Mojave Accelerated Learning Center Junior High School Students Test AIMS Knowledge on TV in Jeopardy-Style Game

BULLHEAD CITY - May 15, 2009 - I’ll take Language Arts for 100, Alex.

Students from two Bullhead City junior high schools have recently tested their knowledge while playing the AIMS Game, a Jeopardy-style game show featuring topics derived from AIMS standards like math and language arts.

And just like the popular television game show on which it’s based, all the academic action was televised!

The show has aired on Bullhead City’s cable television station, TV 67. TV 67, which is housed at the Mohave Accelerated Learning Center (MALC) has dual purposes – it provides local high school students with the opportunity to learn about TV broadcasting as well as serving as a vehicle for local schools to communicate with parents and the community, according to station manager Mark Carlson.

Students in Bud Holland’s TV Production class operated the cameras and audio board, managed the stage and ran the graphics for the AIMS Game, while Mike Kern served as host and Holland served as director.

“The goal was to give the younger students an opportunity to have some fun with their knowledge and give the high school students television production experience,” Carlson explained.

For the junior high students playing the AIMS Game, the rules were nearly identical to the famous game show it was modeled after. Students chose the category and value for each clue. When the clue was shown on the board, they had seven seconds to give the correct response.

The response had to be in the form of a question, of course!

“I had a good time, but it was hard to enjoy being on television because I was concentrating so hard on playing the game,” said John Huddleston, an eighth-grade contestant. Chris Redwine, a seventh-grader added, “…Now I know what to expect. I hope to compete again next year.”

Just like Jeopardy, the stakes were high for the participating students. The junior high students were competing for prizes donated by both local and national merchants, while the high school students were putting their television production skills to a very challenging test.

”It is such a fast-paced show,” Holland said. “It is very difficult to direct. The (MALC) students have to know their camera shots because I don’t have time to call them out.”

James Rutherford has seen the AIMS Game from both sides – he was a contestant last year and a camera operator this year. He says he has enjoyed both roles.

“It was neat to give other kids a chance to have the fun I did last year, but it was also nice to answer the questions in my head without the pressure,” Rutherford said.

This year five episodes were taped that are currently running on TV 67. Carlson said he expects the show to return again next year.