Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Adam O’Hanlon, a video production teacher at Granbury High School, recently completed an externship with the Hood County News as part of a program offered by the Texas Workforce Commission.
The program, designed to give Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers real-world experience in their fields, was open to various disciplines, including culinary arts, automotive technology, aviation and video production classes. Teachers spend time working directly with businesses related to their teaching fields, allowing them to gain practical insights and up-to-date knowledge about industry practices.
As the head of the AV program at GISD, O’Hanlon, who holds Photoshop and Premiere Pro certifications, found that shadowing professionals in a news organization provided him with new perspectives. This experience provided deeper knowledge of the media industry, which he plans to bring back to his classroom to better prepare his students for careers in video production.
During his externship, O’Hanlon worked closely with various departments at Hood County News, including graphic design, writing, magazine production and sales. This exposure helped him understand how different roles within a media organization collaborate to achieve common goals. The experience reinforced the importance of communication, meeting deadlines and teamwork — skills essential in the media industry and any professional environment.
O’Hanlon expressed the value of this experience in bridging the gap between classroom learning and industry expectations. “I think this kind of hands-on learning opportunity should be mandatory for CTE teachers, to be honest with you,” he said.
He acknowledged that while teachers often focus on pedagogy, industry experience is crucial for effectively preparing students for the workforce. O’Hanlon’s students range from grades nine through 12, and many of them may not pursue college but instead aim to enter industry directly after high school.
One of the practicum requirements for O’Hanlon is that he must create a lesson plan incorporating new components from his experience at HCN and submit it to both the Workforce Commission and the head of Granbury High School’s CTE department.
“I see two challenges,” O’Hanlon says, “I need to teach the kids journalistic standards like ‘try to stay neutral,’ and secondly, carving out time to complete important hands-on projects.”
Reflecting on his time at the HCN, O’Hanlon said the externship inspired him to enhance his teaching approach. He is particularly excited about the potential collaboration between his students and HCN. “I can already see it,” he said, envisioning opportunities for his students to gain practical experience through projects like creating a school magazine or producing video content.
O’Hanlon intends to focus on developing relationships with industry partners to give students practical experience and opportunities to showcase their skills. He believes these experiences will not only build students’ resumes but prepare them for success with a head start in their careers.
As he prepares for the new school year, O’Hanlon is eager to implement what he has learned. By bridging the gap between education and industry, O’Hanlon aims to empower his students to succeed in video production’s competitive world.
