Tennessee Tech Program Gives Students Hands-On Experience Turning Creative Ideas Into Published Products
(UCBJ) – As the skills needed to successfully launch a business, product or idea continue to evolve, Tennessee Tech University is helping students adapt through its desktop publishing program.
“Desktop publishing provides students with the skills needed to effectively publish their work,” said Amy Hill, lecturer in Tech’s School of Professional Studies. “This can range from flyers and newsletters to full magazines and books. Our program teaches students to move from idea to published products, effectively, regardless of their chosen medium.”
One of the newest offerings in the School of Professional Studies, the desktop publishing program launched two years ago and recently expanded to include six new courses totaling 18 credit hours in the concentration core. Along with the expanded curriculum, students now have increased access to publishing partners, internships and hands-on learning experiences.
“This semester, we completed a dual-enrollment workshop for high school students with the founder and publisher of Cookeville Lifestyle magazine, Chelsea Dartez,” Hill said. “During our workshop, students were given a real-world assignment with the opportunity for publication in the magazine if the student work was applicable and up to the publication’s standards. This was exciting for the students and for me.”
Beyond immersive learning experiences, the program teaches students the technology and practical skills needed to build an audience and grow a brand.
“We are teaching students social media, AI, design and printing,” Hill said. “Our goal is that they leave Tech with the ability to publish, market and profit from their ideas as a result of the time spent in our program.”
By introducing industry-standard tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Canva, the program emphasizes combining creativity with a willingness to learn. Students also develop foundational design skills while exploring concepts in journalism and art.
“We aren’t looking to compete with more advanced classes in our art program. Instead, it’s our goal to create an entry point into the creative side of taking an idea from spark to consumer. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch these students develop their own pathways to publication through the program,” Hill said.
To learn more about the desktop publishing program at Tech, visit HERE.
Pictured above: Cookeville Lifestyle founder and publisher Chelsea Dartez (center) and Lecturer Amy Hill (right of Dartez) lead students in an interactive workshop at The Biz Foundry, an entrepreneurship center and coworking space in Cookeville. Also joining them to facilitate the workshop is former Tech staff member Gina Gotcher (third from right).
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