Shout it Out: Using Event Planning to Stimulate & Showcase
Student Achievement
Cynthia Bascom, Ph. D.
Associate Professor of Communications
Wouldn’t we all like to change “wah-wah” into “wah-WOW?”
Wah-wah…
Wah-WOW!
Shout it Out!
• Purposes
• Event Design
• Institutional Support and Incentive
• Documentation & Assessment
• Your Ideas
Purposes:
• To improve students’ speech skills.
• To get speech students “jazzed up” about creative & thoughtful freedom of expression.
• To give speech students a platform beyond classroom walls to perform & to address issues of importance to them.
• To provide an active learning opportunity for public relations & advertising students.
• To promote Bluefield College to the local community.
Event Design
• Inspired by Speaker’s Corner in London’s Hyde Park
• Picnic lunch served outside with 20 quilts spread on grass
• Students’ persuasive & after-dinner speeches
• Giveaways between performances
• Music including a student jazz ensemble
• Audience members “vote” for favorite speaker with donations for a charity.
Student Pre-event Participation
• Named Event
• Designed Logo, Posters, Email, & Facebook Announcements
• Wrote Press Releases
• Created Video Advertisement
• Solicited Giveaway Prizes
• Took Photographs
• Wrote Pre & Post-event Student Newspaper Articles
Support?• No budget
• Picnic lunch included in meal plan
• Prizes donated
• Money for quilts donated ($20 x 20 = $400)
• College public relations office distributed press releases, arranged for local media, posted information on college website, & distributed information through college’s electronic newsletter.
• President gave invocation
• Faculty kick-off speaker
• Enrollment Management supplied 8’ x 8’ backdrop
• Maintence helped set up tables, chairs, & speaker system
Evaluation
• It rained…moved to cafeteria
• 58% (18 out of 31) speech students who qualified (received “B” or better on persuasive speech) participated
• Additional participation by art and music students
• Well attended by faculty and students
• Covered by Fox News
• Positive comments on written evaluations
• Supported a local charity
Lessons?
• Set up tent in case of rain.
• Collect written feedback immediately afterwards.
• Solicit additional student participation in other divisions.
• Secure ongoing funding
• Video tape event
Comments?
What special events have you tried or are thinking about trying that would stimulate and showcase student achievement?
Winning Student Speech
Emily Minter
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