
Studio Profile
Students in the Media Productions Class at Folsom Middle School in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District work together to produce JagTV. The weekly broadcast includes content that communicates important school news while showing off student interest. JagTV is frequently funny and entertaining while being informative. Each episode of JagTV is led by a student-producer and a pair of anchors. Students rotate through all the roles that it takes to put on a broadcast. In addition to the group effort it takes to create JagTV, throughout the year students work individually to produce personal PSAs and instructional videos. Students are carefully led through a feedback process after each project is completed to that they can continue to improve in their skills. Students are especially led to pay special attention to sound quality and edit pacing in their videos. Above all else, students are encouraged to have fun and be creative while they learn.
SEVA Teacher Demetrius Olsen
Two years into the program, Demetrius Olsen is most proud of the willingness his class shows to experiment and try new things. Early on, students decided that they wanted to emphasize creativity and humor. Students have done such a good job with this that they’re exploring how to create a regular cast of characters who can tell stories in fun ways that resonate with their audience, all while fostering school pride and community respect. One of Mr. Olsen’s favorite parts of teaching Media Productions is the opportunity for each student to show off their creative talents and interests. His students are focused on creating and delivering a product which requires a level of vulnerability and courage. Mr. Olsen and his students take that a step further by providing feedback that contains a positive comment and an area for growth. When students realize that their peers want to help them be successful, they really bond as a class and grow individually. Because these conversations are often whole-class, Mr. Olsen finds that all student work improves and everyone becomes more open and willing to take risks.
