Project Ideas: March 2009 Archives

Submitted Question:

Hi, Rob. I was thinking about using the Adobe visual communicator next year because I am technologically needy. I read some comments online that this is fine for middle school programs but hardly suitable for high schools. We do have equipment like a graphic generator, telepromter, mixer, and switcher, but most of it is in need of repair. I'd like to produce a morning show, midday show and weekly magazine show. If this can be done without all that fancy equipment, that's what I want. Can you tell me if I would be going backwards instead of forwards by switching?

In a nutshell, if it were me--YES.  I can't see any other option for ease and affordability, knowing how powerful VC3 software is, and how nothing even similar exists at this point.  I've been using it since 2003 and grew up with it during my teaching career and as a side business in video production services.

In essence, you eliminate the need for hardware since a modern PC can run the software and do the switching internally.

I'm working now with a vendor to package items together for a basic getting started package.  My workshops and training DVDs will teach how to implement.  See details as they develop on my site here.

Submitted Question:

Do you have any research on the benefits of having a school TV news program? We started having a morning news show this year using Visual Communicator. Our program runs about 7 minutes each day, including the pledge and moment of silence. Our problem is that the principal wants it cut down. We had been announcing the sports scores and players with a little video clip of the game, pictures of the chess team winning a tournament, etc. Now we are down to the bare bones trying to keep everything under 5 minutes. There is no extra anything! I'm sure someone has done a study of the benefits of using the TV news to increase school spirit, public speaking..... Can you help me?

Official research--no, but practical first-person research--YES!  Each and every day I see my students light up with all the educational aspects that TV production offers.  Teamwork, responsibility, mentoring others, computer skills, math application for creating graphics and aspect ratios, you name it!

I'd suggest Google to see what you can find out there, and look at my collection of links too for articles and more.

Share your findings with us too in the comments area below!

I have not tried this free service yet myself, but thought I'd share this blog article that explains how to use Mogulus to stream your VC shows live online:

http://www.mogulus.com/blog/?p=1012

If anyone wishes to try this, be sure to let us know your results below by posting a comment.

Currently behind the scenes we're working on a "behind-the-scenes" DVD project from our March 2009 school musical.  Since it's an original performance written by our own music teachers, copyright restrictions are not as tight.

Our Collector's Edition DVD will feature the entire recorded performance, along with a slideshow containing behind the scenes pictures from the cast and crew.  The biggest feature though will be the "Making of a Musical" documentary video featuring interviews and funny stories from the lead student characters and teachers involved.  All interviews are recorded (green screened) using Adobe Visual Communicator, and the entire video project will be assembled with Adobe Premiere Elements 7.

Students are purchasing the disc for only $12, and all fundraised proceeds are used by our extracurricular Tech TV Club to purchase additional hardware and supplies.

To see an example of this, take a look at a similar past video project we did for another original musical written and performed in 2005: