Back to School: A/V 101

It’s here! Time to go back to school.

While your students sharpen their pencils and break out their new backpacks, we’ve got something for you to think about; how can you get the most bang for your buck with your video board?

Your Daktronics display benefits students other than just the athletes. What happens when you bring it full circle and create educational opportunities for students? Let’s dive into our case study with Porter County Career Center’s Video Production and Media Studies class in Indiana.

HANDS ON EXPERIENCE
Something is stirring in Bob Phelp’s classroom: excitement. The Porter County Career and Technical Education instructor is heavily involved in getting his students plenty of hands-on experience. Phelps exposes them to the world of media, technology and what lies beyond graduation. The students have been soaking up all the hands-on training they can get from broadcasting local Valparaiso High School games to creating commercials, music videos and more.

VIDEO & TV PRODUCTION

Students from Hobart, Valparaiso, Chesterton, Portage, Wheeler, Boone Grove, Hebron, Washington Township, Morgan Township and Kouts High Schools flock to the program each year. The class serves as a stepping stone from education to real life application in the entertainment industry. According to a local interview, Bob explained, “The students learn the basics of video production, and that includes framing, video and editing. They learn how to piece the information together to tell a story.”

But that’s not all they do. Students have soaked up knowledge like sponges and put it into practical applications. “The students produce a television show called ‘On the Road’ where they highlight things to do in Northwest Indiana, including Popcorn Fest, Amhurst Asylum in Valparaiso and the Art Barn. Our productions go on a variety of outlets, including YouTube and a streaming service called Cube. We’re also active on social media like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook,” Bob continued.

CLASS TO CAREER
So far, the program has met with success, with graduates working in production companies in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. It’s amazing to see how far students can go with a little extra real-life experience.

What will you do to kick-start your students’ education?