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Poland Seminary High School offers expanded technology courses
Poland students get studio experience
POLAND
When Patrick Williams was in high school, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do as a career.
Now, the teacher – who moved to the high school this year after teaching at the middle school for 17 years – is trying to help his own students avoid a similar predicament by opening a whole new world of career possibilities to them.
This school year, the high school introduced new courses in digital media and multimedia production, both led by Williams. He plans to add advanced media production and broadcast courses next year.
The courses are aided by some new equipment. Students have access to broadcasting equipment, a production room, virtual studios, new iMac computers and a drone equipped with a 360-degree camera that students use to shoot aerial footage.
In Williams’ digital-media class, students learn the fundamentals of website design as well as skills such as image editing.
“They actually have to create it [a website] from scratch,” Williams said. “My feeling is, if they know how to do that, anything else will be easy.”
In his multimedia production course, students learn how to put together and edit videos, which includes learning how to incorporate features such as titles, sound and special effects. One project asked students to promote a school club with a video.
For the most part, Williams said, students can work on whatever sparks their interest.
“If they want to do something, they just clear it with me and take off with whatever they want to do. I try to leave it open-ended,” he said.
The chance to use some of the new technology extends beyond Williams’ classroom. Teachers can incorporate it into their lessons; students taking economics use video equipment to film ads for their products; and students use the equipment to film footage for sports highlight reels, for example.
Not only do these kinds of technology courses prepare students for jobs in the digital age, Williams said, they might inspire some to find their calling.
“It sparks the imagination a little bit,” he said.
The new classes seem to have struck a chord with students; a wait list so far has 150 names, “and it’s growing,” Williams said.
Student Jacob Hockensmith says he’s looking forward to taking one of the classes next year.
“It’s the future. It’s where everything is heading, so I want to learn how to use it,” he said.
Williams believes students are learning more than just how to operate the equipment.
“I think anytime you’re using technology, you’re using problem-solving skills,” he said. “I hope the students are looking at the world in a different way.”