UPIU improves student engagement in class

UPIU mentoring sessions not only helped students work through an existing in-class assignment, but also to prepare for future projects, says Tom Davis, adjunct professor for journalism at Rutgers University.

"The video session really reinforced things that I’ve taught my students, and also helped them understand what the next step should be [in their reporting]. For example, we talked about a coming assignment covering a guest speaker, and during the session, we were able to talk strategy with the students, giving them a layer of understanding they didn't already have."

"I think the UPIU involvement has been a big plus and I wonder if that’s why this class has been performing, frankly, better than any other. The students really had a higher level of confidence as they covered the guest speaker, like they knew better how to handle the assignment. And ever since the session, I've seen better general note-taking and engagement in class."