Yearbook Conference


Description

For this project, you'll watch several sessions of a digital yearbook conference and take notes. There are many sessions for you to choose from (schedule below). You have to view at least 4 of the sessions and take notes. This project only makes sense for yearbook students, and/or those planning on being in yearbook next year.

PLEASE NOTE: All times are in Central Time (CDT) on their websites, so you have to subtract 2 hours. For us, the conference will be from 8am-12pm. You do not have to watch the entire time.

Requirements

  • View at least 4 of the sessions (schedule below)
  • Take at least 3 notes for each session using Google Doc linked below


STEP 1: REGISTER

You have to register for the conference. It's free. After registering, you will receive a link to join the video conference by email.

  • Go to this website (click here)
  • Fill in form on the right side (you only need to enter your name, email, and school)
  • Click on the button that says Sign me up
  • You'll then get an email with a link to view the conference - it will only work on the day and time of the conference. You can't do this early.

STEP 2: PLAN SESSIONS

There are 9 sessions to choose from. Each session is about 20 minutes long. Mrs. Prosser recommends the first 4, but you can choose any 4 (or more). Here are the options with times listed in our time zone:

8AM: Wrap the Present - The yearbook is a gift that you give to your community. Make it special.

8:30AM: From Stage 1 to Spread Done - A blank page is terrifying. What do we cover? Where does it go? What's the big story? Learn tips for helping staffers tackle a spread from Stage 1 with brainstorming strategies, a helpful handout and some tips for how to approach content in a meaningful way.

9AM: Quick Photoshop Tips - From straightening a photo to fixing brightness, contrast and color balance, here are some quick tips to improve your photos in Adobe Photoshop.

9:30AM: Read Easy. Write Hard - Alternative copy formats make reading easy for your audience, but they still require research and reporting. We’ll take a look at examples from both pros and peers that will inspire both you and your readers. You'll leave with a plan for implementing alternative story formats in your media right away.


10AM: Journalism + Gen Z - Can we just say it? Journalism is having a moment. Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic, we're seeing journalism in the spotlight like never before. How does this affect the next generation of journalism professionals? Join us for an honest discussion about Journalism + Gen Z.

10:30AM: Book Looks - What's trending for 2021 yearbooks by the associate director of the National Scholastic Press Association.

11AM: The 6 Ps - Prior Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance. Get a head start on your 2021 publication with the tips and tricks we've learned, and skip the trials and tribulations of starting a new year.

11:30AM: Eye-Opening Designs - Cut through the noise. Stop listening to "we've never done it that way" and, in the process, start encouraging everyone on staff to help develop a refined graphic strategy, clever copy writing and content inspiring style. Join us for a look at examples of national winners.

12PM: Writing is Essential - In this surreal moment of social distancing, shelter-in-place and flattening-the-curve, you must ask yourself, “Am I essential? Do I provide an essential service?” To cover this pandemic and the hundreds of ways it has affected every aspect of our lives, we need teams of reporters, writers and editors, working together, to find a way to tell the stories about all that was lost and, maybe even, all that was gained.


STEP 3: PREP THE NOTES

Before the conference, you need to get your notes ready:

  1. CLICK HERE to get to the Google Doc you'll need.
  2. Next, go to File > Make a Copy
  3. Once the new copy opens, click on the title in the upper left-hand corner and rename the file: [Your Name] Yearbook Conference Notes
  4. Write in the sessions you're going to attend, as well as the times where the text is blue (look at step 2 for this information).

STEP 4: VIEW & TAKE NOTES

Do this on the day of the conference, probably 10 minutes before the first session you're going to attend:

  1. Open the link they emailed you
  2. Open the Google Doc you made a copy of for the notes
  3. For each session, write at least 3 notes in the bullet-point areas. You can always add more bullet points by hitting return.
  4. Prepare to learn some mind-blowing stuff!

STEP 5: SUBMIT

To submit your work:

  1. Open the week's assignment in Google Classroom
  2. Click the Add or create button on the upper right-hand side
  3. Choose Google Drive
  4. Select the paragraph you've been working on. It should come up in the recent files.
  5. Lastly, click Turn in!