The Middle School Television Studio
Innovative Program
Currently, Lewisburg Area School District’s middle school has a broadcast studio that is very dated with equipment and materials that are “patched” to make the system work. The school would like to update the broadcast system to:
1) Provide training to students in technical and communication skills necessary to the operation of a broadcast system not already provided in the typical academic program
2) Supplement current professional development presentation to include LASD training via video, and
3) Expand district and building-level communication outreach to the community at large.
With additional funding, the Middle School would like to enhance the current program. First, students will be able to go into the community to record news pieces that can be written, recorded, and edited for broadcast by students. With additional equipment, the district would like to archive each broadcast or offer it as a live feed for parents and community members to view. Recently, the science department purchased “Weather Bug,” a web-based weather station, which feeds a local news station. The science department would like to partner with the broadcast studio so that students can create live and on-site weather forecasts to enhance the daily broadcast. Finally, it is the hope that an expanded and up to date broadcast studio could be available to all teachers to use in their classrooms as part of their curriculum instruction and assessment plans.
The broadcast studio is primarily an extra-curricular activity utilized by students during their mid-day exploratory club-time, however, the studio has the potential to fit seamlessly into classroom instruction and assessment. Through the Language Arts classes, students can perfect their writing and communication skills while working on their public presentation skills. Science content can be easily explored through documentary creation and weather data collection activities. Authentic assessments in the areas of Social Studies, the Related Arts, and foreign language lend themselves to student feedback by way of broadcast.
Students would have the opportunity to go well beyond the Pennsylvania Standards in area of Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Specifically, communication and technology of literacy would be addressed through writing a script for the broadcast, operation of all cameras, microphones, mixers, sound systems, computers and lights. Also, students gain valuable experience in broadcast journalism by reporting the news.
In the area of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, Technology and Society, students are expected to master the technological knowledge necessary for broadcast operation. Operation of the broadcasting studio, and creation of the written and spoken material required would be completed by students under the direction of two qualified teachers. The two teachers would continue to keep the program updated with the state standards as they are revised and edited.
Equipment and Support
Below is a list of equipment/materials necessary to upgrade the current broadcast studio to meet the needs of the innovative program. This includes, but is not limited to:
Acoustical Materials, Microphones, Teleprompters, Audio Mixers, Digital Monitors, Video Mixers, DVD/VCR Machines, Cameras, Computer Media, Wiring, Software, Cabling, Lighting