Potter students keep on top of technology

FALLBROOK – Ask a group of Potter Junior High students about their favorite subject and one of the first things they say is “Technology and Mrs. Tobler.” Officially, Katy Tobler’s title is Technology Integration Specialist, but that doesn’t begin to describe the “magic” that goes on in Room 71, which is the hub of Tobler’s technology classes, the school’s television studio and live daily news program.

Tobler encourages and challenges her students as they research careers, explore science projects, and work on presentations and school news using computers and cameras. She is assisted by several student computer mentors who are also available to assist teachers and staff with technology problems in other classes.

A recent evaluation from the county technology techs determined that the television studio needs new dedicated greenscreen equipment to solve recurrent media interface issues, like computer freeze and delayed audio. The studio has the greenscreen itself but has to run projected backgrounds through another computer instead of directly from the camera. Tobler said, “The county techs praised how far we’ve gone with the equipment we have and complimented our students on the remarkable job they do and their commitment to producing a quality show every morning.”

The students are so enthusiastic about taking the TV studio equipment to the next level that they have formed a TV Broadcasting Club to fundraise the $2,500 needed for new equipment. They have been selling See’s Valentine’s Day candy and custom Potter pride wristbands and have raised about a third of the money required for the project.

Tobler also hopes to raise enough money to take the Broadcast Club students to visit a TV studio so they can see professional news happen live.

For more information on the technology program, contact Katy Tobler at [email protected] or (760) 731-4165.