Tag: projects

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Unmasked: The Stigma of Meth

Many people are already aware that the number of meth cases in the county has increased dramatically every year since 2010 and that Delaware County leads the state in the number of meth labs discovered. However, many may not know about the wider problems that the use of this illegal drug causes – medically, economically and environmentally. Through a strategic messaging plan – including social media, earned media and paid media – as well as significant editorial content – stories, photos, web video and a documentary, this project endeavored to engage the community in the discussion. By crossing disciplines and demographics; it offers solutions and best practices from communities who, like here, are tackling this issue.

Faculty Mentor: Terry Heifetz, Juli Metzger
Department: Telecommunications, Journalism
Community Partner: Ball Brothers Foundation
Students: Jenny Alvaro, Seth Beiswenger, Kelsey Dickeson, Phylisia Donaldson, Brent Fuller, Sophie Gordon, Sarah James, Bradley Jones, Roy Killelea, Michael Kuhn, Jenna Liston, Jessica Lyle, Ryan McClain, Megan Melton, John Osterhoudt, Devon Roddel, Emma Rogers, Tony Sandleben, Troy Scott, John Seyler, Liam Shelton, Nicholas Siano, Desiree Williams, Jacob Wilson Elizabeth Wyman, Bobby Yeager, Liz Young

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Jacket Copy Creative: Covering All Your Communication Needs

This immersive learning project managed the public communications of two real-world organizations: Whitely Community Council and the Ball State English Department. They produced promotional materials, managed social media, maintained websites, edited blogs, and conducted focus groups. This was an incredible opportunity for students to gain valuable professional experience in a variety of fields, including editing/publishing, content marketing, public relations, graphic design, web development, strategic communications, and social media management.

Faculty Mentor: Eva Grouling Snider
Department: English
Community Partner: Whitely Community Council
Students: Whitney Albright, Tristan Bennington, Lauren Birkey, Nikole Darnell, Sarah Debs, Kirsten Dollar, Ellie Fawcett, Bethany Gordon, Kathryn Hampshire, Melissa Jones, Hannah Partidge, Kelli Reutman, Sydney Robbins, Shantelle Taylor, Brittany Ulman, Brittany Wiggins

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Sustainability Park for Northwest Munice

Education in Sustainability across a range of levels from elementary school through college has never been more important than at this time of climate change, habitat loss and other environmental impacts.  Sustainability education is extremely effective when techniques are demonstrated in the field and the learning is hands-on.  This project provided environmental interpretation and access to an old growth forest and adjacent old field.  The student team developed concept plans for landscape restoration as well as basic functions like parking, trail systems, environmental interpretation stations and environmental art.  The partners and beneficiaries for this project include Ball State students, public school students and the general public.

Faculty Mentor: Dave Ferguson
Department: Landscape Architecture
Community Partner: Red-tail Land Conservancy
Students: Unai Miguel Andres, Shenyuan Chen, Tatiana Cox, Jacob Dines, Dylan Ford, Laura Huggler, Megan Sutton, Junliang Zhang, Yun Zou

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Families for Forward Thinking: Partnering with Parents in the 21st Century

This immersive learning project continued the already established Families for Forward Thinking: Partnering with Parents in the 21st Century (FFT) program that began spring semester of 2016 with Wee Wisdom Nursery School and Child Care Center in Muncie, IN. In the continuation of this project, the students generated additional ways to build school, parent, and student relations through technology. They educated Wee Wisdom staff in current technology resources including the use of iPads in the classroom. Furthermore, students created an audio series for the Wee Wisdom online parent resource center. They interviewed community members and early childhood experts in the Digital Corps recording studio. Finally, Wee Wisdom parents were invited to an evening of training focused on internet safety guidelines for young children and introducing Wee Wisdom new Technology Initiative.

Faculty Mentor: Stacey Allred
Department: Elementary Education
Community Partner: Wee Wisdom Nursery School and Child Care Facility
Students: Olivia Acheson, LeAnna Ballard, Megan Chalfant, Emily Dobczyk, Payton Fiedler, Deja Gibson, Alyson Gouveia, Alicia Hamman, Jessica Hanes, Catelyn Hufman, Alyssa Humburg, Katherine Milam, Jessica Mills, Laura Morrison, Matia Rujiraviryapinyo, Maria Schultz, Marissa Scott, Brooke Stafford, Bailey West

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Engaging the Next Generation of Leaders: Character and Leadership Devlopment at the Boys and Girls Club of Muncie

At the Boys & Girls Club of Muncie, leadership and character development are paramount. This immersive learning project put this important program in to action through developing a youth targeted curriculum and a train-the-trainer program for its staff. Through volunteering at the Club, research, and interviews with Board members, Club members and staff, the project team determined what leadership and character development needs were not being met with current programs. They are in the process of developing 12 sessions for the youth. The first six sessions deal with knowing one’s self, and the second set of six focus on working well with others.

Faculty Mentor: Peggy Fisher
Department: Communication Studies
Community Partner: Boys & Girls Club of Muncie
Students: Jasmine Cash, Maggie Ernst, Jacob Griffin, Allison Grime, Meranda Herbert, Robert Higgins, Oana Nae, Lea Newman, Siduri Purnell, Samantha Starcher

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Elementary and Maker Workshops: Making an Interactive STEAM Exhibity with Elementary Pre-service Teachers and Children

This immersive learning project situated undergraduate students, specifically first year pre-service teachers, as designers and producers of elementary workshops for Burris Laboratory School’s science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) Enrichment Club, which is operated by the Center for Gifted Studies and Talent Development. The purpose of this project was two-fold: (1) to meet the needs of Burris’ STEAM Enrichment Club and (2) to offer real-world experience to both immersive learning students and elementary children who designed, planned, implemented, and managed STEAM related activities. With such a heavy emphasis on STEM related standards in our elementary schools, the STEAM Enrichment Club reminds students and teachers that through art we reconnect “the arts and sciences in ways that learning can happen at the intersection of the two” (Robelen, 2011). Root-Bernstein and Root-Bernstein (1999) found that many of the Nobel laureates in science were also artists. This immersive learning project introduced pre-service, first year students, who have majored in elementary education, to experiences that integrated digital technologies and new media across the elementary curriculum via the arts and sciences.

Faculty Mentor: Kate Shively
Department: Elementary Education
Community Partner: Burris Laboratory School
Students: Hannah Andrews, Christa Burns, Sydney Chaney, James Colter, Erin Coogan, Erin Fleece, Chloe Gaines, Taylor Hobson, Lauren Hoffman, Samatha Jazayeri, Bailie Lehman, Aubrey Meister, Alexis Methner, Giselle Monfreda, McKinley Purdy, Jessica Reis, Claire Riemersma, Abbie Rooker, Hannah Wintz, Christopher Wright