Student Digital Media Productions Foster Workforce Readiness

A growing number of students are gaining valuable 21st-century skills through school-sponsored digital media productions.

With easy-to-use and inexpensive equipment widely available, students can operate a mixing board, video camera and the associated computer software in order to produce audio podcasts and online video productions known as podcasts.

Yet young people may not know how to parlay these experiences into a future career.

Anacostia High School in Washington, D.C. is trying to change that with its Digital Media Arts Club. Danielle Scruggs, a fellow of Public Media Corps (PMC), a new national service program that promotes the use of technology in underserved communities, works with Anacostia students to produce podcasts, photography and audio and video projects.

“That’s where so many different jobs are now, in new media,” Scruggs said.

A quick look at the most popular job sites reveals that “new media” is an incredibly hot buzzword for employers. The term refers to everything from Web sites to apps to social media platforms. Additionally, these jobs are not relegated to the tech-heavy programming sector. Ample listings for creative and management roles in new media include everything from marketing to content creation.

Karla Garner, formerly of Bishop Guilfoyle High School in Altoona, PA, said she has witnessed these types of in-school programs pay dividends for the students.

“The fact is, if the students are getting their feet wet with things like podcast production or other new media, that means they’ll be one step ahead of those students who are getting their first experience with it in college or the workplace,” she explained. “If you’re an employer, you want someone who has used this type of equipment or has a portfolio of content created for that type of media—Web, app or whatever.”

Garner added that it is important for these programs to follow up once the projects are complete so that students learn how these experiences can be included on their resume or college application.

“Just because the project is over, doesn’t mean the learning stops,” Garner said. “We have a responsibility to the kids to show them exactly how producing a student podcast is the perfect thing to include on a college or job application.”

Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, KY are also encouraging students to market the digital media skills they acquire in class. At JCPS high schools, courses are available in public speaking, radio and television production, stage and costume design, print media, graphic arts and performing arts. Students work in well-equipped, state-of-the-art studios. They get many chances to practice their craft and show off their skills. Whether they’re painting murals, acting on stage, creating digital art, writing a short story or novel, editing news articles, anchoring a broadcast or directing a film, students receive both solid academic instruction and practical experience.

The schools have also taken the important step of getting the local community involved. Louisville companies, community organizations, colleges and universities provide support so that students can use professional equipment to work on real-world projects.

“Jefferson County is a community that passionately cares about education,” said JCPS Superintendent Donna M. Hargens. “Working together, we can ensure all students are able to grow academically in a learning environment that ultimately prepares them to succeed in a global, knowledge-based economy.”

Article by Jason Tomaszewski, EducationWorld Associate Editor
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