Tim Hall, Digital Media Teacher, Milton High School
This is the sixth and final in a series of Wisconsin Arts Educator interviews in honor of Arts Month 2024. The featured educators not only demonstrate excellent teaching but also innovative ideas.
Tim Hall is the Digital Media Teacher at Milton High School in Milton, Wisconsin. Under his teaching and leadership the program and the offerings in Milton have continued to expand and flourish. I asked Tim if he would be willing to answer a few questions about his innovative approaches to Digital Media Arts Education:
Tim: Student interest, trends in technology, storytelling, and a desire to keep learning have always been our “why”. So, when a group of students came in from our eSports team and said, “We should have a Game Design class” we found developers, wrote curriculum, proposed the class, and the rest is history. The rest of the Digital Media offerings have similar origin stories. Beyond engaging students, we’ve also connected with our community. Students tell their stories through media, and their learning/talents are showcased. It’s a win - win. And, I may have promised my principal that we would have the best media program in the state in five years time–that tends to be motivating too.
website states, “Red Hawk Media began in 1994 with 8 students sharing 6 computers. It is now one of largest digital media programs in the state”. Describe this group, what it does, and how it serves students and your school. Why do you think it’s been successful?
Answer: The Red Hawk Media (RHM) group is two-fold: the hardworking members of an extra-curricular, student-led, AV club, and the Digital Media classes. RHM has become a media conglomerate of sorts, where the club handles the technical know-how of setting up productions, like our livestreams, and the classes create content that round-out the experience with music, thumbnails, video edits, motion graphics, online content, and social media. The Red Hawk Media channel on YouTube is probably the greatest working example of how all that comes together.
Tim: Every year we have a homecoming video, and it could be like the description says every year when the homecoming video gets posted to YouTube, “A long standing tradition...that represents the spirit of Milton High School’s many events during homecoming week”. However, the real tradition is that students approach it with the mindset of challenge accepted. This year will be the newest, best homecoming video ever. And we set to work innovating. It’s really the same in all the classes as we try to push the envelope. Last year it was using game engines to create 3D scapes for green screen, and this year it was storyboarding with Generative Fill (AI) in Photoshop. We try to use whatever makes the impossible, possible–and fun. A long-standing tradition, the homecoming video represents the spirit of Milton High School's many events during homecoming week.
Tim: Students will always have stories to tell, and they want their stories to be relevant. Digital media, and the tools it teaches students to use, makes that happen. I’ve never liked using technology for the sake of technology, but as a tool that improves storytelling craft or helps accomplish the greater goal, it’s innovative.
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN for Summer Institute: Transforming Systems for Innovation
When: July 15–18, 2024
Where: Land O'Lakes (tentative)
Who: School teams of between 4–6 people, including (but not limited to) administrators, educators, and instructional leaders.
What: Through hands-on experiences, concurrent sessions, small-group discussion, networking, and reflection, school teams can joyfully explore ways to create their own pathways to hope. Participants will also receive implementation support throughout the 2024-25 school year through online sessions.
Topics include:
- Alternatives to Traditional Grading
- Culturally Relevant Instruction
- Flexibility within the Law
- Growing Hope
- Personalized, Competency-based learning
- and more…
Registration includes food and lodging. Limited to 60 participants. Registration priority will be given to school teams of between 4–6 people.
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Chris Gleason
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
This publication and previous issues are available from: Division of Academic Excellence> Teaching and Learning Team> Arts and Creativity. https://dpi.wi.gov/fine-arts/newsletter
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