We are going to be entering our final week of the semester and I asked my students to reflect on their experiences in #Freberg15. Since I first taught the class back in 2013, there have been some protocols and changes I made during the past few years that have worked out for me as a professor.
First, there are pre-reqs associated with this class and the students have to at least take the two strategic communication classes we offer here at UofL. Second, I individually meet with each student beforehand to talk to them about the class. I do warn them that this is going to be the hardest class they will take in college – but could potentially be the most rewarding.
This is also a class that is not like any other class I teach – it’s about hands on experiences, real-world applications of tools and methods, and networking with fellow professionals in the field. We have had a TON of great guest speakers this semester (Major thanks to everyone who came to class!) as well as having the opportunity to work with two great professionals (Bella and Gathan) on the social media campaign proposal assignment.
As a result, several students have summarized their experiences in the class this semester on their personal blogs. Here are just a few examples from class:
As you can see from the blog posts from the students, there was a lot of work and expectations for them for this class. I have to give them all credit for taking it one day at a time and really working hard this semester. What I have tried to do as a professor with this class is to show them that working hard pays off – if you work hard, opportunities and new experiences are easier to get that can help you in the future. I have seen a shift in the class from the mindset of “What was I thinking taking this class” to “I’m confident I can work in social media” or “This is the field I know I want to be in.” That’s the overall goal here for me is to showcase the potential opportunities available in the field of social media and strategic communications.
Along the same lines, what I really like about teaching this class here at UofL is the fact you see during the course of a semester a shift in the students and class not only with their understanding of social media, but their overall confidence in the field. They are able to come up with innovative and creative ideas while also recognizing how to identify new trends and think about how they could be used in both positive/negative ways. It’s not always about understanding the tools and tactics of social media, but more along the lines of the strategic mindset and thinking like a manager in the field.
It’s been a true privilege for me to have each and every one of my students this semester in #Freberg15. It’s been a lot of work and I know each student has grown substantially over the last few months. I am really excited to see what they do in their final proposal presentations and in the profession after this class. #ProudProf
Hope you all are having a great day!
Best Wishes,
