Co-op Coming Up In May

At the IMC @ SLC focus program we are required to go out into the world during May as a co-op placement. I am not really nervous about going to the placement or getting the information to create whatever marketing materials they need, that part I am fine with. Right now I am worried about the placement I do not have, and I think it is safe to say none of us are too excited about this co-op package we need to complete. Even thought technically speaking our co-op is not really at the placement but in our class. We just happen to be leaving the class maybe once a week in order to see what they think.

       

Since we don’t really fit into any current classification we are labeled as a co-op during the month of May. This is problematic as we now have two weeks to complete three co-op assignments that are like eight pages each. Other than that this should be a great opportunity to learn to work with others more efficiently, and for any of those hoping to go into marketing or advertising or even graphic design to get a taste of how the creative process works in a business setting.

IMC Thoughts and Feelings

When my student services counselor at LCVI first told me about IMC, I wasn’t sure whether it was for me or not. I was taking the course because I needed more college credits, and was really nervous of how it would turn out. But after my first week of classes, I couldn’t wait to get started in the real work. 

The program is very helpful in college preparation, and the teachers are very entertaining and knowledgeable.  It’s the end of the first month, and I feel like I’ve already decided to take this on in the real IMC college course. It has broadened my career option horizon, and I am confident this will pay off in the long run. Did I mention the course has won awards for its awesomeness? It’s true. Don’t forget, its also good college experience with out the fee.

IMC@SLC Greg Awards

My name is Jake Hawley. For the past month and a bit, the students of IMC@SLC and I have been working our faces off, learning to edit and create video projects, for an award ceremony called the “Greg Awards”.

We were asked to make a video about the program, trying to sell it, and to learn about video production at the same time. Every student worked hard, including things like Alumni interviews, bumping music and montages with washrooms in their videos.

My group in particular had to reshoot each scene at least 10 times, sometimes more just to get it right.  A few of the teachers took time to work in some interviews as well, and one of them even mentioned they were the best part of the course.

After a month of filming, editing, and bloody tears, we completed both the 30 second and 5 minute videos, and submitted them for judging. We all had to wait until the weekend, Saturday the 14th, to find out who the winner was, although unfortunately we all had a pretty good idea. Saturday night, I was in my room, thinking I was looking good in my black jeans and sneakers, and a grey muscle shirt under my blazer. Except when I show up to the Greg Awards, everyone’s dressed for the Royal Wedding!  So I felt underdressed, and when my name was called to accept the first place award with Hailey Bender, and John Bellousis, I walked on stage with as much dignity I could. After we had won, and enjoyed our achievement over the weekend, David Collburn tells us on Monday that every group will have to tweak and edit their videos until they are close to perfect.

So here we are, in the process of reshooting and tweaking our videos, hoping to raise our marks to at least an A. Wish us luck!P@ssw0rd!

Toronto Trip 2012

    Last Friday our class and all our professors and Mr. Chamberlain went to Toronto, And guess what!  The trip was completely FREE! Just like everything else in this wonderful course. Except for our meals and if we were to go shopping as some did which is to be expected. Hey! If you’re in Toronto you might as well grab some of the sales or products that aren’t regularly available in Kingston.

     We also got to go to Fuse Marketing, we met three of their employees who are former IMC (integrated marketing communications) students from St. Lawrence College. They talked to us about different ways to network and the do's and don’ts, such as networks we shouldn’t use such as Facebook, Pinterest and others. We learnt that making you portfolio “BOOK” as filled as you can is great. Now by filled It doesn’t specifically mean jam packed with as much stuff you can cram into it. I mean the most valuable work you have done and have practiced with, so If you have made rough drafts of print ads or posters, flyers or brochures  for small business’ or events and maybe some they have actually used then that’s what you put in the “BOOK”.

     We also got the privilege of touring the newly renovated RYERSON UNIVERSITY!!! And what a great experience that was. We were able to see the screening room that was graciously funded by UNIVERSAL STUDIOS! , the technology we use in class is similar to what they use at Ryerson but our software is only amateur compared to they're's. There

     To finish the day off we were in the crowd that was for New Music Live audience and got to experience the last day of “Dancing Week”. The trip was amazing thank you very much LDSB for funding this wonderful trip.

The Second Week

Today marks the end of the second week at IMC@SLC! The students are starting to get more comfortable in the class while the program starts to really pick up. It seems to be going by really fast, we've already had a few small assignments that have flown by. David has us blogging away and getting connected, Robin has us exploring the external factors that affect a marketing strategy and how to deal with them, and Jim introduced us to some unique ways of marketing - focusing on the thought of "art vs. advertising" in the media world. Mr. Chamberlain has introduced a new group project focused around "the ultimate buying experience", after we all shared stories about our best… and our worst. The great thing about being in the college environment, is that class seems less like a lecture, and more like a conversation. You can really get involved in your learning! The profs have some great things to teach us, and some really interesting stories to tell. What we do in class is always unexpected - which can definitely be said after Robin had us dancing down the SLC hallways to Sheryl Crow's "A Change Will Do You Good". In the end, the program is sort of like the Family Channel - never a dull moment!

The first week

On the 6th February, 18 students sat through their very first college lecture by David Colburn, while getting to know him, they created blog and Gmail accounts and reviewed how to work with the iMacs and Microsoft Word. That was the entirety of their first class in IMC@SLC.

Then on Tuesday, Robin Pepper led the students through the first chapter of Canadian Marketing in Action and assigned their first piece of homework.

Wednesday, students had the opportunity to watch “What Women Want” and then get more homework on that.

Thursday, Jim Elyot taught the students in Media and Culture about Social Networking, QR codes and how companies advertise to different groups and ages of people.

Friday, David Colburn returned for another lesson on blogs, and the uses of websites in everyday Marketing. He asked the students to write a blog every week, consisting of 150-300 words.

Basically in the first week, the students learned to blog, watch a movie, and got permission to use Facebook in class. Who wouldn’t want to sign up? We had fun, and so will you.