Video Distribution System and GPB (Original post by Sue Thach)

Video Distribution System

At Lost Mountain Middle School, we have a closed circuit cable system for watching movies and/or cable TV in multiple classrooms.  The head end unit (located in a small room in the library) consists of two DVD/VCR players and a Comcast cable box that delivers a limited number of cable channels to any of the rooms in the school that are outfitted with cable.  Each classroom has a DVD/VCR combo with tuner that is connected to a ceiling mounted LCD projector for showing the morning announcements, closed circuit videos, DVDs, and cable television.  We can show two movies at a time, each on a different channel, using the DVD/VCR combos.  We do this on the last day of school while the classes are having their end-of-the-year parties in their rooms.  We inform teachers which movies are being played and which channels (2 or 5) they are on so that each teacher can decide which movie they want their class to watch.  Sometimes all of the teachers in one department in the same grade will want to show the same instructional video to their classes at the same time, and we use the same method. Mostly we use the closed circuit video capability to show promotional programs that the whole school needs to watch, i.e., Relay for Life, United Way, 4 Quarters 4 Research, etc.  The morning announcements are broadcast on channel 6.   Several networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) are broadcast on other channels.  One premium cable channel at a time can be shown on channel 13.  Our principal wants channel 13 to show The Weather Channel at all times in case of weather emergencies. 

GPB

Georgia Public Broadcasting is a partner with Discovery Education (DE,) which offers digital education resources to subscribers through the Education tab at the top of the GPB home page.  Our school has a subscription, and many teachers take advantage of it and use the video streaming offerings.  The video streaming portion of DE requires a code for access and then teachers can create their own username and password.  

Teachers at my school often ask the LMS to order DVDs for the curriculum because most of the AV materials available in school are outdated and/or in poor condition (videos.)  Teachers give the LMS the specific subjects for which they need AV sources; sometimes they even tell her the title of a particular DVD they have heard about and want.  The first thing we do (or ask them to do) is look in DE’s video streaming to see if something there is comparable to their request.  Most of the time we have found a free video that is perfect for their needs; and sometimes we find the exact video they asked for.  It seems that teachers need to be reminded of this abundant and valuable resource.  Every year I help the coordinator of our Career Day by going into the Careers and Work Place Skills video streaming link to find videos that teachers can use if their Career Day speaker does not show up for some reason.  I become “stuck” in there browsing and watching videos about all kinds of interesting careers. 

Searching for videos is easy on DE.  Users can limit their search by subject and by grade.  Often there are a series of videos or multiple videos on the same subject to that student scan see content presented in a variety of ways.  Some of the videos are short enough to be good introductions or reviews, while others comprehensively cover a standard.  The search page has a link to a Curriculum Standards Search.  Teachers can choose a standard and look for appropriate videos.  In the Teacher Center users can find lesson plans to go with the videos, an atlas with interactive map, a calendar of historical events, and other resources.

The Professional Development page includes tutorials for integrating digital media and tools for helping teachers organize and store their favorite resources, quizzes, assignments and activities on the site.  There is a “Trainer’s Resources” tab with videos, PowerPoint presentations, webinars, and other materials to help teachers learn more about Discovery Education and all it has to offer.   Also available is the opportunity to join in on or benefit from the discourse of the Discovery Education Network, which is a network of teachers sharing ideas about using technology in education. 

            GPB has much to offer via these other tabs located on its main site:  Programs, Television, Radio, Family, Kids, News, and Sports.  Parents and educators can set kids loose on this site and be confident that they will find only appropriate and reliable information.