School TV news? That's a touchy subject around my elementary school. Our school has been open for two years now, and we still haven't been able to get a school news TV program going. Right now we only have morning announcements over the intercom. A different group of students help present it every morning, but we don't have a visual form of this as of yet.
The problem began last year when our school opened. Somehow, a lot of the classrooms were not wired correctly, and therefore the school-wide video distribution system wouldn't work in those rooms. It took ALL YEAR to get it fixed! Finally, that was fixed at the beginning of this school year. The next hurdle came when the sound cards in some of the classroom computers were not compatible with the video distribution software program, so they wouldn't play the sound through the speakers set up in the classrooms. That was easily fixed once those specific computers were identified. So now classes are able to watch videos and television channels through their LCD projectors all around the school - and hear them too! However, the school news still hasn't been able to be produced because the software program the media specialist bought to create it has had some glitches. She's been working hard to figure it out, but new problems keep popping up. At this point I think she's become frustrated and has stopped working on it for now. Her hopes were to have a daily morning news show broadcast throughout the school, but it has remained a verbal announcement show only. I know she's frustrated!
Our teachers use the GPB United Streaming website all the time. They love it! Some of the younger grades even watch Reading Rainbow during the day when it's on TV. I know everyone is looking forward to a video news show, but at this point it is still in the "to be completed" file. Hopefully that will change before the end of this school year!
ON A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SIDE NOTE - I just have to say, as a future media specialists and someone who LOVES to read...I'm totally excited about the "Twilight" movie coming out a week from now! We've also got some other great books-to-screen to look forward to: "Inkheart," "The Tale of Despereaux," and "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince." Yay! Read them for yourself or to your class if you haven't yet! They're excellent!
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7 comments:
Just as I thought...other teachers know about gpb streaming. It is not a well-kept secret (not that it should be). It is great that it is so easily accessible. I guess most have figured this out but if a media specialist is having a diffiicult time with the internet running slow, tell her/him to download the video clip to a flash drive and you can pop it in and run at any time. It is the greatest thing since sliced bread to me.
We have yet to start our news broadcast via video at my school either. However it's not due to any technical difficulties; it's simply because our media specialist hasn't found the time to get it started. Hmmm that's a thought...maybe that's something that I can get started!
One of the Tech Tips (posted earlier this semester) gave details about a program that can be used to create a news broadcast. The name of that program is "Adobe Visual Communicator 3 for Education." Check it out when you have the chance.
Hollie, it sounds like your school has experienced technical difficulties to the max. When everything works- it's great, and when things don't work- you want to throw in the towel!
Hopefully, everything will cooperate for the next school year.
I have little experience with United Streaming, but I have started matching videos with my curriculum. I'm making a collection to save on DVD's for my grade level. That way, we can show them when we want, and not get frustrated by technology.
On an other note, my teen-age daughter wants to go the movies to see "Twilight" at the first showing at midnight!!! Should I let her go with her friends at midnight? See read all the books this past summer and totally loved each one.
Dorina
I can't even imagine the headache of trying to a morning broadcast set up. Ours runs very smoothly, but it has been going for many years. I am hopefull of getting a position in a school that already has this well established.
I love united streaming and used to use it a great deal. I am not very fond of the new set up they have, change is always difficult.
Like you, I am very excited about the new movies. I haven't read Twilight, but will be trying to do that over the break.
So frustrating, Hollie! I will never understand why it takes a millennium to solve tech issues in our schools. There can be so many challenges in a new school, and producing a news broadcast is no easy feat, especially when you are working as the lone media specialist. She can only do so much! Hopefully things will soon work out. The kids will be missing out on an important opportunity until then.
In response to your side note--I was in Sam's today and bought paperback copies of both Twilight and New Moon. (I checked Twilight out from the MC the first time I read it and have yet to read New Moon--can't wait for Christmas break!) Two different people stopped me to comment on how awesome the books are and to discuss the upcoming movie. One was a women who has, along with her daughter, read the entire series. She said her daughter was planning, along with a large group of friends, to see the movie this Friday, the 21st. As a future LMS, that is SO EXCITING to me!!!!! If I were in the MC right now, I'd be making a huge deal about it. Isn't is so awesome when kids (and adults) get excited about reading?
Holli, It sounds like your school has had a very frustrating situation. I hope you get it worked out. Our broadcast system works very smoothly and I feel that the students really benefit from it. I hope you get it going soon!
I love United Streaming! I think there are so many great videos to support the GPS curriculum at the click of a couple of buttons.
I plan to read the books while on maternity leave. I can't wait to get to them. Krista
Holli, It sounds like your school has had a very frustrating situation. I hope you get it worked out. Our broadcast system works very smoothly and I feel that the students really benefit from it. I hope you get it going soon!
I love United Streaming! I think there are so many great videos to support the GPS curriculum at the click of a couple of buttons.
I plan to read the books while on maternity leave. I can't wait to get to them. Krista
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