Keeping the announcements fresh requires constant assessment and improvement. Listening and seriously considering the concerns and suggestions of student, teachers and administrators have made our announcements better. We are in a constant state of change and this is the climate we wish to maintain, in the spirit of 21st Century learning.
Maintaining student motivation is also key. As professor B. Adams (2000) describes,
“Generally, students will show some self-motivation if they (1) know what is expected of them, (2) think the effort is worthwhile, and (3) feel they will benefit through effective performance.”
Through the morning announcements, we have learned that students also stay motivated when they feel their opinions are valued and when they are challenged to take on new endeavors. For example at Harkins, we employed a scaffolding approach when it came to adding additional video to the main production. Once students were comfortable adding titles to the main video on their own, they were challenged by a teacher to add a video segment on bullying one day, and the guidance counselor asked for a video chronicle of the guitar club on another day. We have created an atmosphere where students have artistic license to add to the script and the features of the announcements. They often take pride in their tailor-made sections, whether a behind-the-scenes writer adds a new ‘thought of the day’, a reporter uses a prop to enhance the visual, or a student contributor showcases their latest claymation. The reward of having personal work aired has maintained the stamina for our morning announcements.
