Art Work Showcased on TV

By Story; Photo Tina Streeter

There is a flutter of excitement at Olive Branch Intermediate School these days.

While walking in the hallways, children are pointing, giggling, and beaming when they see their picture pop up on a brand-new big screen television.

The brainchild of Tom Dennis, fourth-grade computer teacher, and Austin Dickinson, DeSoto County Schools computer technician, video technology has come to the school. Dennis thinks this new technology will help the school bond and get to know the community, while helping students feel proud of their accomplishments along the way.

With Dickinson’s help, the school purchased a new 37-inch big screen television and new video system to showcase student work and pictures as visitors, parents, and students alike walk along the path to their classrooms. The parents are encouraged to send pictures by way of e-mail or compact disc, and with the help of Dennis, the students put the pictures together to form a video that plays constantly in the hallways. Parent participation has really been appreciated and the response has been tremendous , says Dennis.

“My students feel proud when they see themselves or their artwork flash up on the screen,” he said.

In Mrs. Dendy’s art room, students create drawings and then their work is presented in video for the whole school to view and discuss.

Dickinson and Dennis purchased the TV, a computer hard drive, and real Vegas-style software from Sony in order to start the project. After pictures are taken and artwork scanned, the students, along with Dennis, place them in a video to play in the hallway. The system will soon be wired in the future to be more interactive and play videos from the World Wide Web.

Dylan Hunsucker, fifth-grade student, sold the most Brewster’s coupons in order to purchase the system. Dylan smiles as he describes the new system. “When we go on trips and things, we can see our pictures on the screen,” he said.

What a great way to make those lines in the hallway go faster.

Originally published by Story and Photo Tina Streeter Special to My Life .

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