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Our Curriculum


The core of the “A Backpack Journalist” curriculum  helps youth develop their writing skills, while underneath the youth find their “voice” and a means to express themselves.

Our Curriculum is offered in an open classroom with a mobile lab-based learning environment.  Our curriculum combines experienced teachers and professionals, with distinctive lecture styles and techniques, including hands-on and one-on-one conferencing with each youth.  We use  point and shoot cameras, flip video and pocket recorders, cam recorders and cameras that shoot film and still,  multimedia software, and PC’s and MAC’s — the latest, greatest tech tools!  We travel with a digital lab and have the ability to teach with just “an electrical outlet”!  Often the youth refer to their experience with our team – as “guerilla teaching that leaves a lot behind!”

Building resiliency through creative expression.

Encouraging creative expression through a variety of media applications has shown to be successful in the trainings to date, and is one of the goals of A Backpack Journalist, along with providing “real world” experiences for the youth participating.

Curriculum Guide:

 A Backpack Journalist ™ Curriculum Guide designed for youth 12-18 is available for license.  It contains each subject track and operational how-to’s to establish your own program.  Guide includes a syllabus for each of the following and for staff and youth in two separate sections.  To aide staff in presenting the curriculum, the content is edited into a PowerPoint for easy teaching applications.

All chapters are available in a digital form and our preferred method of delivery is via our Backpack Journalist curriculum apps for the iPad (Android versions coming soon!).   Binder hard copies are also available.

  • Basic Writing
  • Narrative Writing
  • Photojournalism
  • Songwriting
  • Broadcast Journalism
  • Cowboy Poetry
  • Little Backpackers (6-11)
  • Digital Storytelling
  • Cover the Assignment – “reporting on an event”

TO SUPPORT OUR CURRICULUM

Annually we provide quarterly updates with lesson plans and special projects ideas to support holidays and events.  (Example:  Month of the Military Child/Flag Day/Veteran’s Day)

2012:

Coming in 2012 – Journaling/writing for the adult learner.  Our curriculum has been expanded to include the adult learner.  A pilot test held in San Antonio, Texas with volunteers who support military families proved to be successful.

 

Contact our Program Office:  404 314 8007 for further information.  We accept VISA/MASTER CARD for individual purposes.

Review of all content by Dr. Frederic J Medway, USC Professor Emeritus. The curriculum also includes a chapter by Dr. Medway on the benefits of writing and journaling, and creative expression.