Planning Flexible Content

Yearbook: Planning Flexible Content that Tells Your Story

Today, we're diving into the exciting world of flexible content – stories that can adapt and evolve to fit your specific school year.

Finding Your Story: Gathering Ideas

Every yearbook tells a unique story. But where do you even begin? Here at Morris Area High School, we utilize incredible resources from Jostens, including over 30 customizable surveys! These surveys help us gather student input on what matters most to them, allowing our content to truly reflect the heartbeat of our school year. You can find these surveys in the Jostens digital classroom, and if you're using Layout Pro, you can even link them directly to your spreads for seamless integration.

Storytelling Formats: A Spark of Inspiration

While surveys help you identify the "what," the fun part is figuring out the "how." Luckily, there are countless ways to tell your stories! Jostens has a handy list of storytelling formats to get your creative juices flowing, but remember, this is just the beginning! Encourage your team to brainstorm beyond the list and explore innovative ways to showcase your school year.

Let's Get Creative! Example: Sports Spreads

Traditionally, sports coverage might follow a play-by-play approach. Let's shake things up! Imagine a cross-country and tennis spread with a unifying theme like "Reps Matter Most." We can then create different modules within the spread, each tackling a specific aspect of dedication and practice.

Module 1: A tennis player discusses how repetitive drills refine their skills.
Module 2: A runner shares their mental journey during a long run, highlighting the clarity achieved through consistent effort.
Module 3: An inspiring story about an athlete overcoming challenges with asthma through dedication to aerobic exercise.

We could even include a module showcasing a runner's training journal alongside screenshots from their fitness tracker app! See how this approach goes beyond individual games and captures the essence of perseverance that unites all athletes?

Beyond the Game: Expanding your Sports Coverage

There's so much more to sports than just game scores! One approach could be a dedicated "Fall Sports" column highlighting each team through photos, short interviews, and a bar graph showcasing team size. This ensures every student gets to share their experiences, whether it's their proudest moment or a reflection on the value of teamwork.

Flexible Content for Clubs and Academics

The same principles apply to clubs and academics. Forget generic club coverage – showcase activities related to health and well-being! Think interactive quizzes about meditation or the nervous system, paired with a visual guide to students' diverse skills and interests.

For academics, move beyond just language classes. Imagine a spread titled "Find Your Voice" exploring how students use language at home and in school. This could include polls, surveys, and student Q&A's, creating a dynamic and engaging exploration of language in our lives.

📖Assignment: Reimagine Your Spread

Apply the concept of flexible content to brainstorm creative approaches for yearbook spreads.

The Challenge:

Choose a Spread: Select a traditional yearbook spread (e.g., sports team, club, academics).
Identify the Theme: What is the underlying theme or message you want to convey in this spread?
Flexible Content Brainstorm: Instead of a typical play-by-play or list-based approach, brainstorm creative ways to showcase your chosen spread. Consider using:
- Multiple Modules: Divide the spread into sections, each focusing on a specific aspect of the theme.
- Interactive Elements: Incorporate polls, quizzes, or surveys to engage readers.
- Visual Storytelling: Use infographics, data visualizations, or student-created artwork to tell the story.
- Sketch Your Ideas: On a separate sheet of paper, sketch out a visual representation of your reimagined spread. This doesn't need to be perfect, but should capture the overall layout and key elements.

Deliverables:

Briefly describe your chosen spread and the theme you want to convey. (2-3 sentences)
Explain your brainstorming ideas for flexible content within the spread. (Bullet points or short descriptions)
Submit your visual sketch of the reimagined spread.

Grading Rubric:

Theme Identification (10 points): Clarity and relevance of the chosen theme to the spread (5 points), Creativity of theme selection (5 points).
Flexible Content Brainstorming (20 points): Variety and originality of ideas for presenting the content (10 points), Effective use of multiple modules or interactive elements (10 points).
Visual Sketch (20 points): Clear representation of the spread layout (10 points), Incorporation of key elements and flexible content ideas (10 points).
Bonus Points (10 points): Explain how your reimagined spread would be more engaging for readers compared to a traditional approach.

Remember: Think outside the box! Embrace creative storytelling and let's create a yearbook that truly captures the spirit of our school.

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