TV News, GPB Resources, and Video Distribution Logs are virtually non-existent at my school. What we do have is a broadcasting class that is taught to a select group of students currently part of the Mass Communications academy. That in and of itself is a double-edged sword because on the one hand Mass Communications students are getting exposure to very valuable elements of communication that can lead to broadcasting and other genres I never imagined at that age. However, it also serves as a negative because only those students, accounting for about 20% of the population, are privy to it.
For the remaining 80%, school news may be experienced about once quarterly in the school newspaper or via morning and afternoon announcements. Unfortunately, the latter is a very poor representation of how communications should be facilitated. While I will admit this is my very humble personal opinion, I would be remiss if I did not say that I grit my teeth each time I hear them.
It is amazing...In some ways my school is technologically savvy and in others most antiquated. What we need is balance and a major overhaul. For example, my class and a few others is equipped with promethean boards, yet we do not have TVs, access to GPB or any Video streaming. It is shocking because we are deemed one of the elite schools of Southwest Atlanta.
My hope for my school, especially the students, is as we prepare for renovation, administrators at the local and district level take these fundamental techonological elements under consideration and provide us with tools and equipment to not only experience such niceties, but also take us well into the future of technology.
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After viewing many of the posts it seems that each school system has its challenges with technology. Although you state that your school is considered one of the elite in Southwest Atlanta it does not offer access to GPB or video streaming. I am not sure what is considered the norm overall. On the other hand, I assume this all depends on the financial status of the system/district and the want versus need ratio. I understand that technology is changing everyday, but it seems that in order to reach the highest level of achievement for all students the technolgy must be readily accessible.
This is just a suggestion, and I may be wrong, but it seems to me that I have heard in the past that if your school uses Channel One, then you can get TV's for the classrooms. It'd be worth checking out. I am amazed that you don't have some of the technology that I would consider basic.So far, we have LCD's in every classroom and TV's in the rooms that are in the building. We don't have promethean or smart boards, but we're looking into grants to purchase them as I type.Good luck.
It sounds as if you have a very difficult dichotomy of new technology and old traditions. Sometimes tradition is the biggest factor in breaking down barriers to the full implementation of technology. It is a dangerous notion that only 20% of the children deserve to learn about technology in the format you are describing. The kids who do not perform to this high level probably need the exposure more than the advanced students. Many schools do the exact same thing. I understand there is little a teacher can do to solve this situation other than attempt to obtain and use new technology no matter what level the kids are at. It is interesting that your school has bought the Promethean boards, but they have not connected them to the television. It sounds as if you are working towards being an advanced school and are close to having full implementation. Every school has its issues. For instance, my husband works at a school that has a great deal of money, but, because of tradition, they did not begin to use LCD projectors or interactive boards until last year. It is funny how schools can be kind of blind to what all students actually need to become competent for the future.
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