Video Connects Small School to the World

Jaws drop!  I hear a collective sigh of "wow!"  I see blank stares of disbelief.  These are the responses I normally get when I tell people I work at a school of only 580 students in PK-12th grades.  My high school has 180 students, and that is the highest our enrollment has been at Howe Public Schools since its establishment in 1904.

In a small town, you wear many hats.  I serve as our district's Technology Coordinator and Federal Programs Director, as well as teach one to three classes as needed.  I have taught Broadcast Journalism for the past ten years, as well as an 8th Computer Science class, and a middle school Genius Hour.

I love teaching!  I love my students!  I love working in a small school!  I've had to be very innovative over the years in how I encourage my students to see past the four walls of our school and find interesting and unique story ideas.  You can only interview your Principal so many times!  For this reason, we've turned to occasionally covering stories outside our school.  I've posted collaboration requests on many sites like the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration, Skype in the Classroom, ePals, etc.  This is one of my posts:

Small, rural school Broadcast Journalism program in SE Oklahoma seeking interviews via distance. Mode of connectivity ranging from iChat, Skype, H.323, etc. Has a student(s) in your classroom received recognition for a class project? Do you know an interesting character? Does your town have a unique story? Tear down those four walls in your classroom and join my students for an interview session for our student-created newscast. We can only interview our Principal so many times, give Mr. C a break from the cameras and tell us YOUR stories! Still not convinced? Let’s discuss what Nat’l/State Standards this collaboration 2.0 project will meet for your lesson plans!

We've also connected with industry professionals via distance.  There are many opportunities to connect with experts in the field using video conferencing tools, such as Skype, Google Hangout, or H.323 technologies.  Read more about an 8th grade class connecting to veteran reporters from the Indianapolis Star for a program entitled, ‘Remaining Relevant: Careers at the Newspaper.’

One of my broadcast students connected with all three National Organization Presidents (BPA, FCCLA, FFA) and conducted  interviews via Skype.

In the past, we have used eCamm's Call Recorder for Skype software to capture the recording for editing into my students' video packages.

This year, once again I am asking my students to Dream Big in their story telling!  I have created a new website called www.theclassroomdreamingtree.com inspired by a tree on Walt Disney's childhood farm.  Visit our site and connect with my students this year!

How does your scholastic journalism program collaborate with others?  Other schools?  Experts? Via video?  Please share comments and your story!  We want to hear from you!




Tammy G. Parks
Howe High School
Howe, Oklahoma