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Full-Text Articles in Education

Best Practices For Student Learning Assessment In Smaller-Sized Undergraduate Mass Communication Programs, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr Aug 2015

Best Practices For Student Learning Assessment In Smaller-Sized Undergraduate Mass Communication Programs, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr

Douglas J. Swanson, Ed.D APR

Assessment of student learning in higher education is no longer optional, because the public increasingly expects universities to spend less and produce more. Generating detailed, meaningful assessment is challenging, particularly for smaller-sized mass communication programs with limited resources. Mass communication-focused assessment literature is scarce. This best practices essay reviews other research to illustrate proven examples of ways to assess simply and effectively in undergraduate mass communication programs to achieve maximum faculty support and curriculum improvement.


Student Learning In High-Impact Practice Mass Communication Courses, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr Apr 2015

Student Learning In High-Impact Practice Mass Communication Courses, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr

Douglas J. Swanson, Ed.D APR

College and university high-impact practice (HIP) courses involve students in intensive values-focused learning inside and/ or outside of the traditional classroom environment. Much research has documented that participation in HIPs increases student retention and graduation rates. At the same time, the nontraditional learning structure of an HIP course can complicate a thorough assessment of student learning. Anecdotal evidence reflects strong involvement in HIPs by mass communication programs, although communication efforts in this regard are not as well documented in the literature as efforts in other fields. This essay briefly defines HIPs and presents an appropriate theory that would guide HIPs …


Assessing Public Relations Student Learning And Performance In Real World Client Campaigns And Projects, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr Oct 2014

Assessing Public Relations Student Learning And Performance In Real World Client Campaigns And Projects, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr

Douglas J. Swanson, Ed.D APR

Extensive research affirms the benefits of engaging public relations undergraduates in campaigns and projects for real world clients. At the same time, instructors often have difficulty evaluating student learning and performance in such work, for three reasons: (1.) In order for the work to truly be real world, instructors must allow students a high level of autonomy. (2.) Clients are often poor judges of appropriate public relations practice. (3.) Students often hesitate to inform instructors of strategic challenges or team member negligence or malfeasance. This poster session presents a brief overview of assessment concepts affirming why it is important to …


Developing Students’ Research Skills In The Undergraduate Public Relations Writing Course: A Framework For ‘Real World’ Success., Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr Oct 2012

Developing Students’ Research Skills In The Undergraduate Public Relations Writing Course: A Framework For ‘Real World’ Success., Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr

Douglas J. Swanson, Ed.D APR

Those of us who teach in higher education are in a time of continually diminishing resources. Our budgets have been cut, but our class sizes and teaching loads continue to increase. There’s an unceasing drumbeat from the profession to better prepare our students with social media skills demanded in the workplace (Cahill, 2009). In the education of public relations undergraduates in particular, there seems to never be enough time or resources for faculty to teach students all the new skills needed – let alone the basics. Outside of class, faculty struggle to find time for research. Our long-delayed projects sit …


Assessment Of Student Learning In The Department Of Communications: A Successful Faculty Collaboration, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr Oct 2012

Assessment Of Student Learning In The Department Of Communications: A Successful Faculty Collaboration, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr

Douglas J. Swanson, Ed.D APR

As recently as 2010, our department was noted for its inability to operationalize a program of assessment of student learning. Although several faculty members had presented strong and noteworthy proposals, the department as a whole had not implemented any assessment plan. In January 2011, the department was represented at the university’s assessment retreat. At that time, a four-year plan was developed that identifies seven learning outcomes for all Communications majors and has procedures for measuring and evaluating student learning across the core curriculum and all five of the subject concentrations. Extensive supportive policy was developed. Documentation was made available to …


The Student-Run Public Relations Firm In An Undergraduate Program: Reaching Learning And Professional Development Goals Through ‘Real World’ Experience, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr Jan 2011

The Student-Run Public Relations Firm In An Undergraduate Program: Reaching Learning And Professional Development Goals Through ‘Real World’ Experience, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr

Douglas J. Swanson, Ed.D APR

A student-run public relations firm can offer a variety of benefits for an undergraduate program in which there are limited resources for professional involvement by students. The article is a case study that profiles a student-run firm launched in conjunction with a capstone course in a journalism department. Specific learning and professional development goals were established for students, the department, and for clients served by the firm. The article presents a brief summary of successes, along with a discussion of opportunities and challenges. General recommendations are offered for establishing a student-run public relations firm.