Internet brings high school graduations closer to home

Tribune:

Faced with a problem this spring of too many graduating seniors and too little room for their families, five south and west suburban high schools stumbled on an obvious solution: broadcast the ceremonies live on their Web sites.

Just like that, officials said, an entirely new world came into focus. One where Friday night football games, school concerts or plays could be beamed into the homes of alumni living out of town or around the world; where students home sick could watch classes live; where high-achieving middle-schoolers could sit in virtual high school classrooms; or where parents could perhaps one day monitor their child's behavior in class.

About 1,200 households watched online this week as graduating seniors from Stagg High School in Palos Hills, Andrew High School in Tinley Park and Sandburg High School in Orland Park donned caps and gowns and accepted their diplomas, a Consolidated High School District 230 official said. More are expected to tune in for a live video stream of graduation ceremonies Sunday for two Indian Prairie School District 204 high schools in Aurora and Naperville..

The suburban schools are among a growing number around the country to experiment with live video on the Web, an emerging tool that some say will revolutionize how schools connect with their communities. For schools already accustomed to sharing important information with families on ever-expanding Web sites and on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, live Web casting is another leap forward in communicating with the public.

It would be great to announce to those who read this blog that Harlan, Robeson, or even Chicago State would have their graduations broadcast online. I'm sure doing such a production costs money, but I don't think it's entirely a bad idea to show our community's best and brightest.

That reminds me, last weekend I graduated from Morehouse. That commencement was also broadcast live on the internet.