Welcome to Your Yearbook Era: Shaping the New Class for Picture-Perfect Success!
Training a new yearbook class involves preparing students to manage various aspects of yearbook production, from planning and content creation to design and distribution. We here at Picaboo Yearbooks know the difficulties new advisers face (cheeky plug: that’s why we’ve created the most personalized yearbook solution), and we’ve created an effective approach to help train your yearbook class.
Teambuilding: Introduction to the yearbook process and the team
The overview is to explain the purpose and importance of the yearbook, but it’s also your priority to build a team that can create and collaborate on an amazing yearbook. After outlining their roles and responsibilities, focus on activities that can bring the class/club together through team-building activities. Learn more about their personalities and find out what they have in common. Utilize their strengths to collaborate on similar projects like photography, design, and theme. Need an icebreaker? Click HERE for our top 5 icebreakers to warm up your staff.
Training Sessions
Making yearbook staff training fun can boost morale and enthusiasm while setting the stage for a productive year. Start by bringing them up to speed on the process and resources, and build from there:
Review Previous Year: Examine various page layouts and discuss what worked well and things that could be improved.
Evaluate Content: Review content and discuss what was effective and engaged the audience. Highlight successful features (like creative spreads or popular sections) and review content that received mixed reviews or feedback.
Encourage Discussion and Ideas: Hold a group discussion where team members can share their thoughts on what they liked and didn’t like about past yearbooks. Encourage them to brainstorm new ideas and themes for the current year’s yearbook.
Hands-On Practice: Let the team create mock pages using elements from past yearbooks. This hands-on practice can help them understand layout and design principles.
#YearbookGoals
Now that you’ve begun team building and training sessions are underway, start setting goals and expectations for your staff. Knowing your Role will help ensure that your team is focused, motivated, and clever about what they need to accomplish.
Goal-Setting Gamification
“Goal Quest” Challenge: Create a game where each team member sets personal and group goals as “quests” to complete. Track progress on a visual “quest map” and celebrate each completed milestone.
Interactive Workshops
“Vision Board Party”: Host a vision board workshop where team members create visual representations of their goals and aspirations for the yearbook. Provide magazines, markers, and poster boards for a creative and hands-on experience.
Themed Goal Setting
“Yearbook Time Capsule”: Have team members write down their goals and predictions for the yearbook on “time capsule” notes. Seal them in a container and open them at the end of the year to see how well you met your goals.
Creative Visuals and Tools
“Goal-Setting Wall”: Create a colorful goal-setting wall where team members post their goals and track progress with markers or pins. Use bright colors and fun designs to make it visually engaging.
Remember, having fun with your yearbook staff is essential for building a positive team dynamic. By starting on the right foot you will create an atmosphere that will not only enhance their teamwork and creativity but also make the yearbook process a memorable and fun experience.