Outreach

Internationalizing a Journalism Curriculum Using Distance Education Technology: A Pilot Project Between Lebanese American University and the University of Missouri-Columbia

October 26-29, 1999, Beirut, Lebanon

— by Magda Abu-Fadil (Lebanese American Univeristy) and Roger Gafke (University of Missouri-Columbia)


Other Applications for These Technologies

The application of distance education technology need not be restricted to reporting and news writing. It can apply to many other subjects in a communications curriculum. Here is an illustrative list:

  1. Translation practice to help students develop their news-gathering skills.
  2. Second-language copy editing
  3. Development of international advertising or public relations campaigns
  4. Joint teaching of any of the journalism theory courses -international journalism, media and society, communications theory, etc.
  5. Specialized reporting topics (e.g. environment, education, health, science, economics)

The lessons developed from this pilot project would seem to apply to the implementation of these ideas, too. But as with all new and experimental projects, there are bound to be growing pains, which faculty members must learn to take in stride. Above all, they must demonstrate patience and flexibility in dealing with them.

© 2003–2006 IPJ