A new program to be offered at Fulton High School will teach students about broadcast journalism and filmmaking.
Aided by a $1,000 Fulton Public Schools Foundation grant, FPS staff Joshua Howard, Cassandra Elam and Tyler Davison will launch FHS News and FHS Film in the 2018-19 school year.
"Video is very popular with kids right now - think Youtube, Snapchat and Instagram," Howard said. "They're sharing and telling stories even if they're just six seconds long."
Howard is FPSF's instructional technology facilitator, while Elam and Davison teach English. He's hoping teaching students how to make videos will translate into marketable skills for their futures. There may be some more abstract benefits, as well.
"A lot of schools don't understand the need to teach skills like collaboration and creativity," Howard said. "We want to encourage and teach kids how to communicate creatively and artfully. And we want to get kids passionate about something they can use in real life."
Through FHS Films, students will design, develop and direct their own films. FHS News participants will create announcements and video journalism pieces about things happening at FHS and around the community.
District spokesperson Karen Snethen said she hopes to share the FHS News videos on social media.
"We want to have a real audience," Howard said.
Currently, the plan is to treat the program as an after-school club. Students can expect to learn about filmmaking equipment, roles on set, script-writing and other essentials. Later in the school year, they'll start making their own films and news stories.
This is Howard's third year receiving a FPSF grant. Past grants were used to start a book room at Fulton Middle School and establish the STEAM Lab for the elementary and high school. Howard said he hopes to continue expanding the STEAM Lab, both in terms of equipment and teacher participation.
However, he's excited about this new project.
"Look out for it, because we want to share it with the community as well," he added.