WILSON — It’s after 8 o’clock on a Wednesday morning and teacher Chris Hollen is about to start another session of her media technology class, now in its second year at Wilson Jr./ Sr. High School.

The more than a dozen seventh and eighth grade students are especially vocal because a visitor has stopped in to learn about their work.

“Do we just sit around?” Hollen asks.

“No!” several of the students yell.

In fact, hardly a moment passes that students aren’t involved in some project aimed at digital communication.

The students, who work in pairs, have created their own newscast, produced designs for Dragon clothing and completed numerous other projects that teach them about technology and, perhaps more importantly, life outside the classroom.

This day, student Deven Pasek worked on a website for the Central Kansas Demolition Derby sponsored by his father, Nathan Pasek. The purpose of the four-page site is to promote the May 2 derby near Bunker Hill. He has worked for more than three weeks on the site, his first such effort.

At another table, Caleb Dlabal and Colton Covieo continued to work on their project, a podcast about breakfast. They plan to recruit guests and offer breakfast trivia as part of their effort.

What have they learned?

“How technology works and how to work together,” Dlabal said.

Hollen has taught for 30 years, first at Russell before coming to Wilson four years ago. She earned an undergraduate degree in business education at Kansas State University, Manhattan, and master’s degrees in special education and education administration.

When Wilson needed someone to teach its elective media technology class, Hollen, who still lives in Russell, stepped forward. Her students appeared glad she did.

During this Wednesday’s 45-minute class, they seemed engaged and eager to continue with their projects. Falling through the cracks was not an option as Hollen made sure to include all students in that day’s discussion.

“They want to learn every single day,” Hollen said. “This is why you teach right here.”

Before project work started, she asked students to review their year.

The first semester included classes on graphic design, branding and broadcasting. Students produced six news programs between November and the end of the year. Topics included sports, Scholars Bowl and other school and community events. Included were graphics and off-site interviews with basketball players and others.

Students also were responsible for presentations before Central Plains School District board members on the importance of keeping WJSHS open.“Welcome to the Future,” a video with photographs of students and their activities, was produced in September.

At one point, class members went out into the community and interviewed business owners about the potential impact of a closing.

(By a 5-2 vote, the Central Plains board approved a resolution Jan. 9 to close the WJSHS building at the end of the 2022-23 school year and reassign students in grades 7-12 to the district school at Claflin. The elementary school is to remain open.)

The media class also broadcast Wilson baseball games and provided playby-play commentary. This semester, the focus is on children’s books, podcasts and website creation.

Hollen said there is something to capture the interest of each student.

When the class first started in the fall, some students were quiet and others turned to their teacher when they had a question. She encouraged them to figure it out and they apparently listened.

“If nothing else, I think they’re better at thinking for themselves,” Hollen said.

The class also has taught other life lessons. One student said he was better able to carry on a conversation, thanks to his time as an anchor on the newscast. Another learned about responsibility and deadlines. A third student talked about facts versus opinion and learning to realize the difference.

After this year, about 25 students will have taken Wilson’s media technology class. Hollen thinks they will enter their freshmen years — wherever that turns out to be — with skills other students haven’t yet developed.

The class also has strengthened the bond between the school and the community. Hollen said she often is approached by residents who say they enjoy watching her students on the school’s YouTube channel, wilsonnews.

“I tell them they are going to become famous,” she said.