Zombies and Superheroes on Campus: Using Games to Teach Best Practices in Social Media
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The 6th annual Texas Social Media Conference focused on utilizing crisis events, such as a zombie apocalypse and superhero battles, to enhance classroom instruction for journalism and public relations students. The event emphasized real-time journalism, teamwork in crisis management, and the distinction between fact and rumor, with grading criteria based on participation and analysis through podcasts. Future improvements discussed include better preparation for students, administrative support, and collaborative efforts across campus.
Zombies and Superheroes on Campus: Using Games to Teach Best Practices in Social Media
- 1. 6th Annual Texas Social Media Conference: April 17 Zombies and Superheroes on Campus: Using Games to Teach Best Practices in Social Media Fauxrambler.wordpress.com
- 2. Objectives of presentation • To review three years of crisis events • To show how this crisis event has informed classroom instruction • To hear from a student who has participated in two of the events • To give you ideas you can use in your classrooms from the crisis event
- 3. Purpose depends on the course or courses – Journalism students in MCO 2345 and MCO 3320: • To practice real-time journalism; gathering, producing and editing content • To work with public relations practitioners • To work with a team to direct and edit content creation • To keep a community updated on a live event as it unfolds • To ascertain the difference between fact and rumor – Public relations students in MCO 4346: • To work with a team to implement a crisis plan in real-time • To work with media to disseminate appropriate and timely information • To practice working with a team to gather information during a crisis • To ascertain the difference between fact and rumor Overview and purpose of exercise
- 4. History of the crisis event scenarios Year 1: 2016 • A zombie apocalypse occurs on campus Year 2: 2017 • The aftermath of a Superhero battle Year 3: 2018 • Two groups of students lead protests on campus
- 5. Grading • Points from this exercise divided into two overall categories—participation and analysis • Participation: All or nothing grade—you did it or you didn’t • Analysis: Two podcasts—individual and group
- 6. Day of: Debrief from pros Photo left: Marjorie Herrera-Lewis, former reporter, Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2016. Photo above: From left to right, rear, Bob Ray Sanders formerly of the Star-Telegram, Ed Gallagher, Wesleyan alumnus; front row, left to right, Drenda Witt, formerly of JPS Health, and Paige Wilson, CampFire First Council. Additional comments from Eddye Gallagher, former Director Journalism at Tarrant County College, rounded out the pro debriefing, 2018.
- 7. Afterwards: Debrief from students • Individual podcasts could be 2 minutes or less • Group podcasts could be 15 minutes • Lab 5 in MCO 2345 was analysis of social media—2017; a change based on analysis • Further discussion of 2018 event shows that all courses need more focus on social media usage and monitoring
- 8. How this has affected classes • Guest speakers who help • Creation of mini-crises or mini-press conferences • Plans for the future from Dr. Carol Johnson- Gerendas
- 9. Discussion with @MatNtheHat • Two years participation in this exercise • Year 1: Reporter focusing on Social Media • Year 2: Editor of Social Media posts for FauxRambler • And comments from Sarah Owens, who also participated in the event as a reporter last year and PR strategist this year
- 10. Our tips for you • Get your administration on board • Plan your student training/classes leading up to the event to get students prepared • Create little “practice” sessions in class prior to event • Enlist help from across campus • Be flexible
- 11. Presentation at: slideshare.net/klcolley Day of the event 2016: Drs. Eddy Lynton and Cary Adkinson Criminal justice and sociology professors who provided the Zombie Task Force in Year 1. They’ve been integral to the exercise’s success every year.