Welcome to the our high school Broadcast Journalism class. This newly created school subject started with a bang this year as the students gained self confidence in front of an iPad camera and a free app. But, the iPad had to be returned to the original department and the class was affected.
My school is a school specific for students with special needs.
The students, ranging in age from 14 to 21 years, have all been educationally diagnosed with mild, moderate, or severe learning and/or behavior disabilities. school. The students are diagnosed educationally with more severe cognitive and behavior disorders. Autism, mental retardation, and behavior or emotional disorders are the three most significant disabilities exhibited by our students.
The students of the broadcast journalism class continue to improve upon their writing and verbal skills as they work through each news story.
My Project
When the 2015 - 2016 school year started, our class borrowed an iPad from the speech and language department of our school. The staff wanted to try a free app, Touchcast, which we had recently discovered at a conference this past summer. Although the app is available for the Windows based computers of our school, it has features that are only available on Apple products. The students have learned how to use the app on the borrowed iPad and were extremely disappointed when it had to be returned to the speech department. With the requested iPad Air and keyboard, the students will be able to use a teleprompter, choose a background with the green screen feature, and add titles and story headlines. The students were producing news broadcasts every two weeks, but the goal is to broadcast every Monday and perhaps daily.
Donations to this project would help to purchase a new iPad which would be dedicated to our journalism class.
As the students progress in the work of the broadcasts, their self confidence continues to grow. The students have begun to develop a belief in themselves and their abilities. Social skills improve as the students work through interview skills. Students from around the school give the broadcasters positive comments repeatedly and this brings smiles to their faces.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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