Connected Learning Summit 2019

Adaptable, Scalable, Measurable: Using Story Builder to Create Healthcare America, an Immersive Newsgame
Juli James, Sara Champlin

Story Builder is an interactive game design platform created to serve the ever-changing, complicated challenges of communicating news to the general public.

In our fast-paced society, journalists must cover a variety of complex topics with a short turnaround. Additionally, it is critically important that general audiences can understand, interpret, and make use of the information presented through news outlets. Tools that support journalists’ endeavors to disseminate information quickly - as well as immerse the public in ways that help increase their understanding of critical news content - are needed.

In this project we developed a “newsgame” on a topic that is challenging for readers and journalists, but one for which news coverage can help educate diverse audiences - health insurance.

This project showcases the benefits of the Story Builder platform, including the ability to make updates to game content quickly, such as in response to breaking news. The Story Builder is also designed to be used by any audience, including journalists who may not have programming backgrounds. Finally, through a second iteration, we tested an integrated survey function, which allows researchers to examine the cognitive and affective outcomes of the game.

In this Showcase we will demonstrate what we did to create a game on a hotly-debated topic, why this matters for society, and how others can use Story Builder for games on other critical topics.

Youth Voice: Expanding the Boundaries of ‘Public’ in Public Media
Denise Sauerteig

Youth voices have been taking and holding center stage in the national consciousness. In December 2017, The California Sunday Magazine published an all-teen issue--stories written by and about life as a teenager today. In 2018, The New York Times announced they were looking for student writers to “explore issues that you and your friends would like to see in The Times.” And in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida and the subsequent March For Our Lives movement, student voices have moved to the forefront of social media and broadcast media. KQED is broadening the concept of ‘the public’ in public media, breaking through traditional boundaries and expanding youth voice on the airwaves. KQED’s Youth Takeover began in April 2018 with a week of youth contributors from classrooms around the Bay Area taking over the airwaves. It expanded in April 2019 with educator professional development on media making and workforce development for youth on journalism media creation. This showcase will present process and outcomes from the first two Youth Takeovers and discuss ways to scale up the work, while also engaging audiences in helping us redefine ‘public’ and how youth voice can continue to reach mass audiences.

Ensuring Civic Engagement and Integrity in Youth Media Programming
Jeff McCarter, Mai McDonald, Lee Edwards, Armani Baker

As the landscape of media and journalism constantly changes and we face unique local, national and global issues, Free Spirit Media is using digital media and community reporting as a medium to transform society. Learn how Free Spirit Media’s hands-on curriculum, reporters and media makers are activating communities, encouraging civic engagement and fostering responsible media creation and consumption. Take a look at the many ways that Free Spirit Media is empowering the next generation of civically engaged creators and leaders.

Hear directly from staff and program participants about how the organizational structure and leveling up process allows youth and young adults to excel within programs and establish careers in creative industries. See how heightened media skills, high-quality production, expert interviewing and application of advanced technologies has helped youth make an impact through out Chicago and receive national recognition, including an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement for Public Service Announcement.

Gain more specific insights and curricular strategies from FSM’s community newsroom, the Real Chi. View how participants are constantly pushing the boundaries of creative expression and impact journalism. Learn how to incorporate solutions based and project based learning in youth and media programming. Take a moment to be part of the actual media creation and journalistic process by refining the skills involved in storytelling, pitching a new idea, interviewing subjects, and preserving integrity in reporting. Use workshop takeaways in areas of civic and community engagement, inclusion, youth voice, equity, equality and inclusion to enrich and inform your practices.