Welcome to Pionline by Ric Wallace

Today is a very big day for me. I installed the teachers handbook and PowerPoint programs at Putnum County High School this morning for their E-Tech or Entertainment Technology course. PCHS Band Director Julian Beckwith will begin delivering this program to the 26 students that were pre-enrolled in the program in the next few weeks. This course uses the Moodle interface in combination with two textbooks, a set of 25 in depth PDF docs on the 24 primary units and the teaching PowerPoint that contains over 560 slides with teaching notes. Each unit has it's own quiz as well as a survey that tracks Student Learning Outcomes. It's exciting to offer these students a viable alternative path in this vocational education primer.

Tomorrow will usher in the spring season and I had planned on March 1st for the official opening of classes at the Production Institute. Unfortunately things just aren't quite ready yet! Nonetheless, the work is going full speed and I will be offering several different programs in the production arts very soon.

First will be the beginners production arts course with a focus on audio that will span 24 weeks. This course will be perfectly suited for high school seniors or young adults seeking an entry into one of the fields encompassing the production arts. This program will help a student prepare for the more difficult year long hands on courses that lead to OJT and internships in the industry. Not all students who start on this path follow it to entertainment industry careers. This beginners course will help students and parents determine their preparedness for a higher level of training. Those that do finish this course will have a definite advantage in a more advanced program.

In addition I'm on track to offer a six week professional seminar. This course will be a hybrid curriculum combining daily work online and weekend workshops in local Athens venues. Obviously close proximity to Athens will be required for this course.

These courses will be complete and ready for delivery to students this fall. I'm going to push the release date of the grand opening back to September first to give myself the time I need to fully finish this project.
Please contact me if you are interested in the classes or if you just wish to comment. Thanks for taking the time to read this!

If you're in the Athens Georgia area, I'll be giving a free workshop at Musician's Warehouse on Saturday May first. I'll have a registration link here in the near future so check back and register if your a sound engineer or just want to be one!