Starship for Argyll – Dunoon Grammar School Television launch on 16th January

In what is unquestionably the most exciting initiative in Argyll school’s for a very long time, Dunoon Grammar School is launching DGS TV in early 2009.

It will use a form of the virtual studio technology already used by For Argyll in its video news magazines.

The flagship show for the DGS TV station will be a weekly magazine-style show featuring news, views, interviews, competitions and music acts. It will be planned, recorded and edited by pupils and will be broadcast within the school on plasma televisions and multimedia projectors.

World-renowned music act, Snow Patrol, have supported the TV station by giving the school permission to use their international hit ‘Open your Eyes’ as a theme tune to the show.

Dougie MacLean, who wrote Caledonia, has also given the team the go ahead to recreate their own version of this year’s Homecoming 2009 advert for the station, featuring his song and images of Dunoon. This will be filmed live on the station’s official launch day on 16th January 2009.

Argyll and Bute Council’s Education spokesperson, Council Isobel Strong, says: ‘This is a great initiative and one which I am certain will be a great success. This is the first TV station of its kind in Argyll and Bute and the children and staff involved in the project must be congratulated for their efforts. Not only will the station help build pupils’ confidence, but it will also allow them to learn new skills outwith the traditional school curriculum. I look forward to following the progress of this station, which I am sure will go from strength to strength and I wish the pupils all the very best in their new venture’.

Snow Patrol’s rep, Matthew Long of Polydor Records, said: ‘We wish you all the best success with the new school TV station at Dunoon Grammar School. We think it’s a fantastic idea and all pupils will gain from it. Good luck with all your future careers’.

The technology has already been used by S2 pupils in a modern news show entitled, ‘Blast from the Past’ which focused on the Scottish Wars of Independence. The show included a time machine where famous individuals involved in the wars, such as William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, were brought into the studio to be interviewed.

The show was identified by Learning and Teaching Scotland as an example of best practice and the pupils involved were invited to attend the Scottish Learning Festival at the end of September to make a presentation on their use of the technology.

Pupils are generating fabulous ideas for using the TV technology in and out of the classroom, and are looking forward to its official launch next month on 16th January 2009.

Stewart Shaw, Head Teacher of Dunoon Grammar, says: ‘I am delighted that the young people of Dunoon Grammar School, through their involvement in this project, are at the cutting edge of technology.

‘Our pupils will gain much from their involvement in the TV station which will stand them in good stead for the future. This type of learning experience reflects our commitment to embrace curriculum for excellence. Paul Gallanagh (the teacher concerned) has to be congratulated for his innovative approaches to learning and teaching’.

Councillor Strong is very on-the-ball in her focus on the impact of these particular skills on pupil’s future careers and lives. These are the skills and these are the communications media of today and tomorrow. Creating with them at school and becoming familiar with their use and skilled in their application will not only support careers at the edge of communications development but will feed the growth of Argyll’s creative industries.

For Argyll looks forward to having its own team expanded any day now.

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