Author Archives: Julie Dodd
Preparing students to be free-agent employees in today’s challenging economy
Freelancers. Contingency employees. Contract employees. Temporary workers. Free-agent employees. Those terms apply to an increasing percentage of the U.S. workforce and were terms used in a recent article in USA Today –“Freelance workers reshape companies and jobs.” According to researchers cited in the article, at least 10 percent of the current work force are cotingency workers. […]
Open Access Week encourages faculty to think about their use of open source materials in their classes
I first read that this was Open Access Week in a blog post on The Chronicle of Higher Education that discussed the benefits of using open source course management systems, such as using WordPress, rather than using the standard university course management systems, such as Blackboard or Angel. I was interested in the discussion, as […]
How much should instructors model their syllabus policies on the university’s recommended syllabus policies?
Graduate students in Mass Communication Teaching are designing course syllabi for undergraduate communications courses. One of the resources I’ve alerted them to is the University of Florida Policy on Course Syllabi. Here’s a question about the use of the policy information. Q: How closely can we parallel our syllabus to the general syllabus outline provided […]
Should students be allowed to design their own extra-credit projects?
Graduate students in Mass Communication Teaching are asking questions about decisions they are making for syllabi they are developing for undergraduate communications courses. Q: Instead of giving the students a list of assignments for extra credit, can I let them design their own projects to allow more creativity and flexibility? A: As a teacher, I […]
Should exams in a course all count the same amount and should students have the option of dropping an exam grade?
An important part of teaching is being able to design an effective course syllabus. So that’s one of the course requirements for the graduate students in Mass Communication Teaching (MMC 6930) at the University of Florida. The students in the course each have determined an undergraduate communications course that they would like to teach. Now […]
Students demonstrate how technology and CMIR can help improve news storytelling
The grand opening of the Center for Media Innovation and Research ended with a presentation by five undergraduates of how technology and software could be used in telling news — in this case how pelicans affected by the oil spill in the Gulf were being rehabilitated. Steve Johnson talked about how the work flow has […]
Former Dean Ralph Lowenstein speaks about need for collaboration for technology innovations
Ralph Lowenstein was honored for establishing the spirit of innovation and collaboration in the College of Journalism and Communications. – from my iPhone
Sheryl Attkisson talks about future of journalism
“No lines.” That’s how Sharyl Attkisson, CBS News investigative correspondent, said is the future for journalism. No lines between reporters and editors. Reporters writing and shooting video. – from my iPhone
CMIR opens with faculty, UF administrators and alums attending
We’re here for the grand opening of the Center. UF President Bernie Machen just finished his comments.
Julie Dodd 