Student story- Campers rate classes

By Allison Harwood

The Flint Hills Journalism Workshop in Manhattan offers 11 different tracks for student journalists.

Tracks vary from Editorial Leadership to the Kedzie Krier newspaper, which students may join for the week.

Students register for tracks based on their interests and positions they will have during the upcoming school year.

On Monday, several students talked about they had learned so far and rated their courses on a scale of one to 10.

Advanced Redesign - Newspaper with Steve Wolgast

          Student source: Megan Engleman, senior at Free State High School

Course intensity: “So far, four. Later in the week, however, it will turn into an eight because we have to completely redesign the layout of our paper.”

What you have learned so far: “Mostly we have learned about the meaning of design.”

Overall course rating: “Eight. It is going to give us a chance to learn new and different designs and improve our paper.”

Instructor rating: “Seven and a half. Our instructor is really experienced, but his lectures are long.”

Newspaper Writing and Design with Jeff Browne

Student source: Sarah Whipple, sophomore at Free State High School

Course intensity: “It is a lot of basic news stuff that I had already learned, so it is not that hard.”

What you have learned so far: “I have learned how to be a more precise interviewer.”

Overall course rating: “It gives people who are new to newspaper experience. We are also doing projects instead of textbook work. The only thing is it is too slow for me.”

Instructor rating: “Eight. He is experienced and easy to relate to. Plus, he works at KU.”

Editorial Leadership with Travis Feil

Student source: Amber Hicks, senior at Free State High School

Course intensity: “We do not have to do a lot of work that requires thought. We work on our interpersonal skills and how to work with large groups.”

What you have learned so far: “Being a leader is more than standing in front of a group of people and telling them what to do. Leading is coaching continually. We have a saying: ‘If you give a man a fish he can eat for a day. But if you teach him how to fish he can eat for a lifetime.’ ”

Overall course rating: “Nine. I have gotten a lot out of it and it is fun. It can be difficult, however. There are a whole bunch of people who consider themselves to be leaders in one room so there can be a bit of a power struggle.”

Instructor rating: “Ten. He is pretty awesome.”

Advanced Redesign - Yearbook with Jake Palenske

Student source: Andrew Roman, senior at Free State High School

Course intensity: “Seven. Our instructor moves very quickly. The course is pretty advanced for me and I think everyone else. The main thing is trying to digest all the information.”

What you have learned so far: “We’ve rehashed the fundamentals of design, gone over what is good and what is bad and studied current trends in design. We also started working on speed.”

Overall course rating: “Nine. He knows what he is talking about. He is just a good instructor in general.”

Instructor rating: “Nine. He is knowledgeable.”

Advanced Writing with Barbara Tholen

Student source: Emily VanSchmus, junior at Free State High School

Course intensity: “Nine. It is pretty intense. We have to fish for story ideas, conduct interviews and put stories together.”

What you have learned so far: “How to conduct interviews in a more efficient manner.”

Overall course rating: “Eight. It is challenging. It also gives insight into productive journalism.”

Instructor rating: “Eight. She is nice and she understands the material she is covering.”

Allison Harwood is a senior at Free State High School and a student in the advanced writing class.