Avondale Middle School student takes it to the next level

When Avondale Middle School eighth-grader Foster Caragay had an idea to increase the possibilities for the school’s televised morning announcements he took his plan to his teacher, Chris Chlebek. Chlebek, who has been teaching in Avondale School District for twenty-two years and teaching a video production class at the middle school for six years liked the student’s idea and set Caragay up with the District’s technology engineer to discuss the plan’s feasibility.

“Foster is an especially bright student with an in-depth knowledge of technology. I knew he had done his research and had a solid plan so I had him meet with our tech engineer and they worked out the logistics of his idea,” said Chlebek.

Under the guidance of Avondale’s technology partner, Bruce Roosen of Logicalis, Inc., Caragay rebuilt and reconfigured the hardware previously used in Chlebek’s class. “I suggested a new software to live stream the broadcasts of our morning announcements that will create more possibilities for the students to develop and air video programming. Bruce tracked down the hardware that we needed to keep up with the more robust and capable software – I liked that part the most – repurposing the hardware and improving its capabilities.”

Wirecast is the solution that Caragay recommended and Chlebek, who had been looking for the right platform to post his students’ productions to YouTube agreed. “Wirecast has higher resolution and real-time capability; and it’s user friendly - a perfect match for YouTube,” said Chlebek. To confirm the confidence he’s placed in his student, he added that “it’s also Foster endorsed.” Chlebek has asked the student to return for a second trimester to his class so that the upgrades can be thoroughly implemented and tested. “Bruce and Foster will have the chance to work out any bugs that arise and explore Foster’s original idea for ways to expand upon it.”

The Avondale Middle School Video Production class is designed for students who can take ownership of their lessons and projects. “This class is as much about building workplace soft skills as it is about the students learning the actual skills of video production,” said Chlebek. Once the students in the class learn the technical aspects of production, it is up to them to create content from conception to a final product worthy of being on air. Reporting mostly on school events, students write a script, plan the pictures and video along with the graphics and then begin filming. Students take turns in the roles of on-air reporters, cameramen, editors, and production team members.

“It’s a good class if you want to explore technology and challenge yourself,” said Caragay, “Mr. Chlebek teaches us what we need to know and then let’s us take that information and do our thing. I guess that’s how I ended up with this chance to work on the hardware and the new application.”

Avondale Superintendent, Dr. James Schwarz acknowledged Chlebek’s innovative approach to engaging the eighth-grader in the project. “Chris is that teacher who thinks outside the classroom when he sees a student reaching for the next level. Finding what lights up a student and then nurturing that light is what good teachers do.”

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