I’m adviser Matthew LaPorte, and this is my newsroom
What is your name?
Matthew LaPorte
What school do you teach at?
Southwest CTA
What city and state is your school located in?
Las Vegas, Nevada
What different media are produced at the school?
Yearbook and Online News
How many students are involved at the media program at your school?
35
Describe your space for us.
The classroom space is used for my publication courses (Journalism Foundations and Journalism II), as well as my English courses. This means that the space must be functional for multiple purposes. It was necessary to move all of the computers to the outside edges of the room to ensure that there were enough outlets, as this room was not designed with electrical floor boxes. But, I like this setup as it removes the traditional setup of singular rows and encourages collaboration amongst those at each group. Additionally, it provides space in the center of the room for those who have laptops and would like a little more room to spread out.
What do you think are some of the benefits of the workspace you all have?
I am grateful to have a lab of computers in my own room. That’s a giant benefit. I like having the extra open space that is created by grouping the computers in small groups. The room is a normal classroom size, so there is not additional room for couches and other luxuries that I’ve seen at other schools where the lab was designed for a publications classroom.
What do your students like most about the workspace you have?
Students like the fact that they have a classroom to call their own. In previous years, the class was required to meet in another teacher’s room who taught a computer-based course. Now, they do feel like part of the room is their own.
What computer programs and/or apps is your staff using on a regular basis for their work?
Adobe CC and Google Apps for Education
What tech equipment are your students using on a daily basis?
Canon Rebels and 60Ds. Epson Perfection V39 Scanner. iMacs.
Aside from the computers and the programs, what are one or two pieces of equipment that you have that you think other programs should have.
Horizontal camera mount to record tutorials and how-to’s. This is especially helpful for students who are working on their own at home.
How is your workspace funded?
Our core items are funded by the district and additional materials we would like are purchased through fundraising.
Do you have anything on your wishlist for your space? If so, what do you have and why?
A slurpee machine. This adviser loves a slurpee.
(This is one of a series of posts where high school newsrooms are showcased. We’d love to showcase your newsroom on the site. To find out how, check out the information here and submit yours today.)
