Idea File Fall 2024

Feature: Time-Saving Tips | 33

Teach Responsible Ways to Use AI Not every student is a designer, and not every student is a writer. Just like magazines can provide design inspiration, generative AI can provide writing and design inspiration. Apps like ChatGPT , Gemini , Otter.ai and Grammarly can help you recognize the strongest quotes in an interview, reword your content to be stronger, proof for grammar and generate sales ideas and copy for social media. This can give novice writers a boost in their skills without overstepping ethical boundaries, but it is up to you to

Plan Your Shots You can’t have a yearbook without pictures, yet the pictures are often the greatest challenge. Relying on social media posts or other students to submit pictures leads to endless frustration. A staff photographer should cover at least one event from each sport and the team picture day, even if you have a professional photographer attending. HERE’S THE TIP: Set the schedule at the beginning of each season. As a back-up plan, ask the athletic office to send you the contact information

teach responsible use. If the interview notes are good, the story writes itself. Teaching your staff to use AI responsibly is the best lesson you can teach. It’s not cheating if you use these programs to assist in editing and revising. AI will be a part of their future and they already use it more than you know; teach them to use it responsibly. HERE’S THE TIP: Start simple. Ask students to provide examples of ways they feel they could utilize AI, and then as a staff, weigh the merits and potential dangers of each example. Be clear on what is not acceptable, and ask them to discuss any new uses with you before they use them. Walsworth customers can access a digital copy of “ Using AI: Ethical Considerations for Yearbook Staffs ” from our Yearbook Suite curriculum on yearbookhelp.com or order a printed copy at walsworthyearbooks.com/ yearbooksuite . This legal unit addendum has guided activities to help you navigate the ever-changing world of AI with confidence, including a framework to build your own staff policy on the use of AI.

for the sports booster group. There is often a parent in the group willing to share candid pictures and team pictures for the yearbook. Contact the boosters before the season starts to establish that their help is needed to make sure their team is showcased in the yearbook. Attempting to track down pictures after the season can be difficult, so make every attempt to set yourself up for success. Closing Thoughts Yearbook will stretch you in new ways, and experience is the best teacher. HERE’S THE FINAL TIP: The best advice I can give you is to accept that your yearbook will never be perfect, but you can continue to grow every year. Connect with other yearbook advisers to learn from them and find your community. Soon enough, this will feel like second nature. By Cheryl Franzmann, CJE

CHECK OUT OUR Yearbook Suite curriculum

SCAN THE QR CODE TO ORDER

Photo by Garionna Lowe