During our time in Phoenix, all participants were expected to contribute to a central blog, to write an article for the Institute, and to create a video. I have included the links below. I finally have my name in print ;p

Hot Topic 2011 Blog
Institute InSite (FYI - I helped create the banner

I have been back from Phoenix for 3 days, and I am still reeling from all the information I gathered during the Institute.

Currently, I'm typing my notes into one file on my computer (I will also print it out and put it in the nice binder I was given), and I am reliving all the great instruction that I was given. Things like:
How to pick typography for our Style Guide
How to create a Style Guide
Using media more in class and for the newspaper
Using the AP Style Guide
Finding money to continue to finance our program

While I am going through my copious notes, I came across this little ditty that I think I will place prominently on a bulletin board when I get back to school:
"Cutting and pasting is not a job skill." -Frank LoMonte, SPLC

This was something that was said that I feel fits all of my students. They think that if something is on the Internet that it is free and available for them to use at will. In fact, there are many things that are on the Internet that are free, but it is the same as copying out of a book and claiming it to be original. That, my friends, always has been and always will be called PLAGIARISM.

Hopefully, today I will also finish my lesson plans that need to be submitted to Steve by July 8. I am going a different route by creating a plan that will benefit teachers and substitute teachers. In addition, I have written the activities so they can be completed during a traditional class (45 minutes) or a block class (90 minutes). I am hopeful that this is original and will be posted to the HSJ website because they are awarding gift certificates for classroom books if they post a lesson plan on the site. I really could use s

It is 11 p.m. and I'm getting ready for the last day. I'm packing my bags and finishing up on some of the work still required. In fact, I need to think about getting together a lesson plan that is due to Steve in one week.

We had an ice-cream social with a Clue game this evening. The game was amazing. The detail that went into the game was great. I really liked it.

I went with a few people to eat later because a lot of us have coupons from the "green" living. I'm going to have my breakfast brought up in the morning as well. That will take care of my coupons ;)

This trip has been amazing in so many ways. I have learned way more in two weeks that I have in the two years that I have been teaching journalism and advising the newspaper. I also feel like I have received justification that some of the things I and the students have been doing are making the program good, and I have learned things to make it better. I can't wait to share those things with my students.

This trip has also been amazingly tiring. I am so tired each day, and yet, I have to get up early the next day and do it all again. Patience is running low, and we all need to go home. So I'm happ

Today we finished our video. Thank God! What a weird experience. First, my group worked well together. It was the software that was a problem There is no way that I will purchase Final Cut Pro for movie making. I was not the only person to have problems with it. In fact, there were several other groups who lost information just like I did. Not nice.

In the end the videos were all pretty good. Obviously, they all would have been much better if we would have had more time, but there are times when more time just means more procrastination.
Here is the link if you would like to view the videos and articles. My article was Kamp Kids Keeping Kool. Yup, all K's. That's the way I roll. ;)

I just finished editing my long interview article, which will also be posted on the website later this week. I have to work on the photo tomorrow because I need to do a photo illustration with two photos.

Looking forward to coming home. Some people are having difficulties with other people in the class. I think you always have that in any group. It just depends upon how professional you are going to be.

Ok, you know I'm losing it when I have no idea what day it is. We have been working so hard and on so many different projects. Many of us noted today that while the first day of summer has arrived, we don't feel like we are on summer break...yet.

Today was filled with information on copyright law. What an eye opener. The only good thing that came out of it was this--I wasn't sitting there thinking, "Boy, I should have been arrested 10 times over." Instead, I feel like I should pay a fine. That to me isn't too bad since I only jumped into the journalism/newspaper pool two years ago. Needless to say, my students are going to have a more difficult time with photos.

We also covered some areas today that involved getting diverse sources for stories. This is definitely an area where I can help my students both in journalism and on the newspaper. Again, everything I'm learning is going to make my teaching way better. I'm excited to sit and get some lessons together that I know will enhance the writing activities that I already have.

Finally, we had dinner (a good one) and a movie All the President's Men. Some of the teachers here have seen the movie a thousand times, and yet some of us have never seen it. The movie revolves around the Watergate Scandal and Nixon's resignation. It is focused on the reporting by the journalists on The Washington Post. I must admit that history is not my stronger subject, so I really never understood the Watergate Scandal. After watching the movie, I have a better understanding about the situation and journalism, as well as the First Amendment, specifically freedom of speech.

While I understand and the movie did a good job explaining everything, I think the movie is too slow (boring) for my students. Some teachers recommended Shattered Glass, so I'll take a look at that movie. I would like to get something to show my journalism I students that is good and solidifies the journalistic concepts.

It's now 9:00 p.m., and I'm

Today I learned about having an online presence and how to go about doing it. Some things cost money, and I am not willing to waste any money we have. Instead, I have great ideas about searching for grants and raising money and equipment.

The information this week has been overwhelming, but wonderful. Since I really don't have a journalism curriculum, I have learned how to give my students the basics for journalism. In addition, I have great ideas for those students who have a solid background as well.

This evening we got out of class earlier than was scheduled, so I went to the Irish Pub with Janet, Deb, Myrna, Sara, and John. We had great food at happy hour prices. Way better than eating the college food.

I also visited the ASU bookstore today. I bought a cute t-shirt and a magnet for my refrigerator. I am trying to be careful with my purchases because I don't want my luggage to be too heavy. Even as it is, they gave me a binder, which has all the paperwork from the two weeks in it. (Kara - thank God we took out that binder that I had at home. It would have been awful trying to get home both of them.) Telepathy...

It is Sunday evening (10:20 p.m. to be exact), and I'm tired. I had a great day, but I need to rest for the remaining 5 days of intense journalism study.

I had a good breakfast (most of it free because of my $5 savings per day being 'green'). It was nice to sit with some people at breakfast who I have not had a chance to talk to often over the last week.

Today also provided some time in the sun, not too much because I don't want to get a sunburn.

It also allowed time to spend with a few new friends working on projects and getting feedback on writing.

For dinner, I went with Cindy, Patty, Jen, Mindy, and Tina to a Greek restaurant. I'm not familiar with the cuisine; however, the Greek salad was very tasty. It even had feta cheese on it, and I didn't think I was a fan. Maybe the first time I had feta cheese, it was a generic brand.

After the dinner, Cindy and I went with Amber and Angela to see Bridesmaids. OMG! It was hilarious. I don't think I will look at a sub sandwich the same way ever again. It is one of those movies that I would definitely watch again because it was so funny.

Now, I'm in my room, looking over the agenda for tomorrow, hoping that I will have enough time to spend on my article, so I won't have to do it tonight. I have 1/2 of it written, but I have a lot more to do. But I'm tired, and I don't really think I will be productive anymore today...here's to hoping that I will have time tomorrow.

Here is a good press release about the program.

Yesterday (Saturday, June 18) I rewrote my speech article and sent that off to Steve. I felt good because even though it was a "day off," I did accomplish something.

I went to Scottsdale to the Fashion Square Mall. I took the rail, which is a train of sorts, but it is not very fast. It travels on the street, but it has to obey all the street lights. It reminded me of The Tube in England; however, The Tube was way faster.

After riding the rail, I had to switch to a bus very similar to a Lanta Bus. The travel time was long. In the end because of waiting for the rail and the bus, it took almost 2 hours to get to the mall.

The mall itself it HUGE. For a shopper like me, I can honestly say that I have never been in a mall that big. I was there with four other people (Janet, Cindy, Sara, and Traci). We ate at Grand Lux Cafe, which serves Cheesecake Factory desserts. The food was yummy. The remainder of the afternoon, I window shopped in the mall with Cindy. Even though I like to shop, I was very conscious of what I could bring back with me. Therefore, I only bought one thing from The Body Shop (which is like Bath and Body).

We took a taxi back to the hotel from the mall. This, too, was an experience because we waited over an hour for the taxi to arrive. Then the fare was $40, which wasn't too bad, since there were 5 of us. But the rail was the better bargain because it only cost $3 per person for a full-day pass.

Later, I spent a bit of time at the pool with Cindy, and then we went to Mi Amigos (a Mexican restaurant, if you couldn't tell by the name) for a light dinner. It was very good, and we may go there again.

While I didn't "tour" around and do sightseeing, it was a nice day.

The Diamondback baseball game last night (Thursday, June 16) was great. We (me, Janet Amezcua, Cindy Hogentogler, Deb Grund, and Mindy Gilman) were in the all-you-can-eat box, but I only had two hot dogs, some peanuts, and some popcorn.
There are four of us from Pennsylvania (back: me and Cindy; front: Dave West and Bridget Freiler) who are attending the institute.

Today (Friday June 17) was not a great day. First, I got left behind during a tour at the Arizona Republic newspaper. I tried to find my way to the group, but they had moved into a conference room. I was only separated from the group for about 15 minutes, but it was upsetting.

In addition, during our 1:00 session, a guy came in to talk about narrative journalism. He was good, and he had a lot of knowledge. However, the stories he shared with us were extremely emotional. With Joshua going into the army next month, I don't focus on the negative, only the positive. The feature series that the man shared was so emotional that I needed to leave the room. Thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. I have posted two links below for the two series articles that were shared.
The Crevasse: A special report (this is non-fiction, and it is coming out in a book late July)
Final Salute (have a hanky handy)

On a positive note, I learned how to use Adobe InDesign. It was not really that hard because I am already an expert at Microsoft Publisher. I have resisted learning InDesign because I really didn't think it had anything new to offer. However, after my tour at the newspaper today, I learned that students who have any ambition of working for the news media should have a lot of experience in Adobe products. So I am happy that we are being given the opportunity to have tutorials using the products, so I know how to use them. Our newspaper does not have the money for the software; however, I have learned at this conference that there are many grants available (I just need to find them) that will help fund items that we need.

Once 5:00 came around the day really started picking up because we are done for the weekend (not really because we have assignments that need to be completed for Monday, but at least we will have some freedom to tour, shop, eat, and socialize). We tried to go to a pizza place recommended by Oprah, but whoops, you need a reservation. Who would have thunk?

So we ended up eating at Hard Rock Restaurant. The food is always good, and I definitely ate too much.
Afterward, we met at the pool to swap newspapers with each other for an hour.