Transformational Transformational Journalism Journalism

Esther WojcickiEsther WojcickiCarnegie Foundation CASTL ScholarCarnegie Foundation CASTL Scholar

Palo Alto High SchoolPalo Alto High School

Palo Alto,CAPalo Alto,CA

The Scholarship of The Scholarship of TeachingTeachinginvolves two aspectsinvolves two aspects——

1.1. Making the ‘invisible’ Making the ‘invisible’ visiblevisible

2.2. Passing the findings on to Passing the findings on to other educatorsother educators

1984 Journalism program1984 Journalism program

Beginning Journalism—18 studentsBeginning Journalism—18 students Advanced Journalism—19 studentsAdvanced Journalism—19 students 6-8 page newspaper 6-8 page newspaper Typed up on a typewriterTyped up on a typewriter Pasted up with waxPasted up with wax Adviser functions as teacherAdviser functions as teacher

Journalism Programs 2002Journalism Programs 2002

Beginning JournalismBeginning Journalism Newspaper Newspaper

JournalismJournalism Magazine JournalismMagazine Journalism Broadcast JournalismBroadcast Journalism Web JournalismWeb Journalism 250 students250 students Use PageMaker Use PageMaker Files sent on InternetFiles sent on Internet Student run programStudent run program Adviser acts as coachAdviser acts as coach

Journalism students accepting Time Magazine Best of Nation

Award 2002

Transformational Transformational JournalismJournalism

SupportiveSupportive CULTURECULTURE CommunityCommunity

STRUCTURESTRUCTURE StrongStrong

CURRICULUMCURRICULUM

Classroom Culture GaugeClassroom Culture Gauge Required for an effective Required for an effective

learning communitylearning community----

Shared PowerShared Power High ExpectationsHigh Expectations Mutual TrustMutual Trust Mutual RespectMutual Respect Authentic WorkAuthentic Work

Shared PowerShared Power

Students help determine lesson plansStudents help determine lesson plans Students teach on a regular basisStudents teach on a regular basis Students help run the class Students help run the class Students determine story ideasStudents determine story ideas Students edit each other’s workStudents edit each other’s work Students make final decisions about Students make final decisions about

what to include in the paper based on what to include in the paper based on standards learned in beginning class.standards learned in beginning class.

High ExpectationsHigh Expectations

Use Use New York TimesNew York Times daily. daily. Use Use TimeTime Magazine weekly. Magazine weekly. Students revise until they get an A.Students revise until they get an A. Regularly ask for student input on Regularly ask for student input on

local and national issues.local and national issues. Compare them to the best and Compare them to the best and

expect them to do as well or better.expect them to do as well or better.

Mutual TrustMutual Trust

Give students a responsibility and Give students a responsibility and count on them to do it. Rarely bail count on them to do it. Rarely bail them out.them out.

Respect their confidence on all levelsRespect their confidence on all levels If they give me an excuse, I trust them If they give me an excuse, I trust them

to tell the truth. to tell the truth. Do special favors to help students.Do special favors to help students. Expect them to do favors for me.Expect them to do favors for me.

Write extra stories, stay late, take photos.Write extra stories, stay late, take photos.

Authentic WorkAuthentic Work

Write for a real audience.Write for a real audience. Produce a newspaper, magazine or Produce a newspaper, magazine or

website.website. Write for local newspapers.Write for local newspapers. Write letters to editor of local Write letters to editor of local

papers.papers. Speakers include writers & editors Speakers include writers & editors

of local & national publicationsof local & national publications

OutcomesOutcomes

Student self confidence skyrockets.Student self confidence skyrockets. Students Students lovelove school—they don’t want school—they don’t want

to leave (can also be a problem).to leave (can also be a problem). Students feel connected to each other, Students feel connected to each other,

to school, and to broader community.to school, and to broader community. Interdisciplinary aspect positively Interdisciplinary aspect positively

impacts student performance in other impacts student performance in other subjects—subjects—

Students have developed excellent Students have developed excellent people skills.people skills.

QuestionsQuestions

Will it work in other settings?Will it work in other settings? Middle schools, elementary schools?Middle schools, elementary schools? Diverse student populations?Diverse student populations? Can other teachers learn how to do it?Can other teachers learn how to do it? Why should other teachers want to do Why should other teachers want to do

it?it? These are questions for further These are questions for further

research.research.

http://http://kml2.carnegiefoundation.orkml2.carnegiefoundation.org/html/poster.php?id=68g/html/poster.php?id=68

Website address for Website address for

Tranformational Tranformational JournalismJournalism

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Dr. Kim Austin, Dr. Kim Austin, Stanford UniversityStanford University

Dr. Desiree Pointer, Dr. Desiree Pointer, Carnegie FoundationCarnegie Foundation

Dr. Ann Lieberman, Dr. Ann Lieberman, Carnegie FoundationCarnegie Foundation

James Morgan, James Morgan, Carnegie FoundationCarnegie Foundation

Dilruba Ahmed, Dilruba Ahmed, Carnegie FoundationCarnegie Foundation

Carnegie Foundation StaffCarnegie Foundation Staff