{"id":159082,"date":"2021-09-23T10:13:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-23T15:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/backbone.com\/BB\/?p=159082"},"modified":"2022-04-12T13:58:38","modified_gmt":"2022-04-12T18:58:38","slug":"guest-post-k-12-student-radio-making-media-educational-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/backbonebroadcast.com\/BB\/guest-post-k-12-student-radio-making-media-educational-fun\/","title":{"rendered":"Guest Post: K-12 Student Radio – Making Media Educational & Fun"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In today\u2019s remote and blended learning<\/em><\/strong> environment, radio is becoming an essential tool for teachers and students alike. We\u2019re thrilled to share a contributed post by Paula Neidlinger, media educator and co-author of Scripted, An Educator\u2019s Guide to Media in the Classroom<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, the marvelous, new book that illustrates how to introduce 21st<\/sup> Century technology into K-12 schools, and why. Here she gives us a view of how she has applied these technologies in her middle school in Indiana with amazing success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Scripted,<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cNew Age\u201d Radio: K-12 Student Radio – Making Media Educational & Fun<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By Paula Neidlinger<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the maze of desks, in the back of the middle school classroom, a pillar of tall, slender sound baffles, tower over a large, red wooden table. Student voices resonate like a small chorus. The red sign perched on the edge of the chalkboard, proudly affirms that this is the home of \u201cStorm Radio,\u201d the school Internet radio station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Storm Radio is a middle school radio station run by 7th & 8th-grade students during 45-minute class periods throughout the school day and facilitated by one media teacher. For the last five years, Storm Radio has been \u201criding the waves\u201d on the air, 24\/7, using Backbone Radio<\/em><\/a> as the core broadcasting software. Although \u201cThe Golden Age of Radio\u201d might be in the history books, student-run radio stations are creeping into the K-12 classrooms around the country, capturing the imaginations of listeners using words rather than pictures to engage their listeners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Student-run radio stations provide a platform for students to build communication skills and express their thoughts and ideas, unleashing imaginations for all to hear and enjoy. Students are able to develop their radio shows based on personal interest and current school and community news and events daily. Very few schools are equipped with state-of-the-art studios; some stations are housed in small workrooms, corners of classrooms, or even closets. Storm Radio started with nothing more than a rolling desk, computer, a microphone and headsets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

School radio affords students of all ages the opportunity to master broadcast technologies, including audio production and recording, streaming, scheduling, and how to use \u201cthe Cloud.\u201d Students learn by producing live on-air broadcasting including remotes, creating and publishing podcasts, launching school news briefings to smart devices like Alexa\u00ae, and maybe even engaging call-in listeners, such as Backbone Talk, which allows listeners to call in and join the broadcast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is radio only for a media class?<\/strong> <\/em> Building a station offers numerous cross-curricular opportunities for all students within the school building. Promoting radio broadcasting possibilities is key to a successful school station. Consider some of the following ideas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n