Last month (April 2010), I received notification that I was accepted into the 2011 ASNE Reynolds Institute program, a two-week intensive journalism program. I will be going to Arizona State University (ASU) in June 2011. The program will focus on journalism, newspapers, media, the First Amendment, and other great topics. It is such an honor to be chosen. The application process was extensive, and they chose 175 applicants from 400 submissions. I am just so proud of myself.
I am starting this blog, so I have a record of my time from the moment I was accepted until it ends. My hope is that I will learn how to enrich my current journalism classes, as well as continue to improve on The Freedom Forum, the school's newspaper, to which I am the adviser.
I am getting pumped to go to Arizona, where it is hot, hot, hot. Much better than the rainy weather we've been having here in Pennsylvania. I mean seriously; we actually had to run the tornado drill last week at school. I'm ready for a change in scenery. I am looking forward to working with a diverse mix of educators from around the United States. Again, the thought of a two-week break from boring PA is nudging my enthusiasm. It also doesn't hurt that school is almost out for summer, and soon I'll be jetting off to another state.
Today, I received my first email from Steve Elliott, the founding director of Cronkite News Service's print and digital services, who will be directing the program at ASU. The email from Mr. Elliott (call me Steve) included an eight-item list of things to do or bring. Number eight was the deal breaker for me..."You'll receive a big box of books from ASNE." An English teacher's dream--free books. Needless to say, I got a jump on the additional seven items (my minor OCD took over).
#1 take a survey--check.
#2 send two pages (electronically) of The Freedom Forum--check.
#3 and #4 require some light to medium reading, so while I briefly glanced at the information, I am saving those items for the weekend.
#5 states, " IF YOU HAVE ONE, BRING A CAMERA." If I have one?? Really, if any of my colleagues do not have a camera, I would be flabbergasted. Of course, I have a camera. But I've already made myself some notes to clean off the SD card and to purchase extra batteries.
#6 tells me to get ready to blog. I sent him my Google account information, which I already had because I use Google Docs with my students. Steve set me up with the blog already...I think he has some OCD, too.
#7 on the list that gave me pause. TWITTER?! Seriously? Personally, I think Twitter is stupid. Sorry for those of you reading this who are in love with it, can't live without it, allow it to consume your every waking moment, blah, blah, blah. Believe it or not, I already had a Twitter account. The techno-nerd in me has to try everything online--at least once. Yes, I have a Facebook account, too, but we teachers don't talk about that right now. Sorry; I digress. So I logged into my Twitter account, which is only the second time I have done so, and I thought, "Hey, I have a student on the newspaper who loves Twitter. I'll have him tell me how to use it." Well, he did. And I still think it is stupid. But I always have an open mind. I'm hoping Mr. Elliott (call me Steve) shows me that this site and application are more than just...stupid.
Last, but not least, I am back at number eight--FREE BOOKS!
I am starting this blog, so I have a record of my time from the moment I was accepted until it ends. My hope is that I will learn how to enrich my current journalism classes, as well as continue to improve on The Freedom Forum, the school's newspaper, to which I am the adviser.
I am getting pumped to go to Arizona, where it is hot, hot, hot. Much better than the rainy weather we've been having here in Pennsylvania. I mean seriously; we actually had to run the tornado drill last week at school. I'm ready for a change in scenery. I am looking forward to working with a diverse mix of educators from around the United States. Again, the thought of a two-week break from boring PA is nudging my enthusiasm. It also doesn't hurt that school is almost out for summer, and soon I'll be jetting off to another state.
Today, I received my first email from Steve Elliott, the founding director of Cronkite News Service's print and digital services, who will be directing the program at ASU. The email from Mr. Elliott (call me Steve) included an eight-item list of things to do or bring. Number eight was the deal breaker for me..."You'll receive a big box of books from ASNE." An English teacher's dream--free books. Needless to say, I got a jump on the additional seven items (my minor OCD took over).
#1 take a survey--check.
#2 send two pages (electronically) of The Freedom Forum--check.
#3 and #4 require some light to medium reading, so while I briefly glanced at the information, I am saving those items for the weekend.
#5 states, " IF YOU HAVE ONE, BRING A CAMERA." If I have one?? Really, if any of my colleagues do not have a camera, I would be flabbergasted. Of course, I have a camera. But I've already made myself some notes to clean off the SD card and to purchase extra batteries.
#6 tells me to get ready to blog. I sent him my Google account information, which I already had because I use Google Docs with my students. Steve set me up with the blog already...I think he has some OCD, too.
#7 on the list that gave me pause. TWITTER?! Seriously? Personally, I think Twitter is stupid. Sorry for those of you reading this who are in love with it, can't live without it, allow it to consume your every waking moment, blah, blah, blah. Believe it or not, I already had a Twitter account. The techno-nerd in me has to try everything online--at least once. Yes, I have a Facebook account, too, but we teachers don't talk about that right now. Sorry; I digress. So I logged into my Twitter account, which is only the second time I have done so, and I thought, "Hey, I have a student on the newspaper who loves Twitter. I'll have him tell me how to use it." Well, he did. And I still think it is stupid. But I always have an open mind. I'm hoping Mr. Elliott (call me Steve) shows me that this site and application are more than just...stupid.
Last, but not least, I am back at number eight--FREE BOOKS!