Undergraduate Class Syllabus: The Methods of Fred Rogers
by Warren Buckleitner, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, The College of New Jersey. buckleiw@tcnj.edu
Course slide deck
INTRODUCTION
This is a one semester, 14 week undergraduate course for Jr. and Sr. level students at The College of New Jersey. The first edition of the class was taught during the Fall 2018 Semester at the College of New Jersey (TCNJ). We met in person once per week for three hours. I have also adapted the class for half semesters, as mini-course; and over Zoom during the Pandemic.
The students: There were 15 upper class (Jr and Sr.) students; most of whom had never heard of Fred Rogers. The IMM program is a technology intensive liberal arts degree. The class has been cross listed, so students might come from computer science, business and education schools.
This syllabus was created at TCNJ with the help and support of the IMM (Interactive Multimedia) Department. It should be considered a work in progress. It can be used and adapted for non-commercial use with attribution. Feedback is appreciated.
Title: Methods of Fred Rogers
Description
Fred Rogers was a pioneer in using emerging technologies for social good. He leveraged old media (puppets, pianos, and props) with the power of new media (TV) to advocate for improving the quality of life for children. He once said, “I went into television because I hated it so, and I thought there’s some way of using this fabulous instrument to nurture those who would watch and listen.”
Today’s media landscape is very different than it was in the days of black and white television, and far more powerful. Yet the principles he created are still valid. They help media creators and consumers better understand how media in any form (apps, video games, web delivered content or video) can still be used to improve honest human relationships.
Course activities:
· Read and discuss the life history of Fred Rogers.
· Create a quote collection, from Fred Rogers and others.
· Study human centered interactive design and apply them to current forms of digital media.
· Survey existing games, apps, videos and social media platforms to better understand how they influence human interactions.
· Study relationship-building design features like drop-in/drop/out co-op, leaderboards, turn-taking, social media integration and progress sharing.
· Work collaboratively in groups.
· Practice scholarly writing, as you respond to the readings and incorporate the ideas of your cohort.
· Take a field trip to the Fred Rogers Center in Latrobe PA (optional).
Course Materials
We’ll be using Google Docs, Zoom, a Miro board and Google Slides. Bring your computer to class.
Please bookmark our class Google Slide deck.
Required book: The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King. Link to purchase → Amazon.
Required movie (do not need to buy): Won’t You Be My Neighbor A documentary on the life and times of Fred Rogers. $3.99 to rent from Amazon.com. Also available on iTunes for Apple TV.
Recommended book: The World According to Fred Rogers.
Link to purchase Amazon
1. Blank Notebook. Each student will create and continually maintain both a paper and pencil notebook for private use.
2. Design Slide Deck to be shared and presented with the other class members. The Google slide deck will consist of links, photos and videos. The deck will be presented informally throughout the semester, and formally twice — for your midterm and final presentations. Here is a sample.
3. Weekly readings and discussion responses. Weekly reading, game testing and writing will be an essential part of this class.
4. Final Project. If Fred Rogers were alive today, what would he be doing with today’s technology? You will work with two or three of your classmates to create a project for your final grade. This could one of the following:
· Write a “Picture Picture” non-fiction video (e.g., “how it is made”) for YouTube that could have worked in one of Fred’s programs. https://www.pbs.org/video/mister-rogers-neighborhood-competition-how-people-make-crayons/
· Design a prototype children’s program.
· Write a song or record a poem.
· Design a musical skit.
· Design a poster that brings a Fred Rogers quote to life.
· Create and publish an app or video game that builds upon one of his principles.
Course Purpose & Learning Goals
Students will:
· Study the life history of Fred Rogers, in the context of the dawn of mass communications.
· Study the methods of Fred Rogers as a media creator, and apply those methods to current times.
· Learn how to learn, by collecting key ideas and giving feedback to others.
· Curate: Identify media examples that use Fred’s human-centered theories, using a Fred Rogers design rubric
· Draw connections between current trends and historical advances in media and technology.
Course Outline
Class 1 — Theme Welcome to our Neighborhood
· Icebreaker: Who loved you into being?
The story of your name. Ask students to share the story behind their first, middle and/or last name. Have them share if they are comfortable.
· Course requirements, grades and assignments
· Who was Fred Rogers? Why is he relevant today?
· Watch and discuss “Won’t You Be My Neighbor”
For next week’s reading and discussion Read forward by Joanne Rogers on collecting quotes, plus
Chapter 1 — Freddy (p. 17) and
Chapter 2 — Breathing Room (p. 33)
Class 2 — Theme Stillness
· Review readings, share quotes.
· Find examples of still media in videogames and videos and add to design slide deck.
For next week’s reading and discussion: College Days (p. 48) and Love and Music (p. 54)
Class 3 — Theme: YouTube
· Review readings
· In class: find YouTube examples Fred would like or not like (three of each); add examples to slides.
For next week’s reading and discussion. Basic training (p. 73) and The Children’s Corner (p. 90)
Class 4 — Theme: Slow Media
· Review readings
· My Very Hungry Caterpillar examples
· Examples of “slow media” video games (add to design slide deck)
For next week’s reading and discussion On Air Ministry (p. 112)
Class 5 — Theme: Don’t Be Evil
· Examples of the modern “pies in the face”
· The sacred space
· The Fred Rogers rubric
For next week’s reading and discussion Dr. Margaret McFarland (p. 126) and Toronto and the CBC (p. 140)
Class 6 — Theme: One Little Buckeroo
· User feedback
· Personas
· Designing for n = 1
For next week’s reading and discussion The Birth of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood (p. 155) and The Pastore Hearing (p. 169)
Class 7 — Theme: Public Speaking
· How to do a TED talk
· Speaking in public
· Presenting on camera — some trick from Fred
For next week’s reading and discussion Language and Meaning (p. 178) and Mr. Rogers, Boss and Teacher (p. 197)
MID SEMESTER BREAK (potential field trip to Latrobe, PA)
Class 8 — Theme: Fredish
· Unlocking the power of language
· The relationship between language and knowledge
· Lessons on UX from preschoolers
For next week’s reading and discussion Puppet World (p. 212)
Class 9 — Theme: Puppets
· Watch muppeteer Katheryn Mullen puppetry video, add examples to design slide deck.
For next week’s reading and discussion On Hiatus (p. 229) and He’s Back! (p. 241)
Class 10 — Theme: Iteration
· How Fred created a show
· The importance of a theoretical framework and listening to the customer
For next week’s reading and discussion Behind the Scenes in the Neighborhood (p. 257) and Fred Rogers, Musician (p. 271)
Class 11 — Craftsmanship
· Watch John Cromie video in class https://youtu.be/R82og144EG8
For next week’s reading and discussion Mr. Rogers Family Values (p. 287), Fearless Authenticity (p. 305) and Swimming.
Class 12 — Relationships
· How can IM build or tear down relationships?
For next week’s reading and discussion The Legacy (p. 325), The End of the Neighborhood (p. 336)
Class 13 — Love
For next week’s reading and discussion America’s Favorite Neighbor (p. 343); Mr. Rogers Lives On (p. 353); Epilogue and Forward.
Class 14 — Project Presentation and Filming
Exam week (session TBD)
Selected TCNJ Policies
This course adheres to the following TCNJ policies:
· Americans with Disabilities Act.
Grades with be determined according to the following formula:
· 30% Weekly readings discussions and notes on assigned articles
· 10% Class participation and discussion leading
· 30% Design Slide Deck and Notebook (Midterm)
· 30% Group project (Exam)
Student Project Links
Here is some of the work generated by the students.
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International
