Teaching and Professional Fellowship Report 2004/5 : An Investigation into the feasibility of developinguda Virtual Newsroom - An e-learning tool for journalism

摘要

The aim of my fellowship was to put the idea of developing a Virtual Newsroom – anudonline means of teaching journalism -- to the test.udI began work on this idea some six years ago after many years of using computers inudthe teaching of journalism. At that time, I developed, together with the IT Researchudand Development Unit (ITRDU), at the London Institute (now University of the ArtsudLondon), an e-learning prototype based on the ‘breaking story’ exercise – audfundamental exercise for journalism teaching.udIn tests on students the early prototype proved to be an effective method for learningudjournalism skills. The students found the prototype programme a worthwhile andudstimulating experience. Teachers of journalism saw it as an innovative way ofudteaching journalism, but were hampered by the fact that there was no way, with theudprogramme as then developed, they could get behind the scenes to change any ofudthe content, or other elements of the exercise.udIt was essential then, that in any future development, the programme would have toudhave enough flexibility to enable journalism teaching staff to easily manipulate theudcontent.udIt also became clear that, six years on, it was necessary to determine if any newuddevelopments in online learning for journalists had superseded my original idea.