There are some up and coming broadcasters at Ben Franklin Elementary! The school’s BF Streamers club was established in March 2021. Today, the program is going strong and teaching students valuable communication skills.
Each afternoon, the BF Streamers hop into the studio to record the morning announcements for the next day using a laptop, a video camera and a green screen. The broadcast includes a variety of information, such as student birthdays, special shout outs for positive behavior, the lunch menu, the weather and educational information.
The following morning, they are broadcasted throughout the building and posted to the Ben Franklin Streamers YouTube channel for students and families to enjoy. The experience gives the kids an opportunity to learn about public speaking, writing, video production and more.
“This is a generation where everyone wants to be a YouTuber, so this concept was an easy sell for our students,” special education teacher Quentin Ochs said. “They learn how to be in front of the camera, how to think on their feet, and be in the moment. Throughout their whole lives, there’s going to be things where they’re going to be up on stage, giving a presentation -- and those are really what we’re hoping to help the kids develop.”
On Feb. 28, our media partners at WBNG, WICZ and WIVT visited the BF Streamers and even hopped in front of the green screen to show them how the pros do it! It was a fantastic experience for our students, and we can’t wait to watch them continue to grow and improve through the program.