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Journalism (Introduction)

Course Description:

The basics of journalism, including laws and ethics, freedom of the press and the principles of journalistic writing, are powerful tools. In the early 1970s, two Washington Post reporters uncovered a scandal known as Watergate and eventually a president was forced to resign. In this course, you’ll learn how to generate story ideas, conduct an interview and then put it all together as you write both news and sports stories. You’ll also be introduced to feature writing and editorials. You’ll be part of a team of students who will write articles for an online newspaper.

Course Details:

Course Title (District): Journalism (Introduction)
Course Title (NCES SCED) : Journalism
Course Provider : Michigan Virtual
Content Provided By : Michigan Virtual
Online Instructor Provided By : Michigan Virtual
Standards Addressed : Common Core State Standards, National Collegiate Athletic Association
Alignment Document : http://media.mivu.org/mivhs/alignchart/ELA/Intro_Journalism_CourseAlignment_Sept_2016.pdf
Academic Terms : Semester, Trimester, Accelerated, Open Entry / Fixed End
NCES SCED Code : 11101
Subject Area : Communications and Audio/Visual Technology
Course Identifier : Journalism
Course Level : High School (Secondary)
Available Credit : 0.5
Sequence : 1 of 1

How To Enroll:

Enrollment Website : https://slp.michiganvirtual.org/
Email : [email protected]
Phone : (888) 889-2840

Students and Parents: It is important to work closely with your local school counselor or registrar to follow the school's enrollment procedures. By clicking the "Start Registration Request" button below, you will be able to notify the school of your interest in registering for the online course. However, it is the responsibility of the district or school to review the registration request and approve or deny the request. Please make a note to follow up with your school after submitting a registration request.

Start Registration Request

Additional Course Information:

Additional Cost: $0.0

Additional Cost Description: Students must purchase, "Introduction to Journalism" which can be ordered at http://www.nextext.com. ISBN: 978-0-618-00377.

NA

iNACOL National Standards for Quality Online Courses

Academic Content Standards and Assessments Rating Comments
The goals and objectives clearly state what the participants will know or be able to do at the end of the course. The goals and objectives are measurable in multiple ways. Fully Met The goals and objectives are very descriptive and well-explained.
The course content and assignments are aligned with the state’s content standards, Common Core curriculum, or other accepted content standards set for Advanced Placement® courses, technology, computer science, or other courses whose content is not included in the state standards. Fully Met The course content and assignments are found on the syllabus and all support the Common Core State Standards.
The course content and assignments are of sufficient rigor, depth and breadth to teach the standards being addressed. Fully Met
Information literacy and communication skills are incorporated and taught as an integral part of the curriculum. Fully Met These skills are essential to this class and are thoroughly supported.
Multiple learning resources and materials to increase student success are available to students before the course begins. Fully Met There are a variety of required resources.
Course Overview and Introduction Rating Comments
Clear, complete course overview and syllabus are included in the course. Fully Met There are pacing guides for a variety of schedules.
Course requirements are consistent with course goals, are representative of the scope of the course and are clearly stated. Not Met Internal Review as
Information is provided to students, parents and mentors on how to communicate with the online instructor and course provider. Fully Met Instructor provides guidelines for her response time.
Legal and Acceptable Use Policies Rating Comments
The course reflects multi-cultural education, and the content is accurate, current and free of bias or advertising. Fully Met
Expectations for academic integrity, use of copyrighted materials, plagiarism and netiquette (Internet etiquette) regarding lesson activities, discussions, and e-mail communications are clearly stated. Fully Met The plagiarism section was well-explained.
Privacy policies are clearly stated. Fully Met
Instructor Resources Rating Comments
Online instructor resources and notes are included. Fully Met Not Included in QM Rubric. Internal Review for this item.
Assessment and assignment answers and explanations are included. Fully Met Not Included in QM Rubric. Internal Review for this item.
Accessing Course Effectiveness Rating Comments
The course provider uses multiple ways of assessing course effectiveness. Fully Met There is a course evaluation at the end of the course
The course is evaluated using a continuous improvement cycle for effectiveness and the findings used as a basis for improvement. Fully Met Not Included in QM Rubric. Internal Review for this item.
Course Updates Rating Comments
The course is updated periodically to ensure that the content is current. Fully Met Not Included in QM Rubric. Internal Review for this item.
Certification Rating Comments
Course instructors, whether faceto-face or virtual, are certificated and “highly qualified.” The online course teacher possesses a teaching credential from a state-licensing agency and is “highly qualified” as defined under ESEA. Fully Met Not Included in QM Rubric. Internal Review for this item.
Instructor and Student Support Rating Comments
Professional development about the online course delivery system is offered by the provider to assure effective use of the courseware and various instructional media available. Fully Met Not Included in QM Rubric. Internal Review for this item.
The course provider offers technical support and course management assistance to students, the course instructor, and the school coordinator. Fully Met
Course instructors, whether face-to-face or virtual, have been provided professional development in the behavioral, social, and when necessary, emotional, aspects of the learning environment. Fully Met Not Included in QM Rubric. Internal Review for this item.
Course instructors, whether face-to-face or virtual, receive instructor professional development, which includes the support and use of a variety of communication modes to stimulate student engagement online. Fully Met Not Included in QM Rubric. Internal Review for this item.
The provider assures that course instructors, whether face-to-face or virtual, are provided support, as needed, to ensure their effectiveness and success in meeting the needs of online students. Fully Met Not Included in QM Rubric. Internal Review for this item.
Students are offered an orientation for taking an online course before starting the coursework. Fully Met Not Included in QM Rubric. Internal Review for this item.
Instructional and Audience Analysis Rating Comments
Course design reflects a clear understanding of all students’ needs and incorporates varied ways to learn and master the curriculum. Fully Met
Course, Unit and Lesson Design Rating Comments
The course is organized by units and lessons that fall into a logical sequence. Each unit and lesson includes an overview describing objectives, activities, assignments, assessments, and resources to provide multiple learning opportunities for students to master the content. Fully Met The accordion widget used in Lesson One was engaging and a new technique.
Instructional Strategies and Activities Rating Comments
The course instruction includes activities that engage students in active learning. Fully Met Students are encouraged to blog and respond to blog posts.
The course and course instructor provide students with multiple learning paths, based on student needs that engage students in a variety of ways. Fully Met There are videos, PDFs, and investigative techniques for students.
The course provides opportunities for students to engage in higher-order thinking, critical reasoning activities and thinking in increasingly complex ways. Fully Met The questions within the lessons encourage higher order thinking skills and evaluative reasoning.
The course provides options for the instructor to adapt learning activities to accommodate students’ needs. Fully Met
Readability levels, written language assignments and mathematical requirements are appropriate for the course content and grade-level expectations. Fully Met This course is written at about a 9th grade reading level.
Communication and Interaction Rating Comments
The course design provides opportunities for appropriate instructor-student interaction, including opportunities for timely and frequent feedback about student progress. Fully Met
The course design includes explicit communication/activities (both before and during the first week of the course) that confirms whether students are engaged and are progressing through the course. The instructor will follow program guidelines to address non-responsive students. Fully Met Not Included in QM Rubric. Internal Review for this item.
The course provides opportunities for appropriate instructor-student and student-student interaction to foster mastery and application of the material. Fully Met Group work in many lessons encourage interaction.
Resources and Materials Rating Comments
Students have access to resources that enrich the course content. Fully Met There are a wide variety of texts both online and PDFs, videos, and podcasts.
Evaluation Strategies Rating Comments
Student evaluation strategies are consistent with course goals and objectives, are representative of the scope of the course and are clearly stated. Fully Met
The course structure includes adequate and appropriate methods and procedures to assess students’ mastery of content. Fully Met Formative (practice) versus summative doesn't appear to be present in grading.
Feedback Rating Comments
Ongoing, varied, and frequent assessments are conducted throughout the course to inform instruction. Fully Met Assessments are both ongoing and frequent.
Assessment strategies and tools make the student continuously aware of his/her progress in class and mastery of the content. Fully Met the mini-quizzes give students instant feedback.
Assessment Resources and Materials Rating Comments
Assessment materials provide the instructor with the flexibility to assess students in a variety of ways. Fully Met There are a wide variety of assessments - Feature story, hard news, digital blogging, and storytelling.
Grading rubrics are provided to the instructor and may be shared with students. Fully Met
The grading policy and practices are easy to understand. Fully Met
Course Architecture Rating Comments
The course architecture permits the online instructor to add content, activities and assessments to extend learning opportunities. Fully Met Not Included in QM Rubric. Internal Review for this item.
The course accommodates multiple school calendars; e.g., block, 4X4 and traditional schedules. Fully Met Not Included in QM Rubric. Internal Review for this item.
User Interface Rating Comments
Clear and consistent navigation is present throughout the course. Fully Met
Rich media are provided in multiple formats for ease of use and access in order to address diverse student needs. Fully Met
Technology Requirements and Interoperability Rating Comments
All technology requirements (including hardware, browser, software, etc...) are specified. Fully Met These are clearly explained within the syllabus
Prerequisite skills in the use of technology are identified. Fully Met
The course uses content-specific tools and software appropriately. Fully Met
The course is designed to meet internationally recognized interoperability standards. Fully Met
Copyright and licensing status, including permission to share where applicable, is clearly stated and easily found. Not Met
Accessibility Rating Comments
Course materials and activities are designed to provide appropriate access to all students. The course, developed with universal design principles in mind, conforms to the U.S. Section 504 and Section 508 provisions for electronic and information technology as well as the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility guidelines (WCAg 2.0). Partially Met
Data Security Rating Comments
Student information remains confidential, as required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Fully Met

Review Conducted By: Quality Matters
Date of Review: 06/14/2016

The instructional focus of this course is in each of the core areas of writing, reporting, and production. Ethics and teamwork are integrated throughout the course to demonstrate how students can implement these vital concepts into concrete and established processes, such as reporting, writing, and production.
  • Reporting
  • Writing
  • Production
  • Ethics
  • Teamwork
Term Type Enrollment Opens Enrollment Ends Random Draw Date Enrollment Drop Date Course Starts Course Ends # of Seats Course Fee Potential Additional Costs
Drop Policy Completion Policy Term Type Enrollment Opens Enrollment Ends
Students can use chat, email or private message system within the course to access highly qualified teachers when they need instructor assistance.
School Year Enrollment Count Pass Count Completion Rate Notes
23-24 101 82 81.19%
22-23 84 81 96.43%
21-22 169 147 86.98%
19-20 109 80 73.39%
18-19 105 91 86.67%
17-18 84 67 79.76% Enrollment data includes all enrollments (21f and non-21f) for the 2017-18 school year.
16-17 117 91 77.78% Enrollment data include all enrollments (21f and non-21f) for the 2016-17 school year.
15-16 103 87 84.47% None
14-15 125 101 80.8% Enrollment data includes all enrollments (21f and non-21f) for the 2014-15 school year.
13-14 55 47 85.45% Enrollment data include all enrollments (21f and non-21f) for the Spring and Summer 2013-14 school year.
https://michiganvirtual.org/about/support/knowledge-base/technical-requirements/ This course requires access to YouTube for some resource materials. Students must also have a camera to use for some articles they will write as part of the course. Even a smartphone camera would work in most cases. Students must also be prepared to work outside of school hours in some instances to report (attend events, interview people) on specific stories happening in your school or community.