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Full-Text Articles in Education

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 …


Fostering Development Of Mentoring And Reverse Mentoring Skills Among Public Relations Undergraduates, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr, Betsy A. Hays M.A., Apr, Julie Henderson Ph.D., Apr, Fellow Prsa Oct 2012

Fostering Development Of Mentoring And Reverse Mentoring Skills Among Public Relations Undergraduates, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr, Betsy A. Hays M.A., Apr, Julie Henderson Ph.D., Apr, Fellow Prsa

Douglas J. Swanson, Ed.D APR

Mentoring and reverse mentoring have gotten a lot of attention in the academic and professional literature in other disciplines (accounting, management, nursing, the sciences, etc.). But these concepts haven’t been addressed much in public relations. We believe that if these practices were more fully integrated into the undergraduate curriculum, our students would be more prepared to participate in mentoring in the professional environment, as well as launch careers as independent PR practitioners. The purpose of our panel discussion is to briefly share our experiences in regard to mentoring, reverse mentoring, and entrepreneurship. We’ll talk about what our research and our …


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.


Training Future Pr Practitioners And Serving The Community Through A "Learn By Doing" Undergraduate University Curriculum, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr Jan 2008

Training Future Pr Practitioners And Serving The Community Through A "Learn By Doing" Undergraduate University Curriculum, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr

Douglas J. Swanson, Ed.D APR

The Journalism Department at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) has created a public relations (PR) curriculum that adequately balances students' preparation in conceptual knowledge and practical skills by introducing “hands on” public relations work. At Cal Poly, students gain valuable expertise from the beginning of their academic experience by providing PR work for community clients. Moreover, dozens of nonprofit organizations in Cal Poly's community have been helped by getting PR support of the highest quality—support that they need but cannot afford to pay for. Details are provided of Cal Poly's PR curriculum and structure for seven of its courses.


Journalism/ Mass Communication Program World Wide Web Sites: Content, Functionality And Promotional Value, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr Jan 1999

Journalism/ Mass Communication Program World Wide Web Sites: Content, Functionality And Promotional Value, Douglas J. Swanson Ed.D Apr

Douglas J. Swanson, Ed.D APR

Despite the popularity of promotionally-oriented Web sites within journalism/ mass communication programs in higher education, there has been little examination of sites and their contents. Almost no research has focused on visual, informational, and operational enhancements, or how Web sites of different higher education programs in the discipline differ from each other. This research addresses some of the unanswered questions about how journalism/ mass communication Web sites use enhancements to communicate with online users.