Toward an Organic Paradigm in Higher Education

R. James WertzDepartment of Communication

& Media Studies

Edinboro UniversityPennsylvania

INTRODUCTION

• Creativity is essential and beneficial… Higher Ed is not doing enough to encourage creative development. (Cropley & Cropley, 2009)

INTRODUCTION

• FLOW: The merging of action and awareness (Csikzentmihalyi, 2008)

INTRODUCTION

• How do we, as educators…

• Engage students in professional practice?

• Foster creativity?

• Allow students to develop skills that meet their diverse and individual needs?

ORGANIC PARADIGM

• VITALITY

• CREATIVITY

• DIVERSITY

• CUSTOMIZATION

ORGANIC PARADIGM

• VITALITY

• CREATIVITY

• DIVERSITY

• CUSTOMIZATION

STUDENTS

INSTRUCTORS

JOURNALISM CAPSTONE

NEWS21• Two-Semester

Topic-Based Sequence

• Fellows partner with Media Partners

• Paid Stipend and Travel = $10,000

JOUR504• One Semester

Advanced Reporting Seminar

• Broadcast, Print, and Public Relations Students

• No Compensation/ No Media Partner

JOUR504: Adv Electronic Journalism

JOUR504: Adv Electronic Journalism

• THREE REPORTING ASSIGNMENTS:• DEFINING THE PROBLEM• ORGANIZATIONS & INSTITUTIONS• PEOPLE & PLACES

JOUR504: Adv Electronic Journalism

• THREE REPORTING ASSIGNMENTS:• DEFINING THE PROBLEM• ORGANIZATIONS & INSTITUTIONS• PEOPLE & PLACES

• RULES:• Pieces could be print based or visual• OFF-CAMPUS ONLY• Finish pieces posted to course blog

• WorkingPoorAmerica.wordpress.com

EXTERNAL RESULTS

EXTERNAL RESULTS

“I love seeing you people taking an interest in what is going on in the world today. After all, they are our future. Keep up the good work.” - Lisa Scott, Blogger

“My husband and I have also been working on a website covering health insurance policies. Your site’s info has been a great guide for our new site. Please keep on uploading the great content! Looking forward to reading more pages on your helpful website!”

– Anon. Blogger

EXTERNAL RESULTS

“This seems like a really interesting project. We think about this all the time at the National Diaper Bank Network. We look forward to getting to know you better in the blogosphere.”

- Diaper Bank Network

INTERNAL RESORTS

• Student Response:• “enjoyed the class discussions”…

• “I even kept the notebook!”

• The Projects “were very helpful in learning what works in the real world”…”good ways to approach people.”

INTERNAL RESORTS

“Even though the reporting projects were time consuming I learned a lot about the working poor and myself throughout this process.”

For More Information

ProfWertz.com

WorkingPoorAmerica.wordpress.com

WorkingPoorAmerica.com

References

Arum, R. & Roksa, J. (2010). Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses. Chicago, IL.: University of Chicago Press.

Cropley, A. & Cropley, D. (2009). Fostering creativity: A diagnostic approach forhigher education and organisations. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press.

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2008, 1991). Flow: The Psychology of the Optimal Experience. New York: Harper Collins.

News21 (2012). Available online: http://news21.com/

Robinson, K. (2008, June 16). RSA/Edge Lecture: Changing Paradigms - How we implement sustainable change in education. Available online: http://filmenglish.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/transcript-sir-ken-robinson.pdf

Salen, K. & Zimmerman, E. (2004). Rules of Play: Game Design Fundamentals. Cambridge, MA.: The MIT Press.

Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of Practice: Learning, Meaning, and Identity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.