This document discusses using journalism education as a model for project-based learning and collaborative production. It outlines how a high school journalism program operates, including physical organization, operational organization using cloud tools, and how students work independently and collaboratively on projects. The program aims to instill passion in students and motivate them to continue learning outside the classroom through instruction that leads to knowledge building. It also discusses opportunities for students to collaborate with professionals in the field through events like speaker series, blogging, live coverage of events, and video projects.

1. Bridging the GAP
Journalism Education As A Model for
Project-Based Learning & Collaborative Production

2. Chris Waugaman
 Prince George High School, Prince George, VA
 Royals Media @RoyalsMediaNow
Print Journalism (The Royal News),
Photojournalism (Peerage),
Broadcast Journalism (PGTV NEWS),
Literary Magazine (Etcetera),
Online (TRNWIRED.ORG)
 Twitter - @cwaugaman
 Email – clwaug@gmail.com

3. Research &
Assessment
Where is research heading in the area of
student learning?
What is the effectiveness of the assessment?

4. Class Size
Project Star (Student/Teacher Achievement Ratio)
California Program (CSR – Class Size Reduction)
Small class 20:1
Hired more teachers… without credentials
New hires… in schools with high percentages of
low-income, ELL, and minority students
Center for Public Education

5. Instructional
Time
California law requires a minimum of
175-day school year
Longer School Day… John Rogers in a UCLA study
concluded that, “Students in the highest-poverty schools
are getting less even as the need more. Quality of
education differs by zip code.”
LA Times November 2014

6. The Classroom
 Where is your classroom?
 When does your class meet?
 What is the purpose of this space?
 Why do you structure your space like you do?
 How does this space function?
 Who is responsible for this space?

7. The Classroom
 Where is your classroom? Everywhere (A2, online,
sports venues)
 When does your class meet? 18 hours a day (before
school, 5th period, lunch, after school, during
practices, after practices, after dinner, before bed,
when you wake up)
 Why do you structure your space like you do?
Student-Centered
 How does this space function? Team Plan
 Who is responsible for this space? Everyone
 What is the purpose of this space? Instruction

8. Elements of a
Scholastic Newsroom
 Physical Organization (Equipment, Schedules, etc.)
 Operational Organization in the Cloud
(Staff Manual, Google Docs, GroupMe, TurnItIn.com, SmugMug)

9. How we operate on our
own…
 Editor communicates with reporter
(text, Twitter, Slack, Trello)
 GroupMe text
“Can anyone cover tonight’s
game?”
 Social Media Editor
 Tweets, Instagram, & Snapchats
(under 21 crowd)
 Facebook (30 and over crowd)

10. How we operate on our
own…
 Photographer uploads to SmugMug
 Yearbook Editor marks photos in private gallery
 Writer posts story in WordPress in draft mode
 Online editor selects photos for gallery & tags
and promotes
 Broadcast and Online editor checks Videolicious

11. Instill passion for subject…
Make them want to return.
Make them motivated to return.
Make them feel the class needs them to return.
Instruction leads to…
knowledge… comprehension… application…
analysis… evaluation… synthesis…
Carry the conversation…
outside of the classroom.

12. Working In The
Professional
World
Let’s take one more step with this project…

13. Opportunities for
collaboration
Twitter
Photography
Blogging, Reviews
Live Coverage
Video Projects

14. Opportunities for
collaboration
 Speaker Series - (Skype & Google Hangout with professionals and
alumni from ESPN, Washington Wizards, Boston Globe, Progress- Index,
Richmond Times-Dispatch)
 Unsung Hero Project - www.WeAreNewspapermen.org (Professionals
from NABJ, Emory University, UNC, VCU, USC, Detroit News, Norfolk
Journal & Guide)
 Blogging, Reviews (WordPress)
 Live Coverage (Political rallies for President Barack Obama ‘08, ‘12,
Gov. Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan) http://trnwired.org/2012/03/photo-
gallery-president-visits-rolls-royce-plant-in-prince-george/
 Video Projects (Fort Lee, PG County)

27. Chris Waugaman clwaug@gmail.com @cwaugaman