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Now YouTube connects UAE schools with students, parents

Students are allowed to use professional grade equipment — complete with production switchers, video feed monitors and talkback systems.

Students of the American School of Dubai in their broadcast studio using professional grade equipment complete with production switchers, video feed monitors and talkback system to drive the learning system.

Gone are the days of communicating with students’ parents via school diaries and letters. Educators are now uploading short video messages on YouTube as a tool to engage with the school community and spread the word faster.

At the American School of Dubai, a full broadcast studio drives the school’s learning system. Students are allowed to use professional grade equipment — complete with production switchers, video feed monitors and talkback systems. With more than 600 videos already uploaded on YouTube, the school has set an excellent example of how videos can be used to benefit students.

Daniel Mendes, a technology teacher at the school, helps his students by putting together student produced talk shows, event broadcasts and video features. He said the studio has provided more than 150 middle school and high school students with a chance to take part in video podcasts.

“Video is an excellent medium for students to convey their learning, stories and creativity.  I believe it is one of the more complex ways to show learning because you must take into consideration audio, video and the storyline you are trying to convey,” said Mendes.

The studio has a dedicated control room that offers students a holistic broadcasting experience. It is capable of broadcasting in high-definition from all major venues on campus linking up to 22 different cameras and 48 microphones as well as a high quality graphics system.

“Now that broadcasting technology has become cheaper and more prevalent, I can see more schools building programmes such as this one. Students are using the studio for a variety of projects such as sportscasts of athletics ... and events, a middle school magazine-style show, a high school news show, various talk and sports shows, and other communications projects. The studio truly empowers students to explore, create, collaborate and communicate around their passion,” said Mendes.

Smaller studios

A high-definition broadcast studio inside the school may sound too hi-tech for many educators but other schools are experimenting with smaller video projects. Staff at the Victory Heights Primary School (VHPS) created a short promo for the school using GoPro cameras attached to students for a day.

“We asked the children to stick GoPro cameras to their head, run around school and show us what it was from their perspective,” said Sasha Crabb, principal of VHPS. 

The video shows children walking through the school’s hallway with cameras strapped on their head. Recording their own classmates, the project brought out candid moments from their daily lives. Other videos posted by the school share tips on good behaviour, hygiene and video tutorials.

Teachers at the school often role-play characters in special videos made for the learners. The video links are then shared with students and parents to reinforce classroom learning.

Sam Welch, marketing coordinator at the school, told Khaleej Times: “We use video content to teach the children about specific things like sun safety, the importance of washing your hands, etc. We often do a skit involving our two head teachers where they role-play as Clarissa Clevercloggs and Penelope Whoopsadaisy and they teach the children important life lessons such as work-life balance and teaching the children about the different styles of questions that can be asked.”

Explaining how tools like Facebook and YouTube have become central to the school’s communication strategy, she said, “Facebook is fantastic. It allows us to share current things that are happening at the school at any given time. This way, our parents are always kept in the loop and they too can enjoy the little things that their children are doing during school hours.”

From changes in bus timings to special events at schools, the speed of online communication has transformed communication strategies.

“The school uses a D6 School Communicator app to communicate school news, events, homework, school photo gallery and all school contact information to parents. We also use our Facebook page to keep everyone updated on day to day events. We also have a Twitter account @VHPrimary that both our staff and parents use to inform others of things that are currently happening outside of the school, like teacher learning courses and teachers presenting at the KHDA (Knowledge and Human Development Authority) events,” explained Welch. -muaz@khaleejtimes.com