Students cash in on marketing class at East Detroit High

Next weeks CTE page will
feature Anchor Bay
Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015 Page A12
MARKETING
Students cash
in on marketing
class at East
Detroit High
MEDIA PRODUCTION
Radio & Television Production
prepares students for a future
in the media industry
By Josh Jankiewicz
By Scott Obsniuk
Media professionals will tell
you that a lot of different factors
are involved in any sort of production. Whether it’s a multi-million
dollar film or a local TV broadcast, lighting, sound, picture quality, budget, and other factors are
all important concerns. Here at
East Detroit, students are gaining
experience in dealing with these
factors everyday, preparing them
for a career in the media industry.
East Detroit’s television class
is a year long course that teaches
students scripting, storyboarding,
filming, and editing techniques.
Students alternate between a variety of projects, ranging from
short films to music videos to conventional news broadcasts. With
much of the media production industry shrinking, it’s crucial to be
a jack-of-all-trades, knowing how
to do everything for a prospective employer or client. This focus drives instruction, with students getting a broad experience
with media creation.
The classroom is split into two
sections: a TV studio and a classroom. The TV studio is used for
live productions, with a full control room and green room. Featuring three studio cameras with
teleprompters, a lighting grid, a
video monitor, and a full greenwalled set, the students are given
the opportunity to understand
and execute the various roles that
are necessary for a live TV production.
While understanding how to
manipulate cameras and sets on
the floor is important, the con-
The East Detroit High School Shamrock Shoppe is a
teaching tool for Marketing teacher Scott Obsniuk, whose
students rotate through several different jobs in the
Shoppe, including cashier, sales associate, security, and
stockperson.
Students are responsible for managing inventory; stocking shelves, pricing items, promotions, and sales. Para-professional Gina Coppola does a wonderful job working with
the students on a daily basis in the Shoppe, which is open
during three lunch hours, the busiest time of the school day.
The Shoppe first opened in 1977 and has become a point
of pride for the school’s Career and Technical Education
program. The store stocks many different East Detroit
items, including hooded sweatshirts, t-shirts, sweatpants,
shorts, and other student-designed merchandise. The
Shoppe also carries seasonal and holiday-themed items as
well as school supplies, gift, and school-spirit items. There
are also healthy treats and beverages available for sale.
“I really enjoy working in the Shamrock Shoppe. It is
a great experience,” said Jamie, a senior at
EDHS.
The class include s mor e
than 40 students in two
block classes.
Students spend
several weeks
per semester
working at the
Shoppe, alternating jobs and weeks worked.
Montana, a junior, said, “Shamrock Shoppe is a great class
if you want to pursue a career in marketing. It really helps
you obtain job experience. Some of my favorite things about
the class are making promotional posters, decorating showcases, and cashiering in the store. The Shamrock Shoppe
is spectacular!”
While in the classroom, students study marketing concepts, strategies, and plan promotional events to advertise in the school and around the community. Students are
currently working on a social responsibility initiative that
will demonstrate how the Shoppe cares about the community by raising funds to donate to charity. This class
is part theory and part laboratory experience. Antonio, a
student says, “Working in the Shamrock Shoppe and Marketing class is one of the greatest experiences I have ever
had. Taking this class has taught me responsibility, confidence, and also how to interact with people in the school.
It helped me learn about valuable job skills. This class has
prepared me for the world today.”
The students get hands-on experience and it is a wonderful way for them to obtain real-life job skills that are beneficial when pursuing any business-related career path. Tim,
a student, said, “In our marketing course we learn valuable
job experience and how to take a job seriously. We learn
the responsibilities that will prepare us for the real world.”
trol room is equally important.
Comprised of lighting and soundboards, teleprompter control, and
a TriCaster video mixer system,
this is where students manage
the actual production’s look and
sound. The TriCaster is especially
important, allowing for live transitions, graphics, virtual sets, and
camera manipulation. This gives
student’s work a professional
quality that they take pride in.
Besides instruction, the classroom also houses five high definition cameras and seven editing
stations. Planning and cutting
different productions is all done
here. Students learn a variety of
scripting, storyboarding, and editing conventions typical of various productions, developing skills
and techniques that can only be
obtained through hands-on expe-
rience.
Outside of the classroom, students have also recorded a variety of events for the school, including basketball, bowling, football,
plays, concerts, and guest speakers. Students often create advertisements for future school activities, often in collaboration with
our school’s Student Assembly.
Many students go the extra mile
and truly take ownership of their
media education. A large amount
of students’ productions are done
independently, with them shooting and editing after school. 12th
grader Natalie taught herself several makeup techniques, which
she has incorporated into her
films.
Regardless of whether students are venturing into a media
arts career or not, they are gaining real life experiences from the
class. There is the obvious behindthe-scenes knowledge of film and
TV production that students gain,
but they also get the opportunity
to work with their peers to create
something great. 11th grader Nicholas said that his greatest achievement in the class was “being able
to work with my friends to actually make something I could be
really proud of.” Maybe Nick will
be the next Quentin Tarintino, but
if he isn’t, he’s still learned something that will help him in his
future occupation: the ability to
collaborate with others to accomplish a task with gusto.
It is best to call and make an appointment before visiting at (586) 533-3700.