Teaching

Ryan teaches courses in multimedia production, journalism and strategic communication writing, and media theory. These classes seek to develop students’ media literacy skills to help them become better producers and consumers of media. For instance, his Introduction to Multimedia Storytelling class teaches students to develop stories through software like Adobe Photoshop and Final Cut Pro and to question how these tools affect their media consumption.

The University of Iowa’s School for Journalism and Mass Communication awarded his dedication to teaching with the Outstanding Teaching — Doctoral Student award in 2017. Additionally, University of Iowa’s Center for Teaching awarded Ryan one of four annual teaching fellowships in 2019, where he developed a workshop and research project on equity and accessibility in the classroom.

COURSES TAUGHT

Introduction to Multimedia Storytelling

Teaching Assistant
University of Iowa
Fall 2018 to Spring 2019

Introduction to Multimedia Storytelling teaches students basic video, photo, audio, and data storytelling skills. I taught a weekly 3-hour lab where students learned to use hardware like DSLR cameras and H4N audio recorders as well as software like WordPress, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, and Audacity.

Journalistic Reporting and Writing

Teaching Assistant
University of Iowa
Fall 2018 to Spring 2019

Journalistic Reporting and Writing introduces students to the field of journalism. Throughout the semester, students pitch, research, and write stories about the local community. I led a weekly 3-hour lab where students learn core journalism principles as well as journalistic writing and editing techniques.

Media Uses & Effects

Teaching Assistant
University of Iowa
Fall 2016 to Spring 2018

Media Uses and Effects introduces students to social scientific research, walking them through the basic theoretical and methodological processes media research has employed through the years. Although largely a conceptual course, this class served as the primary research methods class for journalism students at the University of Iowa. I led weekly discussion sections for the class.

Principles of Strategic Communication

Teaching Assistant
University of Iowa
Fall 2019

Principles of Strategic Communication focuses on how strategies, goals, objectives, and tactics connect across strategic communication campaign. This conceptual course prepares students for future courses that focus on developing tactics for campaigns. I served as the grader for this course. I also attended lectures weekly and met with students about their work.

Introduction to Public Speaking

Instructor of Record
Wichita State University
Fall 2014 to Summer 2016

This introductory class worked with students from across the university to develop their public speaking skills. Students developed and presented four five-to-ten minute speeches throughout the semester. The course taught skills in research, outlining, persuasive argumentation, and different forms of communication. I served as the instructor of record for two classes per semester.

Integrated Marketing Campaigns

Teaching Assistant
Wichita State University
Fall 2015

Students enrolled in this capstone class work with clients from the local community to overcome a strategic communication issue the client is facing. Over the semester, the students meet with clients, create a strategy and tactics, and pitch their final campaign to the client. I served as a teaching assistant for this class, working to make sure students were meeting deadlines with clients and acting as a liaison between the students and clients.

Introduction to Human Communication

Teaching Assistant
Wichita State University
Spring 2015 to Spring 2016

This large lecture class served as a general education credit in communication for undergraduates. The class surveyed a variety of approaches to studying human communication, ranging from interpersonal communication to cultural communication. I began the course as a teaching assistant who helped with assignment development and grading, but I regularly lectured by my third semester as a teaching assistant.