A select number of students from the telecommunications, journalism and communication studies departments are stepping outside the classroom and working close to the local community.
Telecommunications instructors Christopher Flook and Elizabeth Pike started Downtown Muncie Business Showcase, an immersive learning program that will promote downtown businesses by collaborating with Indiana Films.
Flook, who will be an adviser to the immersive learning team, said university provost Terry King provided the grant for the project. Action taken from downtown Muncie business owners on improving the area inspired Flook and Pike to develop the project and apply for the grant, he said.
"[Downtown businesses] are doing really well, they just don't have the money to do advertising and marketing," he said. "The idea is to help them look better, to have a visual presence through video and on the Web site."
The goal of the project is to produce 24 business profile videos, which will be 60 seconds long and uploaded to a Web site built and managed by students. The launch date of the completed project is Dec. 1. The class will be divided into three teams and each will produce eight profiles.
The budget of $44,500 for the project will be used for the purchase of two high-definition camcorders, new Macintosh editing systems, management of the Web site and miscellaneous equipment. Students will be able to rent the equipment at the end of the project.
Flook said the project may continue for future classes, depending on the results of this semester's class and the support given by its collaborators.
"We are partners with Muncie Downtown Development and Indiana Films, and they are going to be a part of the sustainability to the project," he said. "We are hoping that yes, this will ultimately lead towards students going and working for those two in the future, but we don't know yet."
Flook said he had a similar experience as instructor for a team putting together a video for University Marketing and Communications. However, it is the first time he is advising students working with an organization outside campus.
Senior telecommunications major Samantha Maples said students, for their part, are taking the project seriously. The course will benefit not only those working on it but also students on campus that will learn about downtown businesses, she said.
"I think this project is going to do a lot of good things," Maples said. "A lot of students forget there are other things outside campus which are fun. At the same time students have the opportunity to do something outside of the classroom setting."
Students working are "very excited" and willing to take the responsibility to work with the local businesses, she said. Maples said she was given the role of executive producer during the summer.
"This is not just a fiction short, it is a lot more," she said. "We are in a more professional setting, and this is more like volunteer service, so people are counting on us."
The students have already attended meetings with Downtown Development, Maples said.
"There are three producers working directly with downtown business owners," she said. "They are the ones that are out more in the field for now."
Flook said he expects the project to have success in promoting downtown businesses professionally.
"Our students are fantastic, in fact, we are referring to them as professional, because they are," he said. "They are high-caliber and excellent students. We are looking for a slick, polished, professional project."
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