Introduction

Activity
List

Classroom
Materials

Web
Resources

DPS
Standards

Technical
Overview

 

ILT Project
Site
School News

(Grades 4 - 8)

Technical Overview

The sections below detail some of the issues you may encounter. Each section has general topics as well as specific tips. If you do not have all of the knowledge you need to feel comfortable with hardware, software, videotaping, and broadcasting, you should work in collaboration with technical experts in your building or with your DoTS Educational Technology (DoTS ET) representative. You can request assistance from DoTS ET by contacting the DoTS Hotline (x33888).

For more information, please see the following examples:

Working with Hardware

Hardware consists of a video camera, and a computer to edit the video. Most video cameras come with a digital output of some type, usually FireWire which is also called IEEE 1394. You will need to check to make sure your computer also has a FireWire/IEEE 1394 port. If your computer does not have a FireWire interface, it may support an adapter card with FireWire. You'll also need a cable to go from the video camera to the computer. Usually this is a 4 pin to 6 pin FireWire cable. A tripod is essential equipment for filming video. A tripod provides a stable image and frees up the videographer to operate the camera. Please check your equipment before proceeding.

General tips for hardware:

Make sure that your equipment is working before your students start using it. Working through technical details is very discouraging work.

  • Tip 1:
    Know your equipment. Every video camera is different including buttons, special features, and locations of inputs and outputs.
  • Tip 2:
    Sound is the weakest link. Consumer grade video cameras come with consumer grade microphones. Unless you get an external microphone system, your students will need to work hard to project their voices loud enough and clear enough to be recorded well.
  • Tip 3:
    Lighting is the next weakest link. If you are video taping in-doors, you will need to work in a very bright place or provide adequate lighting. Inexpensive work lights can be purchased from a hardware store and make a big difference in taping a news broadcast.

Working with Software

The following tutorials may be very helpful in getting started working with video on your computer. If you are working on a Dell, Microsoft's Windows Movie Maker is a part of Windows XP SP2. If you are using a Macintosh, the district is licensed up through iLife '04, which includes iMovie 4. Newer Macintosh computers may come with newer versions. Links to tutorials for these software titles are listed below.

Microsoft

Macintosh

General tips for software:

Your software generally has three components, a panel for application components like titles and special effects, a panel for your video clips, and a panel where you organize your clips in sequence. This last panel is the actual publishing area for your school news broadcast.

  • Tip 1:
    Keep it simple. While special effects are tempting, they are rarely used in network broadcasts. Effects tend to wow the audience, but actually result in taking away from the content. Other than titles and credits, many broadcasts will have no special effects at all.
  • Tip 2:
    Be consistent. If you reuse the same opening each time, you'll save time and also make your broadcast more easily recognized.
  • Tip 3:
    Get to know your software. Don't try to do everything the first time. Do what needs to be done until you or your students are more proficient with the software. Even though the titles listed above are designed to be simple, there are many advanced features.

Videotaping

Set up a broadcast studio. You might want to consider purchasing a banner from a local print shop with the school name and logo to display behind or in front of the anchor desk. Make sure the area behind the anchors in the studio is not cluttered or distracting. You will want a space where you can leave the studio up between sessions, or you'll want a simple set that can be set up quickly. Take a picture of the set up so you'll have a reference if you need to set it up again.

  • Tip 1:
    Start early and run late. You can always remove excess video. You can't put back something that isn't there. Start the camera several seconds before the reports begin, and leave the camera running for a several seconds after they are done.
  • Tip 2:
    Practice, practice, practice. Your reporters and anchors will be more comfortable if they have adequate time to rehearse. Don't worry if it takes 17 more takes than you wanted. Keep going until you and the students are both satisfied that the segment was their best work.

Broadcasting

Your school should already have the capacity to broadcast over the school's cable system. If your school has not already done so, you will want to check to see if your school's video system has had the proper equipment added to permit broadcasting internally. If your school has not added a switch to the video cabling in the building, please contact the DoTS Hotline (x33888) and request assistance from Adam Johnston in getting this switch set up. Your school will be responsible for ordering the switch. If your school is not set up for video broadcasts, you have other options. You can record the final show back to the camera, and from the camera to a VCR. Record the broadcast on a VCR tape and distribute the tape for playback in the classrooms. If your computer has a DVD burner, and you have DVD editing software, you could also record your broadcast to DVD and distribute it that way. DVD disks are fairly inexpensive, often selling for less than 30¢ each. DVD-R is more universally compatible than other formats of DVDs.

  • Tip 1:
    Give yourself a realistic amount of time. When you are starting out, trying to get everything in place for a broadcast in 10 minutes is not the time to find out if your building is ready for in-house video broadcasting. Check everything first and make sure it is working correctly before committing to an actual broadcast date and time.