The Yearbook World of Scott Geesey
from Jostens Yearbooks of central/northern Pennsylvania
ARCHIVE - FEBRUARY 2, 2020
LET'S FLIP THE YEARBOOK CLASSROOM: Why Wait? Start Today!
Hello! I did some checking - a year ago we were in the midst of a "polar vortex" with temperatures below zero. Meanwhile this winter has been pretty tame, little snow to speak of. Then there was Punxsutawney Phil's famous weather prediction Sunday morning - an early spring, a gutsy prediction. Yeah, it was pretty cloudy and a little snowy Sunday morning so it seems like an obvious pick, but still...
And a salute to my Punxsutawney friends, honored to work with them. They always get a day off for Groundhog Day and that's Monday, lucky folks!
Another reminder - the deadline for this year's Jostens Photo Contest is Sunday, March 1. If you have some great photos from students, urge them to register online and submit their images online ASAP. Go to www.jostensphotocontest.com to enter. Be sure to check the rules and download the release form - need to get the permission of those pictured before entering their image in the contest. Good luck!
Last week I enjoyed attending our annual Jostens meetings, a chance to catch up with friends from across North America and beyond, learn some new ideas and find out about new initiatives for next year. Our new Layout Pro online page creation tool is nearly ready for full service for everyone after our successful pilot year this year. For my Jostens advisers, stay tuned soon for details about some cool new things for next year.
Want a better educated and informed staff? Without lots of extra work? Here's how...
We made it to February, now over halfway through the school year. Every yearbook staff is busy, or I HOPE they're busy. There's plenty to do this month...
For spring book schools, February is a CRUCIAL month. There are page deadlines to meet, of course, but also sales deadlines to meet. Everyone has books left to sell so let's see how many more books can be sold over these next few weeks.
For fall book schools, February is also a crucial month. Some folks have an initial page deadline later this month. Yearbook sales are just as important as well.
But it's never too late to do some educating of your staffers, improving their skills and in turn improving your book Many advisers are already busy with their other school classes and activities. How can you find time to devote to helping your students do a better job?
I don't know exactly when this idea started years ago but some educators use an idea usually called the "flipped classroom." With the ever increasing use of technology in schools today, this is a great way to teach kids without eating up valuable class time.
Many teachers will play videos as part of a class, then follow with discussion or activities. The problem is that video might not leave a lot of working time during the period and things are often rushed.
So why not "flip" the script? Instead of playing a video during class time, assign students to watch the video on their own time before the class period? This could be a homework assignment - watch a video, take some notes, then be prepared to discuss the topic during the next class period.
With most students now with at least decent Internet at home, or anywhere via cell service and a mobile device, the flipped classroom idea is a great way to use technology to better educate your students and save time in class for meaningful work.
Now, what about yearbooking? Well, for my adviser partners you already have plenty of options...
Your Yearbook Avenue website already is loaded with MANY videos in the Digital Classroom. Just click on the link there and enter "videos" in the search bar. Or scroll down and look for the Videos link. And all of these videos are accessible by students - just assign them what to watch.
What to watch? Assign how-to videos on using YBA. Check out videos there featuring top advisers and experts from across the country on a number of yearbook topics.
And of course there are my own video offerings here on the website. My long list of instructional videos in the left column here cover nearly every yearbook topic from design to writing to photography to sales and promotion. Nearly all are 15 minutes or less. Assign a title for students to watch, take notes and then followup during class.
My monthly Yearbooking Report series featured in the right column here or directly on YouTube always has timely news and notes along with a great feature interview with plenty of ideas and inspiration for any staff.
While some people prefer videos, others learn more from listening. Why not assign my monthly Yearbooking Report podcast one night? Same deal - listen, take notes, then report findings during a class period. The podcast has a LOT more material than the accompanying video.
These flipped classroom ideas would give any yearbook adviser an opporrunity to assign actual homework to your students so they can learn on their own time, then report back. It's a chance for kids to soak in new ideas which they could then use as part of your yearbooking effort.
Looking ahead to the next school year when most Jostens staffs will be using the new Layout Pro online creation tool, our tech staff has already created a LONG series of brief Pro how-to videos that can be watched online or activated by scanning a QR code. We've even created a large cool Pro poster featuring all of the codes for easy scanning. Everyone loves to use their mobile device, right?
And be sure to check our my interesting series or so-called ASMR videos in the left column here. Want your group to emulate another hard working yearbook staff? Here's are four examples, three high school and one junior high. Just start a video, put it on the big screen in your classroom, and let it roll. These all go around 45 minutes, a standard class period.
Some kids will wonder why this video is playing, but after a while they'll glance up at the hard working staff on the screen. It's like looking through a window into the next classroom where an efficient staff is working. After a while don't be surprised if your students decide they want to emulate what the "other" staff is doing. And now you have a harder working staff - "let's be like them!"
For teachers I've noticed that many are looking more at the other teacher's room in these videos for great ideas - sure! Borrowing is absolutely acceptable.
Shame on me here for not updating my ASMR videos more often - these four are all from last school year. Something for the to-do list...
So let's consider flipping things but don't wait, you can start right now! Make your class or club time a lot more productive while better educating your staffers and saving time during your meetings or classes for some better work.
Jostens and I - we have you covered!!