Question – Does utilizing popular culture in high school classrooms increase student engagement and ultimately enhance their learning?
This question arose after attending my practicum school and wondering how I can better relate to these students. I wondered what students are interested in, and how they can learn best.
Sub questions:
Why should teachers study popular media critically?
What are some considerations and strategies for using pop culture as a pedagogical resource?
Educators can no longer rely on traditional teaching methods to keep students engaged and involved. Students are living in a fast paced highly technological world, where information can quickly and easily be accessed. Teachers are not needed if they are just another source of information. Educator must relate and connect to students worlds to help provide the skills needed for students to process all that information they are receiving. While certain pop culture topics such as celebrities and TV shows may not be of interest to you personally it is important to remain open minded to the fact that these topics are significant to the students.
I found that by incorporating aspects of popular culture into the classroom students are more likely to be listening and remembering the concepts being explored. It became apparent that meeting students where they are is a productive way to communicate and educate. The use of popular culture as legitimate academic texts provides a variety of opportunities to develop analysis skills and drive discussion. Using pop culture in the classroom not only engages students but also develops their media literacy skills and can change the way they interact with media in the lives.