Hipster Learning

Cindy Royal, Ph.D.

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Texas State University

cindyroyal.com

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Accompanying video at youtube.com/watch?v=-DwXWXyQot8

Hipster Learning• Students must learn current concepts,

but also must be prepared to grasp new ideas and apply them in their workplaces

• Today's students are preparing for jobs that don't exist yet, and graduates are expected to be immediately productive in defining and shaping these new roles. • Social media editors • Community managers• Programmer/developer roles in

communication companies• Communicators in tech-related companies

Questions• How can students best prepare to work in an environment

that requires flexibility and innovation? • How can we help students develop a mindset for learning

rather than an emphasis on specific tool training or a particular skill set?

• How can anyone apply this model throughout a career?

Realities• Computers will be a part of any media career and most

other careers• Social media is not just something you do for fun.• People will get information in a variety of embedded and

atmospheric ways.• Data, data everywhere.• Game dynamics will inform

storytelling.• Things change. Rapidly.

Experience Learning• SXTXState.com

Experience Learning

Experience Learning• SXTXStories.com

Experience Learning

Experience Learning• TXStateofChange.com

Experience LearningHTML/CSS, Drupal, JQuery, VIDI, Google Chart Tools, ManyEyes, HighCharts.com, Google Earth and various visual tools to work with multimedia including Photoshop, iMovie, Premiere Pro and Final Cut

General Curriculum Approach• Courses cover the realm of conceptual/theoretical to basic

skills to advanced tech• Balance emphasis on communication, design and

development in projects• Engagement with social media; blogs, Twitter,

Facebook…• Attention to current events in tech• Focus on judgment, problem-solving and troubleshooting• A digital media emphasis: centers, projects, events• Faculty development• Professional community ties

Undergraduate Curriculum• Fundamentals of Digital/Online Media – new core class• Web Design and Publishing• Multimedia Journalism• Digital Storytelling

Graduate Curriculum• Issues in New Media• Online Media Design• Advanced Online Media• Content Management

Systems

Megan Kilgore• Digital Marketing Manager, Capital Area

Food Bank• Grad at TXST

Anna Tauzin• Manager of Digital Innovation,

National Restaurant Association• Here in DC, after completing

master’s at American University• Undergrad TXST

Additional Slides

Radical Curriculum Proposal• Flip the curriculum. Teach digital, integrate traditional skills.• Curriculum must include:

• Programming concepts• Web design and development• Mobile Development• Data and data visualization• Programming for content management systems

Radical Curriculum Proposal• Journalism is a specialized used of many fields• Computer Science ≠ Web Development• Design is a key element in being able to communicate

effectively• Data, data, data• Knowledge of statistics

also important• Need for different

teaching methods• Reach different audiences• Rise of learn-to-code movement• Jobs for people with these skills!!!

Radical Curriculum Proposal• If we don’t move aggressively and efficiently toward this:

• Journalism curricula will increasingly grow irrelevant• Someone else - another department, organization – is

going to fill that space• Students won’t have the 21st century communication

skills they need to be successful in their careers• Communication is two-way - connecting and sharing.

And providing meaning to data and information. This needs to be the foundation of any media curriculum.

Maira Garcia• Statesman, Social Media Editor• Now Web Producer at

The New York Times• Undergrad and Grad at TXST

Jackie Baylon• Digital First Media, NYC,

News Producer• Undergrad TXST

Shannon Delaney• Digital Marketing Coordinator,

MOSAK Advertising and Insights• Grad at TXST

Josh Shepherd• Interactive Manager and Strategist,

MOSAK Advertising and Insights• Grad at TXST

Jordan Viator Slabaugh• Interactive Communications Manager,

Spredfast• Previously, Director of Social Media,

Convio• Undergrad and Grad at TXST

Andrew Waldrup• Product Manager, Spredfast• Previously Social Support, also Culture

Evangelist at Gowalla

• Undergrad TXST

Nicole Martinez• Social Media Specialist,

HomeAway• Grad at TXST

Mairin Heard• Social Media Specialist,

HomeAway• Undergrad and Grad TXST

Ashley Hebler• Junior Front-End Web Developer,

Volusion• Grad at TXST

Doug Seliger• Junior Developer,

Mason-Zimbler• Undergrad & Grad at TXST

Haley Peck• Front-end Web Developer,

Blackbaud• Undergrad at TXST

Matt Slabaugh• Interactive Designer,

Sparksight• Undergrad at TXST

Dee Kapila• Digital Strategist/Technology Consultant,

The University of Texas• Grad at TXST

Kristin McCasland• Web and Social Media Editor,

Rice University• Undergrad and Grad TXST

Megan Kilgore• Digital Marketing Manager, Capital Area

Food Bank• Grad at TXST

Anna Tauzin• Manager of Digital Innovation,

National Restaurant Association• Here in DC, after completing

master’s at American University• Undergrad TXST

Sarah Garcia• SXSW, Interactive Programming

Coordinator• Undergrad and Grad TXST

Andrew McNeill

• SXSW, Festival Coordinator• Also Staff Writer, 48 Min of Hell blog• Undergrad TXST

Jon Zmikly• Senior Lecturer, TXST• Grad TXST

Dale Blasingame

• Lecturer, TXST• Was Social Media Director, LeadHub• Undergrad and grad, TXST

Thank You!

Find this presentation at slideshare.net/cindyroyal

Accompanying video at youtube.com/watch?v=-DwXWXyQot8