Tables were turned this week as teachers found themselves in the role of students during the 30th annual School of Teaching Fellows Workshop.

The workshop was founded by former journalism director Richard G. Gray in 1977 as a way to help new teachers transition from practicing journalism to teaching it at colleges and universities, said Amy Reynolds, dean of graduate studies.

Reynolds also led this year's event and helped select 17 professors, all in their first through third years of teaching. She emphasized that those in attendance June 11 through 14 were special.

"These people are highly motivated to be the best teachers they can be." she said.

They proved their dedication by flying in from all over the country for four days packed with sessions on service learning, technology and teaching techniques.

But the main benefit of the program seemed to be an opportunity to share.

"There is really a bond that is going on as the week progresses," said workshop participant Gilbert Martinez, a professor at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. "What I really like about the atmosphere is everyone is really humble, just puts it out there: here's what I'm worried about."

This openness was shown Tuesday as Reynolds led a roundtable discussion on "fears, concerns and challenges." As questions were posed on everything from dealing with administrators to problematic students to whether or not an office door should be left open, the new teachers seemed to nod their heads in agreement with every concern.

"It's nice to hear that many of the problems are the same," Martinez said. "But the solutions are different because we are different people."

While Reynolds gave insight into some of the issues, many of the solutions came from the workshop participants themselves, as they shared tips and personal stories with one another.

The workshop is almost completely funded by the School of Journalism, Reynolds said. Either the teaching fellow or her university pays a $300 registration fee, but the rest of the bill is paid by the School of Journalism. In total, the week costs about $30,000.

Fees go into hotel, food and paying for lecturers such as Dennis Ryerson, executive editor of the Indianapolis Star. Tuesday, Ryerson spoke to the group about the changing media climate.

"I've been in business 36 years and I've never experienced anything like this," he said of the challenges of dealing with advertisement budgets and managing multimedia technology that now are parts of his job. "It's taken a huge change of mindset, but that's where the world is going."

One of the main changes in the purveyance of news he said he has seen is the solicitation of readers. His publication, part of the Gannett Corporation, relies on online reader feedback for many of its' leads.

Student journalists need to focus on this understanding of the audience, he said.

"It no longer works for editors to throw whatever they want into a paper," Ryerson said. "We have to ask people for it. We can't afford to waste the readers' time."

To combat this, his publication has begun a number of niche publications sent to subscribers of different neighborhoods in the circulation area. It also began online forums for mothers and pet owners, more or less led by those who frequent the sites.

Another group Ryerson said he looks to for advice is students.

"I am really gratified with what I see (in student journalists)," he said. "They want to be readers' advocates and they're tech-savvy. They're educating us." In general, he said, student journalists are more well-rounded and driven than they have been in the past.

The one thing he recommended to the new teachers was to get their students involved in the transition process at their local publications.

"Have students help with problems that these places are having," he said.

Theories in a workshop can be informative, but the real test comes when teachers return to their classrooms.

"I'll have to go home and synthesize things and see how I can apply them," said workshop attendee Stephen Bates, professor at University of Nevada at Las Vegas.

The talk of new media and convergence didn't overwhelm Bates, who said he relies on the basics of journalism.

"It seems to me that writing is the one constant," he said. "No matter what the platform, writing is the one things that will remain."

Read more about the Teaching Fellows Workshop.