Last month, a study by the Pew Research Center found that one out of every four college graduates have taken a class online. In the same study, college presidents said that 15 percent of undergraduate education takes place online.
They predict that figure could increase to 50 percent in the next ten years. USFSP already offers a myriad of online options; however it costs an additional $50 a credit hour on top of tuition.
The Journalism and Media Studies department launches its online master’s program in digital journalism and design in fall 2012. Casey Frechette, currently interactive learning producer at the Poynter Institute, will join a team of four others, working on developing online platforms and tools with USFSP faculty. Beginning in January, Frechette will serve as visiting assistant professor of journalism and media studies and as the director of online research and development.
“I think the first challenge is the recognition that making online courses successful requires more than transferring content or teaching from classroom into online courses,” Frechette said. “For me, that means using strengths of medium to the fullest.”
Journalism and Media Studies professor Mark Walters said the department had to make a choice to evolve or become stagnant in their online presence, not unlike the choice facing many print publications in journalism.
“It’s interesting that what is happening in news and journalism is also happening at the university,” Walters said. “We’ve moved from the brick and mortar of the classroom into
Internet environment.”
The Poynter Institute is a media research school for journalism and media professionals to obtain professional training. Frechette developed courses for Poynter’s online course compendium, News U.
“I worked with faculty around the country and at Poynter to produce training modules that users use on a daily basis to get better at their jobs,” Frechette said. “Poynter has given me grounding in journalistic values and techniques that I’ll definitely be calling on as I continue my work at USFSP. A key piece at Poynter is teaching
effectively online.”
The new degree program was 15 months in the making. Students enrolled in the digital journalism and design graduate program will take 30 credits in three semesters. JMS professor Deb Wolfe is also part of the team Frechette will join in the spring.
“Not only am I designing my own materials but I am also designing for the journalism and media studies program to coordinate the online presence of the classes,” Wolfe said “The more tech savvy faculty are also playing a huge role in making materials digital, crunching deadlines and navigating an array of software that make content digital and engaging.”
As more schools offer online curriculums, the JMS faculty knew students would go elsewhere if they didn’t change.
“It isn’t replacing our face-to-face master’s; there will always be a need for that. But ultimately students will decide what is the right program for them,” Walters said. “Our students will be making the decision and we want to give them as many options.”
Frechette will teach several department courses and oversee graduate students’ final projects that include creating an online environment or web space as a platform. His addition to the department brings a mix of traditional journalism values transitioning into new media formats.
“Seek out and report the truth while doing everything you can to minimize harm,” Frechette said. “That basic sort of balance has been an important part of journalism for a while, even as technology is drastically changing the techniques that journalists use.”
