Live vs. Broadcast

I attended a party during the week and I was captivated by the media! My husband had a work party this week and the company he works for is huge! There were so many people they held it in the McKay Center at UVU. They played their own version of The Price is Right, Deal or No Deal, and Family Feud. It was pretty exciting watching the employees answer questions about their company.

Because there were so many people they set up four screens that had the games "broadcast". The cameras got closer shots from all angles. Even though I was right there in the same room, I kept watching the screens. I was close enough to the stage that I could see what was going on but my eyes were drawn to the screens. I kept thinking it was because the cameras had a closer more detailed shot but I think it may be because I'm so used to watching things on screens that I'm automatically drawn to them.

I think this could turn into a fun classroom lesson. The teacher could have an aid or another student give a short presentation to the class while being filmed. The camera could be feeding live into one or two televisions on either side of the presenter. After the presentation the teacher could ask (after observing) how many people kept looking at the screen instead of directly at the presenter. The teacher could then open up a discussion by asking WHY. This would give the students the opportunity to think about what just happened. The teacher can use this discussion to explain how media and screens are such a huge influence in our lives.