Illinois High School Employs Video Games for Radio Broadcasting Instruction
In Glenview, Illinois, Glenbrook South High School is offering its News & Sports Broadcasting (N&S) students a unique opportunity to hone their skills in live sports broadcasting through the use of video game simulations. This innovative approach to learning allows students to develop essential skills in a controlled environment that mimics live sports action.
The video game simulations provide a platform for students to practice live announcing and broadcasting, emphasising immediacy and mobility, key aspects of live radio sports coverage. The simulations are designed to mimic live remotes, much like those found in professional sports broadcasting, but without the unpredictability of actual live sports events.
Students in the N&S course act as journalists, writers, producers, and performers. They produce interviews with athletes and coaches, write and edit scripts using correct broadcast styles, and host sports talk programs. The simulations allow for instructor commentary and student reflection, providing valuable feedback and an opportunity to refine their skills.
The school's radio program, WGBK 88.5 FM, offers access to professional broadcast studios and Mac-based production suites with software like Adobe for audio production. This enables students to go live on the school's FM station, broadcast on web streams, or practice in audition mode within the studio.
The integration of video game simulations is especially valuable because it allows students to repeatedly practice live announcing, refine their skills with immediate feedback, and gain confidence before moving on to real-time sports broadcasting. The simulations also provide a safe space for students to make mistakes without fear of major on-air mistakes or FCC fines.
The Glenbrook South High School radio program started in the 1970s as a way for students to provide programming over the school's public address system. Over the years, it has grown due to increased enrollment and extra-curricular involvement. In the 1990s, the school district purchased the community radio station, and the Glenbrook South radio program continued to grow with the allocation of studio space and investment in professional-grade equipment.
The program offers an An Intro to Sports Broadcasting course, focusing on training students as journalists, writers, producers, and performers. Students in this course produce interviews with student athletes and coaches, write and edit scripts, and participate in live sports broadcasts.
The main broadcast studio allows students to go live on the frequency, broadcast only on the web stream, or operate in audition to practice only in the studio. Over the past several years, student feedback to the in-class play-by-play practice has been positive, indicating the effectiveness of this innovative approach to learning.
Live sports broadcasts provide most of the earliest remotes in which young broadcasters get involved at the high school level. However, with the introduction of video game simulations, Glenbrook South High School students are gaining practical experience in live sports broadcasting in a controlled environment, setting them up for success in their future careers.
- The innovative use of video game simulations in the News & Sports Broadcasting (N&S) class at Glenbrook South High School offers students a controlled environment to practice live announcing and broadcasting, mimicking the immediacy and mobility of live radio sports coverage.
- The school's media center is equipped with professional-grade gadgets, such as Mac-based production suites, Adobe for audio production, and broadcast studios, providing students with the tools necessary to go live on the school's FM station, broadcast on web streams, or practice in audition mode within the studio.
- The video game simulations in the N&S course provide an opportunity for students to develop their skills with immediate feedback and refine their performance, which is crucial for success in education-and-self-development pursuits like learning radio broadcasting.
- In addition to practicing with video games, students also produce interviews with athletes and coaches, write and edit scripts, and host sports talk programs, enhancing their knowledge and skills in journalism, writing, producing, and performing.
- Technology plays a crucial role in the success of the Glenbrook South High School radio program, from the video game simulations to the professional studio equipment, enabling students to gain practical experience in live sports broadcasting, setting them up for success in their future media-related careers.
