Joey Gomez, one half of Communication by Design’s “That’s Crazy” teen life podcast agrees that he will continue to use the communication skills he is learning, “filming the podcast has taught me to be more outgoing and take risks.” Diego Garcia, the other half of the podcast duo, recalls his anxiety when they started, “I had to learn how to be in front of the camera, I’m comfortable with it now, but I was so nervous at first.”
Communication by Design students have a blast while filming their “That’s Crazy” podcast which focus on teen life.
ON THE RECORD WITH
SIERRA’S COMMUNICATION BY DESIGN CLASS
Room 9 at Sierra High School is a hive of activity. In one corner, a podcast is being filmed, in another, writers work on both paper and keyboards, and at his desk, teacher James Burns meets with his student journalists to review the content that his Communication by Design class creates for Sierra High’s student newspaper, Paw Prints. Communication by Design is offered to juniors as a four-year university approved alternative to the standard English III course. As stated in Paw Prints, “Students practice 21st century literacy skills and incorporate multimedia and technology into their writing, research and analysis, and content
creation.” Mr. Burns is excited to pass on the knowledge he has gained in his 20+ years as a journalist and enjoys the chance to connect with his students and forge a love for writing in them. Junior Ryann Bergen is thriving in this non-traditional English class. She has had a piece published in The Manteca Bulletin and, drawing on her previous Broadcast Journalism experience, is working on producing video content. “I love the positive environment and communicating with other students,” she said. “I look forward to this class everyday – it’s what makes me want to come to school.”
Improved academic motivation was a common trend among students in the class. Itzyana Guevara, one of the primary photographers in the class, signed up for Communication by Design because she “wanted a different perspective on English” and she is very happy with her choice. “This class is exciting and interactive and makes me want to come to school. I love going out and seeing new things on campus, capturing the moment, and seeing my work published.” While Guevara thinks she wants to study kinesiology or sports medicine in college, she knows that the communication skills she is honing will serve her well in any career.
Mr. Burns is excited by the growth he is seeing in his students and works to make sure they meet their potential. “Some students take it thinking it’s an easy class,” commented Burns. While the class is an alternative to English III, students learn the same skills, just in a different way. Rather than writing an essay after reading and analyzing a classic novel, communication students may conduct interviews, attend events,
A student reviews video footage for his “Sneakerhead” story with Mr. Burns. ask questions, and then write informative or persuasive articles about their subject. Burns has noticed that some students come in unmotivated. He talks to them, learns what they are interested in, and lets that guide their projects. He helps them find their niche, “whether its sneakers, cars, or cultural interests,” he says. Mr. Burns relishes watching
their transformation into an active, passionate class participant. “I love the opportunity we get to experience new things and grow creatively in this class,” Garcia remarked. Gomez continued, “we learn to express ourselves and we help people feel represented. I love making people smile. If you have the opportunity to take Communication by Design, take it.”
Junior Ryann Bergen works on her article for Sierra’s student newspaper Paw Prints.