The show must go on

The show must go on

Broadcasting program delivers an innovative remote learning experience.

Fanshawe’s award-winning Broadcasting – Radio and Media Production program is known for providing students with a hands-on approach to education. With responsibility for operating Canada’s first CRTC-licensed campus instructional radio station (106.9 The X), students graduate ready to dive into the dynamic world of broadcasting.

In fall 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic meant Broadcasting – Radio and Media Production, like most of Fanshawe’s programs, would be delivered remotely. The program’s faculty developed a truly innovative solution to ensure students received the same high-quality education experience from their remote setting.

Abe Kelledjian demonstrates the camera set-up

“We designed a set-up using cameras, Zoom and a switcher so faculty are able to broadcast the same content students would normally see on a screen in the classroom,” says Abe Kelledjian, program coordinator. “An audio feed from our board also goes through the switcher allowing students to hear multiple audio sources, which makes the experience similar to being in the live classroom.” Classes begin with a Zoom meeting using the webcam on the production computer and faculty can easily jump to an overhead camera to demonstrate board work or one of two production computers for content presentation. This allows faculty to demonstrate production techniques, answer questions and prepare students for independent practice, just like they would in class. As an added benefit, the classes are now recorded to provide a valuable resource for students to refer to at a later date.

Showing the students’ perspective.

Abe says students adapted quickly to the steep learning curve and have benefitted from the blended approach to delivering an intensive hands-on program.

“Using Zoom for lectures allows me to better focus on what the professor is saying,” says Patrick Vis, a second-year student. “Having access to the recorded classes allows me to go back and revisit material whenever I want.”