CHAMPION — The interactive multimedia program at the Trumbull Career & Technical Center has a new modernized podcast room.

Kris Doran, TCTC interactive multimedia instructor, said the podcast room has evolved over the years.

“We have worked to continue to improve that area to make it more of a professional studio for our students to learn in,” Doran said.

Doran said the room is similar to a television studio, allowing people in the hallways to look through a window and see the podcasts taking place.

The podcast room also provides a better-controlled environment for sound as opposed to being in a large open room where students are trying to learn.

Doran said the only costs for the project were those to reorganize a former storage room area. He said money from his budget was used for sound panels.

In addition to podcasts from the school, there are also outside-of-school podcasts, including an upcoming one with Girard Mayor Mark Zuppo.

“We have a ready-to-go studio right now,” Doran said. “It is a more permanent professional-looking studio that is sit-down ready. Students use it for practicing and to record their content.”

Doran said last spring, he began planning for the updated podcast room and worked on rewiring the room with help from the center’s technology staff.

“It is now a separate room. When it was in the open room, everyone there had to be silent,” Doran said.

One of the first podcasts, which began five years ago with two microphones, was “Doing Time with Deputy Mike,” which was broadcast every Monday with comments from Mike Geer, a TCTC school resource officer.

Geer said he was looking for another avenue to connect with students.

“I want to help them see that we as law enforcement officers are people too. We are approachable. I hold a game night each month and welcome students, which helps break down barriers,” Geer said.

Geer said he has noticed a difference with the new room, with students and staff walking in the hallway and stopping to watch.

Doran said Zuppo will come to the school and be recorded for the Girard city quarterly podcast.

He said the podcasts go on YouTube and others to professional podcasting sites.

Doran said as part of the multimedia class students using the room will gain experience on how to do interviews, produce a podcast, gain project management skills, research content and communicate with those in the podcast.

“The industry has changed so much and podcasts have become so popular. I felt we had to push for the development of podcasts so students can do what is modern,” Doran said.

The students’ podcasts have helped the school earn top awards at state competitions.

STUDENT RESPONSE

Landon Primus, a senior from Champion, said the new room is much easier to use.

“It is actually like being in a podcast room. Overall it is better for production,” Primus said.

Jaxson Bell, a senior from Niles, said the dedicated area for the podcasts frees up other areas of the classroom.

“The room can also be used for audio design. The other day we used it to record an instrument,” Bell said.

Geer said the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office has been very supportive of the programs.

Doran said there is an annual program with the sheriff to recap the year and for an upcoming segment to discuss family traditions at Thanksgiving.

Geer said Sheriff Mike Wilson is planning to take part in the upcoming podcast.

“The podcasts really allow us to connect with students and people in the real world in different industries across career programs. We can bring in people from different careers and let them speak to and interact with the students in different programs. It allows students to get connected, which goes well beyond the walls of classrooms,” Doran said.

He said the podcasts can be saved for future students to see and teachers to use for lessons.

“It is amazing to see where this has gone from where it started. This was Mr. Doran’s vision,” Geer said.