Dr. Daniel “Doc” Oswald, Radio and Broadcasting Teacher, wrote an article titled “This Illinois High School Teaches Radio Broadcasting With Video Games” that was published in Radio World Magazine in July 2025. The article chronicles how a simple Xbox game transforms the teaching of radio by giving students first hand experience of live broadcasting.
The Xbox experience allows a new way to practice live broadcasts without physically being at a live event, Oswald said. Oswald wanted to provide all radio students with an opportunity to improve their live broadcasting skills.
“I thought [about] how we [can] provide better training for students so that when they do have one of these limited opportunities to broadcast live, they feel confident with their skill set,” Oswald said. “I wanted to provide an opportunity [for] students who [might] not have time to broadcast a live game to develop a set of skills [for] live event broadcasting.”
With these notions in mind, Oswald concluded that using video games, and their fast-paced, engaging, and changing scenes, replicated the environment of live events. Junior Lily Fontana, Station Manager, has known Oswald, and his teaching style, since she took his Introduction to Broadcasting class her freshman year. Fontana watched her peers practice live commentating with the video games, effectively learning broadcasting skills for live sports games, Fontana explained.
“I know plenty of people in news and sports [broadcasting]who are well-versed in their coverage of live football and live basketball because of Oswald’s method [with] video games,” Fontana said.
Senior Owen Cummings has also been a part of the radio program working with Doc since his freshman year additionally broadcasting for live sports events, Cummings explained.
“No matter what sport, [live broadcasting is] always super fast-paced, so you have to make up stuff on the spot, which is stressful at times because you have to keep up with the game,” Cummings said. “It’s also fun because you get to watch the game and talk about it live.”
Oswald’s goal with the article was to demonstrate a new strategy and create a larger impact on the radio community.
“The article was my attempt to start a conversation at all the levels of individuals who read Radio World Magazine that it is important and necessary to train young broadcasters, and one way that have helped [young broadcasters] develop certain skills,” Oswald said. “I saw it as a way to provide service to the larger community and South by highlighting the great things we do here and the ways our students are willing to try new things to advance their own learning.”
