Teaching To The Test Pattern: Dr. Andrew Stevens
In this episode of Teaching To The Test Pattern, Josh talks with Dr. Andrew Stevens from North Greenville University. Dr. Stevens is a product of the Radio, TV, and Film program at Baylor University. He also studied at Marquette University, University of Missouri, and finally recieved his DMin from North Greenville with a focus on Media Ministry.
Dr. Stevens has long been a friend of secondary educators and contributes regularly to Camp T&I for Georgia video production educators. Dr. Stevens has published several white papers but most important for video production educators is his Startup Guide to Producing Football Games for Live Streaming.
Dr. Stevens is still very active in the live production space running camera for several sports including soccer and football. Dr. Stevens talks about his experience in the episode and shares a video of a “run in” with a player on the sideline.
You can find out more about Dr. Stevens and North Greenville University by clicking here.
Did you know August is steeped in history? From the founding of the NBA to the signing of the Voting Rights Act, so many pivotal moments happened this month! 📚 We're diving deep into these stories and more. What historical event are you curious about this August?
June was one of the wildest months of my life… it really started in May. My son graduated high school the last week in May, I left 2 days later to go to Alabama for the first Alabama AV Teacher Bootcamp. I returned from that only to leave a day later to drive to the Georgia coast for a video shoot with the Georgia Department of Education and CTAERN (Career Technical Agricultural Education Resource Network). I was at the coast for less than 24 hours then had a 6 hour trip home to drop gear as I had to go to the other side of Atlanta to pick up equipment to go to the Georgia Camp T&I for AVTF Teachers. Two days there, then home for 4 days (it felt like a vacation). The following week was Infocomm in Orlando for a week then the following week was the Georgia Association of Career Technical Educators conference in Athens, GA and closing out the month was the 2025 SkillsUSA National Skills and Leadership Conference…. I share all of that because I was moving at such a pace that anything that would get me excited would have to really stand out… More like jump out at me.
The week starts early on Monday. I travel to the Amitrace office in Norcross to get the cables, etc that I will need for the studio build. Mid-morning, I meet Matt at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) to get started building out the space. This is just getting tables in the right places, basic cable runs done, and a plan for how I will build out the space.
Early in the afternoon, Gegen arrives with the main studio gear (cameras, prompters, etc). That’s when it gets busy for me. We build three camera set ups for the studio - tripod, teleprompter, and camera. If you have ever built a teleprompter set up you know how cumbersome that can be.
Later the switcher arrives. I had nothing to do with that build out. The equipment is provided by a school and that advisor takes care of all of that build. I get a quick tutorial on how to use the gear and we are off.
The phoenix rose…. The event that crashed and burned last year soared high this year and seven teams got a high quality contest that allowed them to showcase their skills! Tomorrow morning will feature an early ride home but a stop at a Chevron on I-65 for some breakfast gumbo that I have been warned will change my life!
My preparation for this contest started several months ago - actually over a year ago. We were on site at the SLSC as a sponsor last year. I already had a relationship with some of the AV teachers in the state but I was intent on meeting more. As I met more teachers, I found out that many weren’t happy with the VNP contest. They had a lot of questions and most importantly, they felt it didn’t match what the students experienced at the national contest.
I have known the SkillsUSA national tech chair for VNP for many years and last year was the first time that I got to work the national contest as a judge - I had been to 3 as an advisor. My eyes were opened. The teachers here had a point, what they experienced was nothing like nationals. As a matter of fact, it was so far different from nationals that it was almost not the same contest!
Explore engaging May content ideas for school programs, including Teacher Appreciation Week, monthly celebrations like Mental Health Awareness and National Photography Month, and daily event coverage from World Password Day to National Burger Day. Discover creative social media post prompts and article topics for effective student engagement and program promotion. Perfect for educators and student media creators looking to plan compelling content for May 2025.
Got shaky footage? No problem! In this quick tutorial, learn how to use Warp Stabilizer in Adobe Premiere Pro to smooth out your shots effortlessly.
Get creative with April content ideas for your school show! Find engaging topics like April Fool's Day pranks, spring sports updates, prom coverage, and graduation prep. Plus, explore unique observances like National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day and National School Librarian Day. Keep your audience engaged and finish the school year strong with these fun and relevant story ideas.
Stream Semester is a digital magazine focused on industry news, resources, and exclusive interviews for mass media, video production, and broadcast education professionals.
To get in touch with us about breaking news, gear reviews, advertising opportunities, or becoming a contributor, send us an email at streamsemester@gmail.com.
As summer winds down, the familiar rhythm of a new school year approaches. For educators like James Peach, the weeks leading up to students' return aren't just about shuffling papers; they're a strategic dance of preparation, aiming to ignite inspiration and cultivate self-sufficiency.