School Video News Wyandotte Middle School Profile

March, 2008

With changes happening daily in our digital world, students have to have the knowledge to keep up and grow. In the 21^st century, we are teaching the “digital child”. Technology is what they know and are comfortable with. Giving students the tools they need to work to their potential in our technology driven society is our privilege and responsibility. Broadcasting is one way to give them the tools they need to succeed. Wyandot’s NewsHawks broadcasting club helps give our students the opportunity to develop creativity and increase technological skills. They learn the importance of working as a team to accomplish one common goal. One of the Michigan Educational Technology Standards is to “Use technologies to input, retrieve, organize, manipulate, evaluate, and communicate information”. We are meeting that challenge everyday at Wyandot.

SVN: Tell us about your background and how you decided to start teaching video production.

My name is Paula Goosen and I have been a middle school Library Media Specialist in the Chippewa Valley School district for 10 years. I also worked as an elementary media specialist for one year. Prior to that, I taught first and third grade in another district. I received my undergraduate degree in Education from Wayne State University, my Masters in Library Science, and my media endorsement from Wayne State University. The schools in our district were upgraded to include broadcast capabilities with a technology bond passed in 1998. After everything was installed I approached our administration to ask if I could take over the daily announcements and put them on the air. Up to this point, the announcement “club” was a group of students who read announcements over the PA twice a day. Since our district had invested so much money in technology, they were very supportive and more than happy to let me take over. As a media specialist, I am faced with the challenge of integrating technology and a love for reading into every day classroom activities and projects. This was one way to showcase students in a way that interests them and, at the same time, reinforce importance skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening, editing, and so much more. The broadcast club is cross curricular, allowing members to become specialists in communication. The students have stronger skills in writing, language arts, and technology. Students gain confidence in themselves and their ability to work under pressure and still shine on camera. They are exposed to video editing, digital storytelling, power point, digital cameras, podcasting and public speaking. I know that a greater number of students listen to important announcements because they are visual.

SVN: How did you obtain initial funding for your program?

The majority of the equipment needed came from our district and the technology bond. We have added cameras, software and microphones from fundraiser money over the last few years.

SVN: Did you have equipment available?

No equipment was available to us prior to the technology bond which really helped launch our program. Previous to this generous bond, the students did all announcements over the PA system.

SVN: How many kids are in the TV production Class? How is it broken down? Is it a multi year program?

We are not a class, we are a club. This year we have 25 students. They are divided into 5 person crews and are rotated throughout the year. Each crew is on for one week at a time. Three eighth grade girls are also responsible for shorter afternoon announcements. Through their enthusiasm, they make the afternoon PA announcements more fun to listen to.

SVN: Can you tell us a little more about the sessions? How long are the classes? How many students?

Since the majority of our students arrive on busses, we do not have much time to meet in the morning before they go Live at 8:05! Usually the entire crew is here by 7:50, and they work very hard to get ready by air time. Everyone has a job to do and it gets done! After announcements, they stay to do important prep work for the next morning (changing PowerPoint slides, updating the teleprompter, going through and editing announcements, just to name a few), then they head to first hour. They are responsible for keeping up with their classes and any work they miss.

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