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As the spring 2015 semester wrapped up for Sara Steffes Hansen’s journalism class so did a very real-world project.

“This semester, my students worked with real clients on a new media project,” University of Wisconsin Oshkosh assistant professor Hansen said. “It’s a very real experience for them interacting with real clients.”

Hansen taught the journalism class titled: Application of New and Emerging Media; this semester, her students focused on building strategies and tactics for nonprofit organizations from throughout the community using new media. Hansen said the students benefit from the skills they obtain, which range from actual applications of new media techniques to more basic, but crucial, skills like communication.

Students in the class were split into five groups, each with their own client. The clients were: United Methodist Church, A Very Special Place, the Office of Personal and Professional Development within UW Oshkosh’s Lifelong Learning and Community Engagement, The Volunteer Center of East Central Wisconsin and the Oshkosh Independent. The students executed by proposing updated websites, social media plans and policies, providing visual identity samples and options, developing best-practices and more.

“Throughout the semester, you get a lot of professional contact with your client,” said Kelsy Rich, a senior interactive Web management major. “This is what we are going to do when we graduate so it’s really good practice.”

Leaders at the agencies who worked with the UW Oshkosh students agree.

“I think it’s a great experience for not only ourselves to get good feedback, tips and information, but also a really great learning opportunity for these students,” Kristin Cates, marketing and events director at The Volunteer Center, said. “Real-world experience is sought after. This is a great experience for students to get a feel for the business world.”

Brennan Kegler, a senior interactive Web management major, said connecting with her clients throughout the project really motivated her to do well in the class and on the project.

“The class is great, but you only get so much out of it. Interacting with the client is so real,” she said.

Hansen thinks connecting her students to the campus and broader community is an important part of learning–and for her students, growing in their professions.

“The clients benefit because they get exposed to new technology and the students are immersed in a project presenting real solutions,” Hansen said. “These kinds of projects really help our students because they get the feeling for working on a project that has to be very high quality. And next up, these students are going to go out into the real world and work in these kinds of jobs.”

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