Category Archives: School of Graduate Studies and Research

Good News “for a Change”

Posted on by
Reply

What They Said screen shot

I truly do enjoy my job, and I am very appreciative of the folks who go out of their way to tell me that they are happy with the media coverage I’ve arranged. One of my favorite things is when folks e-mail me or stop me out walking around campus with story ideas. Alumni, especially, are very loyal to IUP, and they like to see their university represented fairly for the accomplishments of its students, faculty, and graduates. So, I try not to take it personally when I hear, “Let’s get some good news out there about IUP for a change.” I know they care deeply about IUP and its reputation and are just trying to help.

For the past several years, I’ve been maintaining a log of media hits on the What They Said web page. I think it’s a nice record of IUP in the news, and I hope that people (hint, hint: This means YOU, blog reader) visit it often.

But I’ve not really done an “official” count of media hits for several years, so, last year, I was asked to  count and measure the number of “good news” stories about IUP out there with circulation information. Here’s what we found:

There were 435 positive stories about IUP from January 2010 to January 2011 in 46 different media outlets locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.

This does NOT include the hundreds of stories featured on our local radio station OR any stories on athletics. … I imagine the number would probably triple if I counted sports reports and features.

Anyway, these media hits ranged from places like Religion Dispatch (with a circulation of 2.3 million), the New York Times (circulation 740,007), and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune (circulation 534,750) to 29 hits in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (circulation 393,071), 22 hits in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (circulation 319,987), and 310 stories in the Indiana Gazette (circulation 16,000). Using what researchers call the “industry multiplier” (how many people actually read or hear news reports), this means that good news at IUP “for a change” reached 76,474,622 people. Yes, 76.5 million people.

Of course, we don’t catch every media hit, so this is just what I’ve been able to document. I think it’s a pretty impressive number.

That’s the good news. But be assured, I’m working to get that 76.5 million up past 100 million for 2011-2012,…so story tips and ideas are always welcome!

Texting in the Classroom? OMG Yes!

Posted on by
Reply

I’m just going to step up to the microphone and admit it.

I’m Michelle, and I have a love-hate relationship with texting. (Okay, now you answer, “Hi, Michelle.” And I continue.)

I love the convenience of getting a quick answer with a text, but I HATE that my daughter is always giggling about a funny text or tweet she just received when I want her full attention. I just feel like she’s not present in the moment.

I imagine that there are a lot of folks–not just parents–who feel much the same as I do. But I have come to this conclusion: It’s just where we are.

So, I was completely excited when I saw Nursing and Allied Health Professions professor Teresa Shellenbarger’s news about a recent poster presentation that explains how texting can be used effectively in the classroom. I also loved her title: “OMG: Encouraging Texting in the Classroom.” That’s media gold. Encouraging texting in the sacred space that is the classroom? I knew it would attract reporters’ attention.

And it did.

Dr. Shellenberger was featured in a July 30, 2011, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review story headlined, “Professor Incorporates Use of Cell Phones as Classroom Tool.”

I love her quote: “I just got tired of fighting them. I figured, if I can’t beat them, why not join them? Why not use cell phone technology in class?”

She goes on: “I use texting to poll the class. I post a question for them to see, and they text their answers that I post on a PowerPoint for the class to see. And sometimes when we’re working on a controversial topic where students don’t really want to own a response, I have them phone a friend and get an anonymous opinion to post.”

This quote is my favorite: “A class can be mediocre and dull, and when I tell students to get out their phones and text to a question, the energy level just goes up.”

This media hit was posted on IUP’s Facebook page, and it resulted in several comments, including, “I’m dying to tap into this technology as a tool (in my high school class),” to, “Please don’t encourage cell phone use in the classroom.” Both valid points. Dr. Shellenbarger shared with me the Horizon Report for 2011, which forecasts that cell phones are the “trend to watch” for educators. I’m sure there will be MUCH MORE on this topic!

I’m still working on my twelve steps. See you at the next meeting.