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Good for Your Brain: Five New Tyee Master Classes

First half of spring's offerings now open for enrollment. Skill up, make an impact.

David Beers 28 Feb 2013TheTyee.ca

David Beers is editor of The Tyee.

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Emma Pullman and Jamie Biggar, expert online campaigners and list builders, join other masters in their fields teaching courses this spring at The Tyee.

The Tyee is offering two rounds of our popular Master Classes this spring and today we announce the first lineup of five. It's your chance to learn from experts practical, effective skills that will give you an advantage – and do so in the setting of The Tyee's newsroom, with lunch and refreshments provided. You can see all of what we're offering by visiting this page. (And stay tuned for a second round of spring Master Classes starting April 27.)

Past Master Classes have sold out quickly so we encourage you to scan these offerings and move fast to enroll. Here are five ways to be good to your brain, enjoy stimulating company and gain an edge in what you do:

Everything You Need to Know about Public Opinion Polling
March 23-24 with Mario Canseco of Angus Reid Public Opinion

Polling is a critical tool when making expensive, high stakes decisions. But you have to understand how it works to get results. If your job involves gauging the public mood -- or hiring others to do it -- you need to be able to separate spin from solid conclusions. Become polling proficient with Mario Canseco, vice president at Angus Reid Public Opinion. From research and strategy to analysis and interpretation, Canseco will take you through the polling process and help you understand what questions to ask and what the resulting data mean. Canseco is an expert at designing survey questionnaires and has tracked more than 100 elections around the world. Read more about the class by clicking here.

Web Mapping and Basic Data Herding
April 6 with Hugh Stimson

Data's great but it really packs a punch when it's mapped into a Geographic Information System (GIS). Today's computer tools are powerful and easy to use. Learn how from Hugh Stimson, who helped Elizabeth May map her successful Saanich--Gulf Islands campaign, built a map of provincial carbon sinks and sources for the Tyee Solutions Society, and assesses species, habitat and ecosystem services for groups like the David Suzuki Foundation, the Canadian Wildlife Society and the BC Forest Practices Board. Read more about the class by clicking here.

Deep Research and Political Ops
April 13 with Emma Pullman

Researcher and campaigner Emma Pullman will teach you how to get answers you're looking for. Learn optimal use of search engines, research tools including domain searches, lobbying records, code, cached and archived pages, and crafting a dynamite Freedom of Information request. You'll come away with sleuthing skills and tools to get what you need. Pullman consults with online corporate watchdog group SumOfUs.org and helped grow its Canadian list to 120,000 in less than a year. She is now a rapid-response campaigner with Leadnow.ca. Read more about the class by clicking here.

High Impact Online Campaigning
April 14 with Jamie Biggar and Emma Pullman

Online campaigners Emma Pullman and Jamie Biggar take you on a full-day journey of collaborative, hands-on training in online campaigning and strategy -- everything from the basics of online organizing to campaign strategy to email writing. The day begins with a core introduction to the key principles of online campaigning and a workshop on storytelling for action. After lunch, participants workshop campaign ideas. Then an email writing workshop, and strategies for integrating online and on-the-ground tactics. Jamie Biggar is co-founder and executive director of Leadnow.ca, a 225,000 Canadian-strong community that is pioneering integrated online campaigning. Emma Pullman helped grow SumOfUs' Canadian list to 120,000 in less than a year. Read more about this class here.

Analyzing the Energy Sector without Being Taken Captive
April 20 with Andrew Nikiforuk

Renowned energy reporter Andrew Nikiforuk will conduct this immersion in the practicalities of analyzing and reporting on the energy sector, with a special focus on British Columbia's shale industry and export plans. Drawing on case studies from his own award winning reporting, Andrew will identify key sources and methods of investigation, connect the dots among the sector's political and industry players, and discuss where to find hard data without spin. Transparency is not an industry hallmark. Read more about this class here.

The homepage for all these Master Classes is here. We look forward to seeing you in the spring!  [Tyee]

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