Student Broadcasting in Elementary Schools

Students can learn broadcasting skills in elementary school.

Televisions have become a necessary part of any well-equipped public elementary school. Radio transmission is a less-often used form of broadcasting in schools. Along with the arrival of both kinds of technology in schools came the opportunity for students to become producers and broadcasters. As a result, what used to be the principal's morning announcements has broadened to become a form of student expression. Television provides the opportunity for student to work in the multimedia realm, as well.

History

Since the first widespread use of the public address system in the 1920s and 1930s, principals have allowed children to make announcements to the student body. Early intercom systems have now been replaced with televisions or radio systems in most schools, although the first use of television for educational use occurred in the late 1950s, according to an article on digitalschool.net by Michael Jeffries, assistant director of educational services of IHETS, a consortium of Indiana's public and private education institutions, government agencies, libraries and public broadcast stations.

Function

Student broadcasting increases communication on the school campus and bolsters knowledge of current events by providing school and world news, weather and public service announcements to the student body and beyond, if posted on school Internet websites. Allowing students to broadcast in elementary schools encourages and improves writing, technology, public performance, media, design and production skills.

Considerations

Teachers must learn how to use broadcasting equipment to teach students.

Most importantly, supervising teachers or staff must be trained in media production. Schools wishing to implement a student broadcasting program need to develop a budget for staff training to get the most out of the technology purchased and also include money for production software. Student broadcasting programs require space, which can be an issue for smaller schools. Many schools utilize library space for equipment since most media equipment is already housed there, but for television production an additional area is needed for shooting.

Age of Student Broadcasters

Student broadcasters are usually in the fourth to sixth grades.

Across the United States, students of all ages are learning about broadcasting in their schools. However, most students who are producing shows are in the fourth to sixth grade. Furgeson Academy, a communications, broadcasting and technology magnet school in Hawaiian Gardens, California, offers kindergarten through sixth grade classes, and all children spend time learning about their broadcast studio. Third through sixth graders actually produce the school's daily 10-minute news program, but they start at a younger age because they are exposed earlier to the technology.

Audience and Permissions

Student broadcasting can reach a wider use through the school website.

Schools can provide the technology and training for students to do radio and television broadcasts for the school population. However, broadcasts can be seen more widely by the parents of students, community and world through uploads onto the school websites. Links to community websites will also reach a wider audience. Schools must obtain permission from parents of students involved in broadcasts for release purposes since once uploaded to the internet, links can be made to other sites without the knowledge of the school.

References

• MA Distributed Learning: Research in Distance Education
• ABC Unified School District: Furgeson Academy
• Sandiego.edu: Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1921
• Porticus.org: Western Electric History