This learning module teaches students how scientific writing and research work by immersing them in the research, writing, and publication of a scientific article for publication for a popular, lay audience. The students work together to compile a collection of popular magazine-style scientific articles for a magazine like Popular Science or Scientific American. Each student contributes an article to the compilation. The primary goal and outcome of the project is for the students to deepen their understanding of how science and scientific communication works. As such, Adobe InDesign is a means to the end of disciplinary learning and not the end itself. However, students are likely to develop their skills with InDesign quite effectively along the way, because they are immersed in an experiential learning project, potentially with a real, public audience for their work.

In this module, groups of 4-5 students will create a digital brochure as a supplement for an art exhibit. Students must include the exhibit’s theme and its importance, styles of artwork featured, and examples from the exhibit. Using InDesign, students will balance the organizational and spatial aesthetics of graphic design with visual elements from the exhibit itself in order to craft an informational and visually appealing brochure. In doing so, they will engage deeply and critically in the content of an art exhibit, increasing their understanding of the humanities, while also improving their creativity, organization, and research skills.

This assignment asks individual students to conceptualize and create press packets for a company event using Adobe InDesign. Students must consider a variety of audiences, media and news outlets to garner as much attention and participation as possible from surrounding communities. When creating the packet, students will include the company’s credentials and goals, event information, and incentive for participation in a way that is aesthetically pleasing. In creating their press kits, students will develop skills such as organization, summarization, paraphrasing, design, persuasiveness, conciseness, precision, and professionalism, all of which are relevant to business positions, marketing jobs, and beyond.