H.S.A.
& T.E.F. Contribute Important
Equipment
Last year the media production
lab was busy with students creating projects for their classes.
These projects were created mainly on two platforms: computer generated
"PowerPoint" presentations, and 35mm slide shows.
Thanks to the generous support from the Home School Association and the
Tenafly Education Foundation students now have a very valuable third platform to
work with: video. With the subject teacher's approval, prepared students can now
assemble video projects. Included
in the equipment installations will be a video editing "suite"
consisting of three VCRs controlled by a specially built "Turnkey"
computer. This computer is also capable of digitizing and storing video on large
capacity hard disks. This
particular system is referred to as a "hybrid" because it can do
conventional "linear" video editing (with the VCRs) combined with
"nonlinear editing" where video is downloaded to the hard disk.
With a well thought out script or a detailed storyboard arising from
library research, students can shoot their video and assemble raw footage.
Working primarily with the time line on the computer's monitor, video
clips are created and arranged, with narration, music, titles, or whatever the
particular project requires. The
finished project can then be presented for evaluation.
In addition to student projects, this equipment will be especially
valuable for preparing school presentations for important upcoming events.
Very
Special Thanks
A tremendous amount of hard work
is required to keep the library in good physical condition, especially during
the summer. Special thanks to Alvin
Spencer and Jim Brackenbury for their work on behalf of the library.
Also, special thanks to Wilber Smith and Tom LePore for providing the
recent front desk power installations in the library.
Daily
Announcements Broadcast From Media Production Lab
Under the supervision of Steve Moger,
Tenafly High School's new
theatre technical director, students
Doreen C, Adam D,
Natalie K. and James E. (sound engineer) are broadcasting morning announcements from the Media
Production Lab.
Using donated professional Yamaha soundboards and placing
two microphones (and talent) behind "sound proof" glass
windows, morning announcements look and sound like they are being broadcast from
a radio studio.
In the near future it is hoped that announcements can be broadcast via
television. The donated broadcast
equipment is already installed and working.
All that is needed is coaxial wiring to classrooms and an increased
amount of mounted televisions. Classrooms
that have no televisions will still hear the announcements via the P.A. system.
Print
and Electronic Acquisitions Give Students More Research Opportunities
Several important new reference materials will dramatically increase
students' research potential within the library. Materials purchased complement
the curriculum so students can have an increased amount of satisfaction in
obtaining information for their papers and projects.
Traditional
Resources
Some of the purchases are in book form such as: Identities and Issues in
Literature, The Grolier Global Studies Library, The New Book of Popular Science,
Lands and Peoples, Magill's Survey of Science, Life Science Series, and The
Encyclopedia of Civil Rights in America.
Electronic
Alternatives
Other materials will be found on CD-ROM. CD-ROM is a very economical way to obtain vast amounts of
information, with some of the information being interactive. Since computers are
needed to access information contained on CD-ROM, plans are being made to
install five library computer stations networked to a CD changer located in a
library office.
The most important concern is that electronic resources are remain as
easy to access as lifting a book off the shelf and opening it, and that these
computer terminals be dedicated to their mission of providing specific
information resources to students. E-mail and Internet surfing on these
terminals are not desirable.
Some titles waiting to be installed on the system include Executive Order
9066: The Incarnation of Japanese Americans During World War II, Encyclopedia
Judaica, Encyclopedia Americana, Encyclopedia Britannica, Our Family Learns
Korean, Understanding Chinese, Magill's Survey of Science, and Master Plots
Complete.
An additional electronic method for students to obtain more resources is
to access information servers at other locations using the Internet as a
transmission line only. We hope to
have computer terminals with dedicated electronic browsers that will access
these off site services such as Electric Library, EBSCO and others.
Aquarium
Teamwork:
By far, the most popular library display has been the 160 gallon aquarium that Mr. Elefante has kindly placed in the library's periodical reading area.. Last year nearly every library visitor checked out the activity in the tank. The library is fortunate to have the Aquarium here again this year thanks to the team effort of Mr. Elefante's Period 3 science class. Class members who have helped to prepare the tank for another exciting year include Yoon A., Matthew C., Irene C., Omar C. G., Ae Kyung H., Angelos K., Ashley M., Austin P., Seung K..