Hipster Learning

Cindy Royal, Ph.D.

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Texas State University

cindyroyal.com

Find this presentation at slideshare.net/cindyroyal

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.• Coding is becoming an

important literacy.• 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, JavaScript, JQuery, Google Chart Tools, ManyEyes, HighCharts.com, Google Earth and various visual tools to work with multimedia including Photoshop, iMovie, Premiere Pro and Final Cut

Other Curriculum Approaches• Courses cover the realm of conceptual/theoretical to basic skills to advanced tech; emphasis on making things

• Balance emphasis on communication, design and development in projects

• Engagement with social media; blogs, Twitter, Facebook…

• Attention to current events in tech

Other Curriculum Approaches• Focus on judgment, problem-solving and troubleshooting

• Attention to media as a platform• Faculty development• Professional community ties• Publication in online venues; present at conferences; encourage students to do the same

Other Approaches• Partner with other departments; use interdisciplinary

approaches• Become comfortable in a learning environment; ok to say I

don’t know, but we can figure it out.• Constant updating of course

and curriculum• Develop a support group

within your faculty; bounce ideas, check in with each other

• Design Thinking – brainstormideas, encourage creativity

• Don’t wait. Just do it.• Model behaviors for students.

Professional Hiring• Aron Pilhofer – Executive Editor of Digital for The

Guardian, formerly Associate Managing Editor for Digital Strategy at New York Times

• In recruiting he looks for a mindset.• Adapt, look ahead and not being afraid to constantly

question

Maira Garcia• Web Editor at

The New York Times• Statesman, Social Media Editor• Undergrad and Grad at TXST

Jackie Baylon• Web Editor, The New York

Times• Digital First Media, NYC,

News Producer• Undergrad TXST

Megan Kilgore• Digital Marketing Manager, Capital Area

Food Bank• Grad at TXST

Anna Tauzin• Manager of Digital Innovation,

National Restaurant Association• In DC, after completing master’s

at American University• Undergrad TXST

Shannon Delaney• Digital Marketing Specialist,

MOSAK Advertising and Insights• Grad at TXST

Josh Shepherd• Engagement Manager, Spredfast• Interactive Manager and Strategist,

MOSAK Advertising and Insights• Grad at TXST

Jordan Viator Slabaugh• Director, Strategy, Social & Content at

LiveWorld• Director of Marketing & Social Media,

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

Mairin Heard

• Multimedia Producer, Austin American-Statesman

• Undergrad TXST

Tina Phan

• Social Media Specialist, HomeAway

• Undergrad and Grad TXST• On winning team, Austin Social Media

Awards 2013

Ashley Hebler• Junior Front-End Web Developer,

Volusion• Grad at TXST

Doug Seliger• Web Developer, NFP Advisor Svcs• Junior Developer,

Mason-Zimbler• Undergrad & Grad at TXST

Haley Peck• Technical Account Manager,

Blackbaud• Undergrad at TXST

Matt Slabaugh• Interactive Designer,

Sparksight• Undergrad at TXST

Kiana Fitzgerald• Production Asst and Social

Media, NPR Music• MA and Undergrad at TXST

Shawn Dullye• Community Manager, SAP• MA and Undergrad at TXST

Dee Kapila• Technology Project Manager at The University

of Texas and Instructor at SkillCrush.• Digital Strategist/Technology Consultant, The

University of Texas• Grad at TXST

Kristin McCasland• Web and Social Media Editor,

Rice University• Undergrad and Grad TXST

Carly Hohl• Project Manager, Trademark Media• Undergrad and Grad at TXST

Kolten Parker• Digital News Editor• San Antonio Express News• Undergrad TXST

Sarah Garcia• SXSW, Senior Festival Programmer• 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