Shout it Out: Using Event Planning to Stimulate & Showcase

Student Achievement

Cynthia Bascom, Ph. D.

Associate Professor of Communications

Wouldn’t we all like to change “wah-wah” into “wah-WOW?”

Wah-wah…

Wah-WOW!

Shout it Out!

• Purposes

• Event Design

• Institutional Support and Incentive

• Documentation & Assessment

• Your Ideas

Purposes:

• To improve students’ speech skills.

• To get speech students “jazzed up” about creative & thoughtful freedom of expression.

• To give speech students a platform beyond classroom walls to perform & to address issues of importance to them.

• To provide an active learning opportunity for public relations & advertising students.

• To promote Bluefield College to the local community.

Event Design

• Inspired by Speaker’s Corner in London’s Hyde Park

• Picnic lunch served outside with 20 quilts spread on grass

• Students’ persuasive & after-dinner speeches

• Giveaways between performances

• Music including a student jazz ensemble

• Audience members “vote” for favorite speaker with donations for a charity.

Student Pre-event Participation

• Named Event

• Designed Logo, Posters, Email, & Facebook Announcements

• Wrote Press Releases

• Created Video Advertisement

• Solicited Giveaway Prizes

• Took Photographs

• Wrote Pre & Post-event Student Newspaper Articles

Support?• No budget

• Picnic lunch included in meal plan

• Prizes donated

• Money for quilts donated ($20 x 20 = $400)

• College public relations office distributed press releases, arranged for local media, posted information on college website, & distributed information through college’s electronic newsletter.

• President gave invocation

• Faculty kick-off speaker

• Enrollment Management supplied 8’ x 8’ backdrop

• Maintence helped set up tables, chairs, & speaker system

Evaluation

• It rained…moved to cafeteria

• 58% (18 out of 31) speech students who qualified (received “B” or better on persuasive speech) participated

• Additional participation by art and music students

• Well attended by faculty and students

• Covered by Fox News

• Positive comments on written evaluations

• Supported a local charity

Lessons?

• Set up tent in case of rain.

• Collect written feedback immediately afterwards.

• Solicit additional student participation in other divisions.

• Secure ongoing funding

• Video tape event

Comments?

What special events have you tried or are thinking about trying that would stimulate and showcase student achievement?

Winning Student Speech

Emily Minter