The Santa Cruz County Office of Education (Santa Cruz COE), through its EdTech Trailblazers initiative, is proud to announce the return of the FREE Padcaster Program for Santa Cruz County educators. Now in its third year, this successful partnership with Santa Cruz CTV continues to provide teachers with professional-grade video production equipment to enhance classroom creativity and student engagement.
Since its inception, the Padcaster Program has empowered educators to bring video production into the classroom, transforming iPads into mobile video studios. Click here to view a sample video from a past participating teacher at Ohlone Elementary. Each Padcaster kit includes essential tools such as tripods, microphones, and lenses, allowing students to create high-quality video content that promotes digital literacy and creativity.
“It’s incredible to see the positive impact this program has had on both teachers and students over the past two years,” said Jason Borgen, Chief Technology & Innovations Officer. “We’re excited to continue offering this resource for free, thanks to our ongoing partnership with Santa Cruz CTV. The possibilities for creativity and learning in the classroom are endless.”
Growing Impact of the Padcaster Program
Over the last two years, the Padcaster Program has reached hundreds of students, helping them gain valuable skills in video production and digital storytelling. Here are some
highlights from last year:
- Youth Led Leadership Alliance: 30 students created informational videos on voter registration and produced a series of training videos on gender and pronouns.
- Amanda Pinther, Cypress High School: 10 students spotlighted various aspects of their camp
us through videos shared on social media. - Wayne Conley, PCS: 75 students documented field trips and captured their science projects through creative video productions.
Marcy Reynolds, SLV Charter: 25 students used stop-motion animation to bring their written stories to life.- Sara Goldfarb, Branciforte Middle School: 50 students learned film production techniques and created instructional videos for their peers.
- Gault & Bayview Elementary Schools: Over 600 students collaborated tocreate videos showcasing school eventsand projects with support from their public information officer.
- Andy Stenros, Scotts Valley Middle School: 50 ASB students produced weekly videos highlighting important campus updates and events.
In total, the program has benefited over 1,000 students since its launch, helping them explore the world of video production while enhancing critical skills such as collaboration, communication, and problem-solving.
How to Participate
Santa Cruz County educators can now sign up toborrow Padcaster equipment for the 2024-2025 school year. Whether you’re documenting a class project, exploring stop-motion animation, or creating instructional videos, the Padcaster kits are designed to support a wide range of classroom activities.
Reserve your Padcaster kit today by participating in this year’s cohort. Equipment is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so early registration is encouraged!
“We’re thrilled to kick off the third year of this program and can’t wait to see what innovative projects our educators and students come up with,” said Stephanie Sumarna, EdTech & Innovation TOSA at Santa Cruz COE. “The creativity and storytelling we’ve seen so far have been outstanding, and we’re eager to see how teachers continue to leverage this tool to engage students.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can borrow Padcasters?
The program is open to all Santa Cruz County educators, free of charge.
What’s included in the kit?
Each Padcaster kit includes an iPad mount, tripod, microphone, and additional accessories for high-quality video production.
What types of projects can be done?
Teachers have used the equipment for a variety of projects, including science experiments, campus news segments, stop-motion animations, and weekly school updates.
For more information, visit our EdTech Trailblazers page or contact us directly with any questions. We look forward to another year of inspiring creativity and innovation in Santa Cruz County classrooms!s