ALS Challenge

In Fall 2014 the "Ice Bucket Challenge" for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) was EVERYWHERE! Social media was flooded with images of friends, family, and celebrities challenging one another to donate to ALS (read more about the ALS challenge phenomenon here). On the first day of fall classes in 2014 I challenged my students to raise money for ALS. The class that raised the most money in a few days time would get to dump a bucket of ice water on my head.

Here were my instructions: For my oral communication students they were (in groups of five) to create an iMovie using their iPads. The video should address the following: What is ALS? What is the ALS challenge? Why are people participating? What are the results?

My public relations class (also in groups of five) had to create a digital presentation that addressed the following questions: What is ALS and the ALS challenge? Is it PR (defend)? Is the ice bucket challenge a "fad?" If so, what can the ALS organization do once the "fad" is over?

My students raised $1200 within a few days and my public relations class won the honors of getting to dump a trash can full of ice water on my head at the College of Media and Communication's annual Ice Cream Social.

It was an awesome experience (except for the whole ice-thing). I attempt to embrace timely learning opportunities when I can and I sincerely hope that my students will remember this experience.

About me...

I am a full-time instructor at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. I teach in the Communication Department for the College of Media and Communication. Over the years I have taught Oral Communication, Principles of Public Relations, Introduction to Interpersonal Communication, Human Communication, and Communication Theory. I earned my B.A. degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in Communication Studies and my M.A. from Arkansas State University in Speech Communication and Theatre. I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. at the University of Memphis in Rhetoric.