Communications Technology
Communications Technology is a 9 weeks Related Arts course that seeks to teach students innovation and technological skills that will serve them throughout the rest of their school years and in their careers. Projects vary by grade, but all seek to teach both foundational and developmental technology skills while integrating vital life skills to encourage the growth of the holistic student.
The links in the main menu provide details about the different grades’ projects. Moodle is the online course management system used by Communications Technology to allow students to submit assignments for evaluation and allow for online collaboration.
6th grade students have the opportunity to begin developing their communication skills by engaging in hands on activities. Students will complete desktop publishing projects, prepare and present research information. Additionally, students will write and film a news report. Then, they will watch the news report and reflect over presentation skills (including tone, voice, inflection, and non-verbal skills). Students are encouraged to use skills that they already know as they construct a new schema for using technology.
7th grade students will continue to refine their communication skills. Students will be introduced to photo editing and manipulation in Photoshop. Students will complete several workshops on Photoshop tools and effects. During this process, students will practice their photo editing skills by using stock photographs provided by the instructor. As a culminating project, students will take their own photos and edit them for presentation to the class.
Additionally, students will begin the basics of scripting and video editing. Students will research and form a script that highlights events that have happend in history on their birthday. Then, the students will have the opportunity to record the video using a teleprompter. Finally, students will edit the movie and apply chroma-key effects to the green screen background for a finished product.
8th grade students will complete a research project that culminates in a presentation to the class. Students are given a list of possible topics from their 8th grade science and social studies curriculums. Then, students research the topic and cite sources. The students then create a presentation and practice it to peers for feedback. Finally, students will present their research to the entire class.
Next, students begin a unit of video game design. This curriculum develops critical thinking and logic skills that prepare them for abstract reasoning in high school and beyond for both college and careers. Students will work through tutorial games and the class will culminate with the design and presentation of an original creation video game.
Cleveland Middle School produces a morning news show that plays every Tuesday and Friday– WCMS- TV. In addition to being broadcast to over 1,100 students, WCMS- TV is available for streaming on the web at cmsraiders.com.
Students produce the show in HD using an iMac equipped with industry standard Final Cut Pro X, Motion, and Compressor. Additionally, students write, film, and edit segments that air on the show in addition to any announcements.
Cody Raper
Cleveland Middle School
3635 Georgetown Rd.
Cleveland, Tennessee 37312
423-479-9641
craper@clevelandschools.org
