Prepared by: Jami Williams, Mexico High School, Mexico, Missouri

TARGET
Students will understand the role that smartphones play in journalism and various apps that can help with backpack journalism.

EDUCATION METHODS

1. PowerPoint presentation
2. Independent Research Project
3. Presentation

OBJECTIVES

1. Level 1 (Basic) understanding of backpack journalism
2. Level 1 (Basic) understanding of finding and using apps to help with the journalism process

MATERIALS NEEDED

1. Multimedia Management PowerPoint Day 1: multimedia-powerpoint-day-1
2. There’s an App for That Expert Sheet: theres-an-app-research-project

VERIFICATION

Steps to check for student understanding

1. Teacher will do frequent comprehension checks in the form of Classroom Assessment Techniques (thumbs up, thumbs down; exit slip in the form of post-it note summary).
2. This module will include a heavy amount of independent work and research. The teacher will act as a facilitator but will also benefit from research and contribution to the assets list that will be created throughout this unit for future use.

FLOW OF LESSON

1. Suggested bell ringer: Have smartphones and the concept of “everyone” being a reporter helped or injured journalistic integrity? Explain.
2. Teacher will present the PowerPoint.
3. Teacher will share two favorite apps. It would be best to have the App for That sheet filled out and displayed as the teacher goes through the explanation. One app might be a photography or video app and the other can be a management and workflow app.
4. Teacher will explain that students will be researching and helping the class develop a list of go-to apps for their mobile journalism section.
5. The teacher should emphasize that the students are expected to become experts on their apps, which they will present tomorrow to the class.
6. The apps should be recorded and stored somewhere for future reference.

WRAPPING IT UP

1. Exit slip: If you could create an app that did one thing, what would that app do and what would you call it?