High School News: Current Articles

TECHS Students Finish Projects

Podcasts and RFP Proposal

by Margalee Thomas

The TECHS students, which include seniors Alex Block, Jamison Hollstien, and Eric Ehmen, built a Linux computer in February and installed free open-source software. This computer is now being used as a podcast server for the school. The students worked with Kelsey Bergen, the Executive Director for the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, in developing two podcasts promoting the city of Henderson. The students used a MacPro computer and software programs called Garageband and iMovie to create the two podcasts. One is strictly an audio podcast, narrated by the three students in the class, Alex, Jamison, and Eric. The second podcast is both audio and video. They both can be played with the software package called iTunes. With the popularity of mp3 players, other cities are creating podcasts for free publicity of their towns or cities. The students used a free html editor called KompoZer for the link from SOCS to this web server. The student’s project was recognized as one of three special projects. The students received for the school a special condenser microphone and a spider shock mount stand, worth about $150, for use in next year’s projects.

The following link is connected to the new Linux podcast web server located in the Heartland School District. Click on the link to hear and view the podcasts. Henderson Podcasts

The class was also creating a new video of Henderson to send to possibly new residents of the town. Jamison narrated the video and Ms. Thomas is completing the project. The video will be shared with the Chamber of Commerce in the near future.

The students also won a special award for their RFP proposal on all aspects of creating a new lab. The proposal included pricing for printers, computers, server, LCD projector, software applications, networking, and documentation for adding a lab of 12 computers and a server. The students included the costs for hardware, software, training, and setting up the lab. The proposal included graphs, documents, hardware specifications, spreadsheets, and graphics. The team scored very high on the project and received a plaque along with a special certificate.