Learning to 'Teach It!' at 'Teachapalooza'

7/27/2011

"Teach it!" That was our mantra during "Teachapalooza," the amazing three-day conference for journalism educators this past weekend at the Poynter Institute in Florida. Sixty college educators from across the country and Canada heard newsroom executives tell us what they want their new hires to know, and learned from Poynter faculty how to better integrate social media and multimedia into our teaching. We also learned new tools for gathering the story, how to tell one story seven ways and the "10 Commandments for Video Storytelling." And we focused on helping students navigate ethical landmines, envisioning the curriculum of the future, mobile journalism and the digital divide.

Several attendees offered terrific 10-minute "show-and-share" lessons during lunchtime on Friday and Saturday, including a rubric for grading tweets, using smartphones for newsgathering, using black sports history to teach storytelling, students blogging about food, getting students to better know their syllabus and a digital literacy project. I had the honor of presenting a show-and-share on "Using Storify and Twitter for Good Not Evil."

Having also attended the "Teaching the Craft of Writing (in the Age of Twitter)" session at Poynter in May, I expected that "Teachapalooza" would better prepare me for my multimedia journalism courses in the fall. But I could not have imagined that I could learn so much in just three days. I think Lisa Taylor, an instructor from Ryerson University in Toronto, put it best when she could learn more only if she had an external hard drive attached to her head. Click here to access the best of the weekend's offerings via Poynter's News University.

9 Comments

Eric

8/30/2011 11:48:58 am

This post once again shows off your quest for higher education, and better more efficient ways of teaching. It starts off with your recollection of Teachapalooza, and then you go on to describe the festivities, and the various innovative things you learned while at the event. The quote in the end sums it up, and brings a sense of closure and clarity to the whole post.

Becca French

8/31/2011 05:26:21 am

I enjoy this post a lot because it shows that professors do have an interest in integrating social media and modern technological advancements into their teaching styles, rather than blaming technology for corrupting the classic methods. Your interests in the subject, especially what you have personally done with Storify and Twitter show an eagerness to better students' learning that isn't common with many professors. It's good to know that professors have an equal interest in what social media can do to benefit a college education.

Andrea Anderson

8/31/2011 06:20:58 am

To reemphasize what Eric said, you continue to show your joy for fostering higher education and teaching in present day form - technology. I'm glad to know that there is a professor who is invested.

There is a typo in the first paragraph, "...what they want their new hires to know, and learned from Poynter faculty..."

Allison Kruschke

8/31/2011 06:46:54 am

Glad to hear that you took so much away from this workshop and others you attended this summer. I can't wait to be exposed to all this great information in your class! Be sure to include the "10 Commandments of Video Storytelling" - I'm curious.

Kyle

8/31/2011 07:17:24 am

I had no idea this convention existed but it seems like it is a great supplement to what you will be teaching this semester and it also keeps teachers in tune over summer break. Like some others who've posted comments, I'm also interested in the "10 Commandments of Video Storytelling."

Tessa Fox

8/31/2011 12:23:26 pm

It is great to see that a person who already has an education such as yours continues to learn and stay up to date with technology! I'm glad you found it very useful, as I'm sure you will share some of your knowledge that you learned at ‘Teachapalooza’ with your students!

Ryan Ellerbusch

9/1/2011 01:43:58 am

It's truly amazing looking back to see how much social media and multimedia have progressed since I was in grade school. As an avid Twitter user, I am excited to learn more about how to use Twitter professionally and to tell a story. Sounds like Poynter Institute does a great job putting on conferences like these and offering tips to teachers all across the United States.

Sarah Hauer

9/1/2011 06:03:54 am

As your student it is comforting to know that you have learned what our future employers will be looking for because I want a career not just a job.

Marissa Evans

9/14/2011 10:46:06 pm

All of your tales about the Poynter Institute always make me jealous as I know I really want to attend one, one day soon. However, I'm glad there are places that are revamping how teachers teach, not just what they are teaching. I'm also pleased it's not just online workshops being done but live, in-person ones. Now, if only you would allow (or would have allowed) us to live tweet from your classes...

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Learning to 'Teach It!' at 'Teachapalooza'

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