BSU Field Trips Social Media
Website: bsufieldtrips.org
Twitter: @BSUFieldTrips
Facebook: Ball State University Field Trips
Indiana turns 200 this year, and Ball State is doing its part in celebrating the anniversary, with students taking part in various projects.
The Digital Corps worked in several different teams to create an app for third, fourth and fifth grade students.
“BSU Field Trips” is an app that will teach students about the history of the state through articles, videos and photos. Students will use the app on their classroom iPads, and teachers will have lesson plans to help guide activities.
“Electronic Field Trips” used to be a TV show from 1996 to 2009, said Eddie Metzger, head of the communications team. The app is an extension of the old show.
“We’re planning a live TV broadcast on Oct. 25 on PBS in the state,” Metzger said. “There will be a ‘second screen experience’ for the kids with the app. They’ll get to do activities when the broadcast is on.”
The target age was fourth grade because that’s the year students focus on Indiana history. However, the activities were created to be more challenging according to grade level. For example, articles were written for different reading levels and are different lengths.
The students are working with the Indiana State Museum, the Department of Natural Resources and Ball State’s history department. They worked with Indiana teachers to develop the content.
“It was good because we’re good at the media side, but we don’t know what fourth graders need,” said Eric Barlow, a graduate student who worked on the project.
Sydney Patton and Grace Winiger lead the design teams. They designed and created all the assets in the app, including the characters, activities, illustrations and graphics.
“They made sure everything was cohesive and matched their vision,” said Charity Coffman, project manager for the Digital Corps. “They really took charge and led the process.”
The video team, led by Anthony Campagna, produced more than 90 videos about places and important people in Indiana history. Some were even 360-degree videos, so students could look around a place.
Videos were taken of places like Turkey Run State Park, Eli Lily and Lincoln State Park. People discussed were Madame C.J. Walker, Abraham Lincoln and Ernie Pyle.
“Indiana has such a rich history, so many people were involved in the state in some way,” Campagna said. “There are so many places here that relate to the United States in general.”
Through making the app, the students learned more about Indiana, as well as skills to help them in their majors.
“I learned how to direct and keep consistent brand focusing,” Winiger said. “Designing an iPad app was crazy.”
Metzger’s takeaways included time management and leadership skills.
“I learned more about how to lead a team and how to be the person I want to be,” he said.
As part of the Indiana Bicentennial, a torch will travel throughout the state, stopping in every county over a five-week period. The relay will begin Sept. 9 and finish Oct. 15.
According to in.gov, the torch will be transported primarily by people, but also other methods of transport that are important in Indiana’s history, such as watercraft, farm equipment, a racecar, horse and wagon and antique automobile.
Ball State students are also helping out through an immersive learning class called “Indiana Torch Relay.” Students are working with the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, and producing all of its media assets for the torch relay.
Sadie Lebo, a senior telecommunications major, was selected by faculty advisor Chris Flook to be the head of photography and social media.
In this position, she will be in charge of coordinating and leading a team of photographers and social media members across the state with the torch itself. Lebo will also be a photographer during the torch relay.
“This project is important to me not just because it is an incredible opportunity for my career, but also because I'm getting a chance to give back to the state I was born and raised in,” Lebo said. “When I was younger, I did photography in 4-H at the LaPorte county fair, and now I am going to be covering the Indiana Bicentennial Torch as it passes through my home county. It is a very humbling to come full circle from where you started.”
She hopes to learn more skills to help after graduation.
“I believe this project will truly help to prepare me for the real world,” Lebo said. “We will be working at a professional level for not just the school, but the entire state of Indiana.”
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