The University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information’s David Stephenson takes a hands-on approach to his own learning, along with that of his students.

However, the idea of “doing” is not a new concept to the assistant professor in the CI School of Journalism and Media. “When I think about how I want to teach my classes, I think about how I want to learn — personally — and how I’ve learned the best and learned the most. For me it’s always been through doing.”

Stephenson currently teaches classes using emerging technologies for storytelling like mobile phones, drones and virtual reality.

“It’s easy to talk about the technical stuff in filmmaking and photography, but I want to make sure to teach how to apply those techniques to make their stories better. I want the entire package for my students — that’s my goal,” Stephenson said.

When asked if he had any advice for current UK students Stephenson said, “The best thing a student can do is ask questions. If I can share with them something they want to know, it’s very rewarding. That is where the mentorship starts to happen. Anyone that has taught probably has had a good teacher in their life that inspired them, including me, and that helped me get to where I am today. I want to do the same thing — I want to have those same relationships with my students.”

Learn more about Stephenson and how he creates mentorship opportunities for his students inside and outside the classroom here.