great that you are taking the initiative to start a broadcast at your school. It seems that one of the most important things that you could have is the support of your administration and the teachers in your building. You know how people get if students have to miss moments of class or instructional time.
ReplyDeleteI know you'll do a great job. My question is, do you have a plan for incorporating it into your already busy time schedule? That seems a little intimidating to me.
Sankonscious--I plan to get EZPrompter. I have heard from other media specialists that it is easy to use.
ReplyDeleteJeremy-You are right. There is still much for me to learn, but I do have some help from other media specialists. Also, the gifted teacher at my school plans to help me with the newscasts next year.
KVal--I'm hoping that I won't be such a large part of the specials schedule next year. My school is losing about 400 students to a new school down the road. That is almost half of our student population.