It was with a hint of trepidation that I arrived at Prestonpans Primary School just before the turn of the year for my first School Report session with the Primary sevens.
Three classes, that's seventy eight students, in the school next door to my house.
How do you pitch what you do to 11-year-olds? I tried not to be patronising or smug, or too technical.
They were an inquisitive lot, with a thirst for knowledge, and their manner was direct.
Other mentors had warned me, there are some questions you always get asked.
Have you met any famous people? was one.
I got off to a bad start on that one. As editor of Political Output for BBC Scotland I told them I'd met six prime ministers, I don't think they were impressed!
But we got on fine.
Getting ready
A few Tuesday afternoons, some light preparation, with the help of Huw Edwards' video clips on the School Report website and a well constructed set of modules, and we were off.
And all in all, we had a great time. We arranged a visit to the BBC newsroom in Edinburgh and the BBC office in the Scottish Parliament.
As ever, our staff were brilliant. Loads of them pitched in regaling students with tales of broadcasting from Chicago the night Obama was elected, sporting matches covered and players interviewed.
They were given hands-on experience in the radio studio and TV gallery and during a tour of the parliament office, some even met their local MSP.
Teamwork
Then we embarked on our project finale - a big afternoon with a Question Time programme.
There were plenty of jobs to do and we divided everyone into teams of three - one from each class - with a task to perform.
One team wrote a press release - and there was much delight when two local papers turned up.
Another group looked after the panel guests - tea and biscuits were provided in a specially prepared green room.
There were three assistants to look after the cameras, three overseeing the sound and roving microphones and three who designed, constructed and dressed the set (ably assisted by Michael the ever helpful school janitor).
Three audience producers drew up a floor plan and another group arranged the seating. There were three on scripts, three presenters and a team who sifted the questions.
It all went like clockwork. The young journalists were every bit as thoughtful and challenging in their questions as many a "grown up" audience.
They discussed the credit crunch and its effect on families, the use of games consoles for learning in the classroom, the subject of healthy eating and whether there should be a GB football team in the 2012 Olympics.
I think the students really enjoyed it - that's certainly what they and their teachers tell me.
Newsroom learning
They gained an insight into how we work and an introduction to the broader world of news through the window of the web, the wireless and the box.
One big lesson for me? How they came together as a team, how the whole became much bigger than the sum of all the parts.
Just as at the BBC, from the presenter who fronts the programme, to the researcher who looks after the guests, these kids really pulled together to do a good job. Their shared sense of purpose, enthusiasm and palpable growth in confidence really was a joy to behold.
I'll do it again next year, and would encourage my colleagues to do the same.
It was a small amount of time to give, with a great deal of satisfaction in the end. And a group of young people who, I hope, will look at the news in a very different way in the future.
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