In November 2024, the Ed Tech/Audio Visual class at Ogdensburg Free Academy showcased their work at the annual New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education (NYSCATE) conference at Turning Stone Resort in Verona, New York. The presenters included OFA alumni Andrew Doser and Dylan Sovie, current student team members Camden Ruud (sophomore) and Judson Wells (senior), along with OFA Educational Technology Coordinator, Bob Ladouceur.
During their presentation titled “Blood, Sweat, Tears, and Success,” the team described how they’ve evolved from a small group of student volunteers into a crucial force for technological innovation and support within the school district. Their audience included representatives and leaders from both technology companies and education departments.
“It was the biggest event I have been to, and we were the youngest people there,” Dylan said. “The coolest thing was meeting representatives from vendors whose equipment we use everyday. Benjamin Smith, Executive Leading the Cricut for Schools Initiative, joined us for our presentation. We also chatted with CEOs from ViewSonic and Logitech. They asked for our feedback which was the best part of the trip.”
Meeting a need in the district
The Ed Tech/Audio Visual class first began as a club in 2019 when students began helping Mr. Ladouceur to manage, clean and repair the district’s chromebook laptops. With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, their work became critical as students and staff transitioned to remote learning and the district’s 1,800 chromebook computers needed to be inventoried and updated.
“It was a big undertaking,” Andrew said. “Dylan and I piloted the AV program, volunteering to help. The district began paying us to work throughout the summer. Now, class members get paid for any work done outside of school hours.”
Once the critical work involved with the pandemic was completed, OFA principal Cindy Tuttle supported Mr. Ladouceur in developing an Ed Tech/Audio Visual class.
“I was very lucky from the start because I knew I had a team that I could trust,” Educational Technology Coordinator, Bob Ladouceur said. “The ability to trust them with all this equipment, even when I am not always in the room, has been critical. As part of class, where they now receive credit for working out of my office, they manage many of the ground level tasks, allowing me to focus on software and other related issues.”
Today, the class is responsible for managing sound, digital displays, and lighting for events held in the OFA auditorium, like the school musical. Members of the class have also begun live streaming sporting events using the NFHS systems installed at the main gym, golden dome and football field.
“We started broadcasting on Facebook Live when spectators weren’t able to attend events on campus. Our first broadcast was a hockey game held at Lockwood Arena right after the COVID lockdown was lifted,” Andrew said. “That has evolved into streaming on YouTube with better cameras.”
According to Judson, class members take part in everything from auditorium work to broadcasting. Once students enter the class, they are able to focus on areas that they find most interesting.
“We began with distributing chromebooks, and one idea led to another,” Dylan explained. “We decided to embrace experiences that were both fun and beneficial to others.”
Each learned skill becomes another creative idea. Leveraging their filming and video editing skills from other projects, the class conceived DevilCast, a video series aimed at promoting the Seaway Valley Festival. The series expanded to include community spotlights, which the team continues to produce.
Benefits beyond the classroom
The skills Andrew Doser acquired as a member of the Ed Tech/ Audio Visual class during his time at OFA provided immediate advantages when he became a student at St. Lawrence University. Now a sophomore, Andrew is the director of broadcasting for men’s and women’s hockey at SLU as of August 2024.
“I included my broadcasting experience from OFA in my application, and the athletic director sought me out during one of the admin-student days. I jumped in doing referee video replay last season,” Andrew said. “Being a director is a cool experience. I correspond with ESPN to deliver information. I brought Dylan on as an independent contractor to help out as well.”
Dylan Sovie, currently a freshman at SUNY Potsdam, continues to pursue his passion for broadcasting. The foundation and enthusiasm he developed at OFA have propelled him to further his experience in the field.
The work continues
Current students show great promise, and the class’s work continues to thrive. Mr. Ladouceur praised Judson Wells, noting his ability to handle everything and his constant activity.
“He likes to figure things out on his own,” Ladouceur said. “Judson has been involved in many aspects, from auditorium work to office tasks. He assembled our Cricut machine and will teach the class how to use it. He also set up our new projection system and runs the soundboard. Judson is my go-to guy for soundboard questions.”
The district currently has two Cricut machines which are used to cut a variety of materials for crafting projects. Judson hopes to be able to offer an after-school instructional time for teachers and staff to learn how to use them. “We’d eventually like to have a couple of people at each school building that are trained to use the machines for class projects,” Judson said.
Ladouceur also commended Camden Ruud for his meticulous and methodical approach to learning about new equipment.
“All of these kids have an exceptional work ethic. I’m extremely proud of them,” Ladouceur said. “Their fingerprints are on everything, from organizing our room to managing Chromebooks. I’d be lost without them.”
Ladouceur added that the district administrators and teachers know the members of the team well and are supportive. In particular, Judson and Mr. Ladouceur both acknowledged superintendent Kevin Kendall for his enthusiasm in meeting the class’s needs and ideas swiftly.
An ambitious future
Mr. Ladouceur is hopeful about the future of the Ed Tech/Audio Visual class. “We have so much coming down the pipeline this year including the addition of chromebook charging carts and zSpace laptops,” Mr. Ladouceur said. zSpace laptops combine elements of virtual and augmented reality with the purpose of improving student outcomes and increasing student engagement.
“My goal is that team members, in addition to my 6th grade technology students, will take the lead in implementing these initiatives with seventh and eighth graders at OFA”
The class has ambitious plans to implement self-serve kiosks for the chromebooks where students can access their equipment by simply typing in their student ID number.
While Ladoceur oversees the team’s efforts, he has empowered them to take on responsibilities and develop leadership skills. “Mr. Ladouceur trusts us and comes to us for our recommendations,” Dylan said. “We were interested in the Chromebook charging carts at the NYSCATE conference. He stood back and let us ask the company representative all of the questions about the price, what is included and what kind of service to expect. He lets our voices be heard.”
The Ogdensburg Free Academy Ed Tech/Audio Visual class is poised for continued growth, expanding both their skill sets and service offerings, as well as increasing the number of students who benefit from their involvement. They are excited to deliver another presentation this summer, this time to school administrators at a conference in Lake Placid.