Written by Dr. Marcela Moyano
Miramar –Students of the Communications and Mass Media program of United International College enrolled in the Speaking on Radio course during the Summer term and embarked on a challenging journey to learn how to announce and manage their voice through UIC’s distance learning modality due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When I was offered to teach this course, I immediately knew it was going to be a challenge. I teach audio editing and voice announcing in this course. I was excited about embracing this challenge and getting the best out of it” Dr. Marcela Moyano, course’s professor.
UIC has an audio studio equipped with a radio station for students to practice their learning. Since this group of students was not going to enjoy the benefits of learning in this state of the art facility, UIC’s communications program administration had to ensure that students would have all necessary equipment to learn.
Therefore, each student enrolled in the course received by mail a USB Cardioid Digital Condenser Microphone for their practice and production work. In addition, they all were given access to the Adobe Creative Cloud All Application and downloaded Adobe Audition CC for their audio editing needs.
The course began and Dr. Moyano started teaching them through UIC’s Online Campus successfully instructing breathing and voice management techniques, and audio editing. The course methodology implemented exceeded students’ expectations and students were excited to have their own equipment at home.
Week seven of the eleven-week course, was a memorable one. Students premiered their South Florida Mosaic radio show, in which pieces of News were featured by Martha Rodriguez, Arts by Daniela del Valle, and Culture by Carolina Portilla. The show was live streamed on Facebook and had five episodes. The show also featured Stephany Jimenez, the creator of The Bird Movement; Santiago del Valle, Production Manager; and Valentina Bilbao, a world acclaimed visual artist. The South Florida Mosaic concluded with live streaming of students’ audio stories on the last episode of the season.
The South Florida Mosaic Season
Also, the charismatic radio talent Tamara Gant, mostly known in South Florida as Tamara G. and co-host of mornings on 101.5 Lite FM with Julie Guy, known for their long running show as “Those Two Girls in the Morning,” visited the virtual class and inspired the students to follow a career on the radio industry. Tamara shared with students her experience and passion on radio and demonstrated some announcing techniques she had implemented that same week. Students applied some of her news writing and announcing tips in the upcoming radio shows.
The course concluded with an hour session with WLRN anchor and voice talent Christine DiMattei. In preparation for her lecture, she shared with Dr. Moyano scripts to be distributed to each student. On the day of her class, students role play being professional announcers with DiMattei. She introduced them as reporters and they would read each of the scripts. Then, she would critique their delivery and emphasize ways of improvement. At the end of the class, students were confident and excited that they had received a private lesson from a talented, acclaimed, and numerous award winning professional.
UIC’s focus is on hands-on education and this course is a clear example of how UIC embraces technology and creativity to provide students with most enriching learning experiences.
Learn more about the Communications and Mass Media program