Downingtown, PA, March 18, 2009— There is no doubt that great things are happening every day in Chester County schools - great things that deserve to be shared with the county, state, nation, and even the world. Thanks to Chester County’s Internet TV station CCiTV, this sharing is a reality. CCiTV is available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and features live streams of educational events as well as previously recorded video on demand.
Only two years old, the multi-functionality of CCiTV is rapidly being recognized and tapped by many within the county and across the state. According to Diane Thomson, program development coordinator for the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU), CCiTV can reach a county-wide audience and beyond.
“It (CCiTV) really has no boundaries because it is web-based,” said Thomson.
For example, one student received a text message congratulating him on his team’s winning the Chester County Academic Competition minutes after his team’s victory from relatives in Canada watching the event live over CCiTV.
“There are two main parts of CCiTV,” said Thomson. “There’s the live stream that we do for special events, and then there’s the regular programming that runs throughout the day.”
“Many CCIU events are made available on CCiTV, some of them being streamed live as the event is taking place,” said Thomson. “Examples include the upcoming live video stream of the high school Shakespeare festival on April 15, and the high school computer fair awards ceremony on April 3.”
According to Dr. John Branson, director of Educational Research, Development, & Technology services (ERDTS) at the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU), CCiTV is becoming “a sought-after communication tool across the state.”
CCiTV’s live streaming of events is growing in popularity: “Originally, we anticipated streams of recorded content, which is occurring,” said Branson. “But we are getting more and more requests for live streaming of events. The students get so excited when they are told an event in which they are participating is being broadcast across the whole world.”
Live stream events are then are archived in CCiTV’s video on demand (VoD) library. In the VoD library, users may search videos, browse a playlist of featured videos, view the program list, and even create a playlist of their favorite video.
One of the many highlights of the VoD portion of the Website is the Student Update. Created a year ago by students for students, the Student Update is a monthly, student-run news program for Chester County. Each monthly episode is available via CCiTV anytime, anywhere Internet access is available.
“What I really like about CCiTV is the fact that it is showcasing and raising awareness of what Chester County students are doing,” said Thomson.
Also, according to Thomson, CCiTV is beginning to be sought throughout the state.
“Other intermediate units as well as the Department of Education are approaching us about what CCiTV can do,” said Thomson.
For example, the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s online professional development activities are powered by CCiTV’s advanced VoD portal. The videos and podcasts available on the portal offer Pennsylvania’s educators an opportunity to earn Act 48 activity hours free of charge.
“In March, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell presented his economic relief and recovery plan via CCiTV,” said Thomson. “And, on April 1, the Governor will be teaching a class on civics via an interactive videoconference to classes throughout Commonwealth.”
According to Branson, “People are seeing what we are using CCiTV for and are saying, ‘Hey, can you do that for us, too?’”
According to Thomson, there are three main ways to get onto CCiTV: Schools can send finished video packages to CCiTV; they can send raw video content to be edited for CCiTV; and, they can request CCiTV to send a film crew to an event.
For more information, please call Thomson at 484-237-5017 or e-mail dianet@cciu.org.
To experience all that CCiTV has to offer 24/7, please visit http://ccitv.cciu.org.
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