Welcome, welcome, welcome!
This is the website and online resource for JOUR199, the experimental Getting Started in Journalism class at the University of Illinois. Full details about the class will be available via the syllabus link at left. We also will take attendance electronically at the start of each class by completing the "LOG IN" form at right.
In keeping with the class's experimental nature, the detailed syllabus of topics and assignments won't be made final until after each class member has completed a brief survey about students' experiences, interests and objectives. Getting to know each other and completing the survey will be among the tasks we do on the first day of class. We also need to complete a form picking a user name and password for this site.
Each week, we'll be focusing on a different professional technique or technology, selected on the basis of survey results, on recent faculty efforts to identify areas in which students could use extra introductory material and on the areas student media like the Daily Illini and WPGU will expect new staffers to learn. We'll include a general discussion or demonstration, often captured on video so you can review it later, followed by an assignment to use the technique or technology to create some form of appropriate content. Prior technical or journalistic abilities are not required. Although some students may already be familiar with some aspects of the programs or techniques we use, we will assume all are completely new.
You will need to spend time outside of class completing each week's assignment and, for learning programs, probably consulting a resource like Lynda.com, to which your U of I credentials give you free access. You'll be able to use the lab anytime you want by swiping your iCard to gain entrance.
Because this is a demonstration and seminar-style class, with lots of in-class work, attendance is required.
One possible goal of the class this fall will be to create an actual journalistic project, like the Fresh I (http://go.illinois.edu/freshi) site created a year ago by students in this class. Something to think about is whether you would like to create your own version of this site, enhanced what already has been created, or create something altogether different as the semester progresses. We'll have plenty of time to think about this later, but you might want to check it out now to see what the previous class accomplished.