Learning to “Scream Smarter”

Using free or low-cost tools to extend learning outside the classroom

1. Background

• At Annenberg, we are tasked with preparing students to be good journalists and to get jobs at reputable and prestigious news organizations

• BUT:

What’s happening to news?

About the only growth area…

…and it’s only going to get worse

2. Industry Reaction

• Calls for “innovation” !

• Reliance on our graduates to launch startups and lead the way

3. Problem

• Pedagogical models for teaching still rooted in building skills suited to a journalistic environment that dates back to the Industrial Revolution.

• Emphasis still placed on conforming to long-existing standards & methodologies (AP Stylebook, inverted pyramid lede, etc.)

4. Proposed solution

• Use existing free and online tools to challenge students to innovate solutions on their own, while also collaborating with each other and their extended social networks.

• The exercise and teaching model draws upon students' existing affinity for using social media, as well as their inherent competitive spirit.

Before we get to the example…

• I have been experimenting with producing my own YouTube videos, eBooks and interactive HTML5 study guides.

• Full disclosure: I have been hired by KelbyOneMedia to produce online video training, and my company is producing MOOCs for Latin America with Univ. of Texas.