Week Three - Lab Challenges

 Most of us in technology labs face many challenges. In my opinion, they stem from the demand of teachers multi-tasking with students and equipment. I have a split classroom that "developed" without fair-warning within the first couple of weeks of school. The class was to be level two but it has ended up being half level two and the other half level three/four. Pre-preparation could have helped me in my blight. However, it was an afterthought by the school to keep the classroom full at twenty-eight. I am managing the best that I can, but I have to depend on upper level video students to assist me.  The classroom is large and difficult to manage. This is because it is divided into an instructional section with desks and a separate section with a television studio. The studio is in a separate window in which I can see through glass windows. However, I cannot hear what the students are saying and see everything that they are doing. There is a separate control room. Fifteen students are in the studio. I have fifteen boys in the classroom to manage and to teach basic video curriculum. This involves lesson plans and supervised instruction. My dilemma is helping two separate levels at once. It is difficult. The boys need a constant watch. The new television production crew needs my input. Currently, I am missing my lunch to have a thirty minute slot with the upper level students. I feel pulled apart. I also feel strained with the responsibility of an expensive studio not under my undivided attention. I can tell the administrators not to mix classes for next semester but what about the rest of this year ?  I requested a security system immediately after the arrival of the new equipment this summer. Currently, it is not available. Any feedback would be considered and appreciated.