Podcasting has become a popular project for students at North Tahoe High School. The library has a small room and two basic microphones that students have been using, but it is time for an upgrade to provide better tools for them to record these informative, fascinating, and entertaining conversations!
Thanks to the efforts of the North Tahoe High School English Department, our students are getting very good at recording interesting, informative, and entertaining podcasts. It is time to upgrade our very basic equipment (two microphones), to create a recording studio in the library. Students will benefit from learning how to use the same recording tools and software that professionals use, as well as have a dedicated space in which to record. These tools include a multi-channel audio input mixer, studio lighting, microphones, and an iMac with editing platforms like Garageband. The iMac is a key component, as students prefer recording and editing using the OS ecosystem.
We will know this grant has been successful when students start to produce refined podcasts that clearly have been edited to include introductions, music, transitions, video (if desired), and are uploaded to a cloud-based platform to share with a wider audience (as applicable).
This grant will be implemented this fall in collaboration with NTHS teachers. As the Teacher Librarian on campus I will be in charge of setting up, maintaining, and training staff and students on the new podcasting tools and set-up in the library. I will also create and share a sign-up sheet for the podcasting studio to ensure equitable access to the space and material.
Yes! This podcasting studio can be used by everyone at NTHS.
It was determined that an Excellence in Education grant would be the best potential funding source for the bulk of this project. Library funds can be used for additional materials that we find we need as we get the podcasting studio up and running.
We have many of the pieces for this podcasting studio already in place, so this grant will help finish creating a more professional place for students to record. For example, we already have a room within the library that is currently being used for podcasting with tables and chairs. We also have a green screen, two basic microphones, and Teacher Librarian support. We also have the ability to purchase supplemental materials for the podcasting studio as the need arises with library funds.