The Axle:
My weekly story idea revolves around grade school children returning to in-person learning this year. What impact did online-learning have the parents of young children? With everyone working and going to school from home last year, how are parents in Centre County adapting to their kids going back to “normal” schooling? Did parents get used to it, or are they relieved that they are no longer working and parenting at the same time?
The Riders:
The best audience for my story is anyone who lives in Centre County and has children who are in elementary school. Teachers and school administrators would also be an audience that would take interest in my story. Parents with children who are not yet in school could also take interest in the story to understand what schools are like as students return to in-person learning.
The Spokes:
Memorable moments in my story would include B-roll footage of parents dropping their children off at school and the process of getting children into the car in the morning. Nat-sound of busy hallways and classrooms filled with grade school children. Sound bites or interviews from local teachers (especially teachers who are also parents), parents and elementary school staff would provide quality insight to how elementary schools are operating right now. An interview with the Principal of a local elementary school would also be included to have an administrative opinion on students learning in-person again. An interview with a local daycare owner/manager would also be an interesting lens to look through, because lots of parents rely on daycare while they are working in-person.
The Rim:
Beginning – I would open the story with video of school children walking into their elementary school; Nat-sound of parents saying goodbye, the bell ringing and children making noises would remind the viewer of what going to elementary school was like. I would also include my voice talking about the specific elementary school (how many students, teachers, etc).
Middle – The middle of the story would focus on interviews with relevant people such as parents, teachers and school staff. Hearing from people with different levels of involvement in elementary schools will make the story feel complete and well-rounded. An interview from a working-mom explaining how hectic working from home was while her children did online-learning in the same house.
End – The story would conclude with footage of elementary school students leaving school to go home as the lines of cars wait to pick them up. I would finish with me standing in front of the same school, concluding the video and summarizing what the people in the interviews said. Close with a wide shot of the school, but without any students, to show what it was like during the 2020 school year.