Unleashing Creativity: A Cinematic Journey with My Students
Josh recently had the chance to get out of the classroom and get back to the reason he is in the classroom… making movies with his students. This article looks at that incredibly and invigorating experience.
Don’t Be That Teacher: Extra Credit Doesn’t Exist…
As the teacher that I hope you are, you have poured everything into trying to get everything right and tried to improve every day. You have worked through plans, created engaging assignments, and pushed yourself and your students to be the best possible. Only to be told that you didn’t do enough for that student to reach their goal, no matter if that goal is to pass or for an A. It’s all your fault because your 95% effort wasn’t enough to get them over the 45% effort.
Starting Over and Moving Forward
“If I had known then what I know now” those words from one of my favorite Pearl Jam songs have been echoing in my head for the last two months. The “then” in this case was late February 2010, when I started my first job in education. I was hired as a Program Assistant for a federal grant at a small school in South Georgia. I was 24 years old and I had no idea what I was doing.
How To Remove Buzz From Audio Recordings
“Noisy Audio” is always a struggle. Here are steps to remove the audio before and after you hit record!
Just do It: How To Start Student Play By Play
Tom details points of focus if you are starting your program’s play by play and color commentary for your live shows.
Teaching To The Test Pattern Podcast Episode 129: Where HAve You Been?
In this episode of Teaching To The Test Pattern, Tom discusses his new job, why he made the change, and how it will impact StreamSemester.com and the podcast.
What Are The 5 Major Problems With Wireless Microphones?
Wireless microphones are convenient and versatile devices that allow you to move freely on stage or in the room without worrying about cables. However, they also come with their own challenges and potential issues that can affect the quality and reliability of your sound. This blog post will discuss the five major problems with wireless microphones and how to solve them.
Clean Your Room… Clear Your Mind
Over the last decade, I have visited a lot of video production classrooms and met with hundreds of video production educators. There are some truths that I have realized lately that I felt need to be shared as the expectations of you continue to increase.
The Blackmagic Camera App Should Change Your Classroom
On September 14th, Grant Petty and his Mary Poppins desk gave the IBC 2023 Update. There are two times each year that you can be guaranteed that Blacmagic will announce new products and this year was no different. But this one is different! There were several things announced including new cameras and other tools but this announcement should change the way you teach students how to use cameras.
The Personal Touches Matter: Creating Gifs in Canva to Use in Schoology
It only takes a few minutes to make a big impact using GIFs to bring your Schoology courses to life. This article walks you through how you can use a free Canva account to do just that.
Getting a Job and Keeping It: The Importance of Measuring Employability Skills
Discover the secret to excelling in the fast-paced world of video and film production! In this article, we explore the indispensable value of employability skills, from punctuality to teamwork, that can make or break your career in this competitive industry.
Dear New Teacher…
StreamSemester.com shares their support and encouragement for those entering the classroom for the first time.
Dear Veteran Teacher…
Teaching is a tough job -almost an extreme sport in a sense- and this letter shares the appreciation for those who have been a part of the video education community for a while and expresses that their experience is a blessing to those around them.
BACK TO BASICS: Pacing your broadcast news programs
Tom shares a couple of pacing guides and a rubric to be used in the broadcast news classroom. Detailing the intricacies of managing a well run broadcast program, Tom shares his thoughts and processes that help build a successful program.
7 Icebreakers for Getting to Know Your Video/Film Students
This article gives you seven ideas (with directions) for icebreakers to use with your students. There is even a bonus Kahoot! included based on the popular Netflix show “Stranger Things”.
Learning With Your Students
If you want your students to learn, you need to be willing to learn with them. I recently had a chance to attend a video scoreboard camp with my students, and these are the things I took away from that event.
Back To Basics: Avoid The Darkness and Stay Out Of The Light
Teaching proper exposure in video production is tough. In this article, Tom shares his story about his most humbling moments in the classroom as well as a complete lesson plan for you to use in your classroom.
B-Roll: An Educational Approach
B-roll - you hear about it all the time, but what is it? This article will help clarify your understanding of b-roll as well as give you some tips and tricks on how to do it better.
Shoutout To Cellphones!
Tom discusses the benefits of cell phones in the classroom and how you can manage your classroom so that phones aren’t a curse. Sharing details on workflows for news and film production, Tom also gives you a project that could be easily done on phones.
The Year I was A Spy… How to make your news room better
Espionage is often the key to success for your mission. Tom has been a spy for a year now and is sharing his findings with you on how to best run a newsroom and get the most from your students.