A new TV studio at Croydon Public School in New South Wales aims to help inspire the young content creators of tomorrow. The school’s new initiative is centred around fostering student engagement and involvement in their learning by harnessing the power of advanced video production technology.
Croydon Public School has transformed old classrooms into a cutting-edge video production hub. The set-up includes a control room and a studio, equipped with Blackmagic Design’s ATEM SDI Extreme ISO live production switchers, Mini Converter HDMI to SDI converters and an SDI Distribution converter, amongst other tools, including equipment donated from local TV studios. These facilities are part of the school’s ambitious broadcasting program, aimed at producing broadcast quality, multi-camera content created entirely by students, for students.
The program’s vision is to provide a real-world experience of TV production by enabling students to produce live productions, potentially broadcasted through platforms like YouTube or Zoom. The initiative goes beyond teaching filmmaking. It is about fostering school and student agency, encouraging students to integrate skills from subjects like English and mathematics into their creative projects.
Inspiring creative minds
“Blackmagic Design has always been a hallmark of professionalism in the TV industry, and I wanted the studio we built to reflect what is seen in the real world,” says Andrew Irwin, a Media Specialist Teacher at Croydon Public School and a former technical director at Channel Ten.
“Their Australian roots and local partner support were crucial in our decision-making. We’re thrilled to use equipment that meets professional standards and is accessible for our young creators,” he says.
Blackmagic Design creates high-quality video editing products, digital film cameras, colour correctors, video converters, video monitoring, routers, live production switchers, disk recorders, waveform monitors and real time film scanners for the feature film, post-production and television broadcast industries. The company has offices in the USA, UK, Japan, Singapore and Australia.
The program is designed for students from years three – six. It operates on a volunteer/self-nomination basis, ensuring inclusivity and catering to students’ creative interests.
“We wanted to offer something beyond traditional academic and sports programs. Through the broadcast program, we are giving kids who may not excel in either of these fields the opportunity to get involved in TV production and nurture their creativity,” says Irwin.
“This approach aligns with academic research emphasizing the importance of developing students’ sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness to enhance students’ engagement and motivation. In time, as the program develops, we will see a broader range of kids feel like they have an active role in their education, and that enthusiasm will spill over into achievement in other fields too. This creative platform is a big commitment to nurturing a diverse range of talents and interests among our students and something of which we’re incredibly proud.”
