Using Pop Culture to Engage Students

This event was hosted by WMUx and the Walker Institute. 

Theater Professor Lofty Durham talked about how he uses popular films like StarWarsas a vehicle to teach students vocabulary that applies to formal elements of drama.   

Doctoral Student Denisha Griffey talked about her role as a leader with the Walker Institute, educating elementary and middle school students and how popular texts like Wakanda Forever and Black Panther can renew student interest in STEM. She gave the specific examples of making vibrarium (rock candy) and finding Wakanda on a globe in order teach longitude & latitude.  

School Librarian Johnny Kreider talked about how student interest in popular texts allow them to better engage students while teaching research skills. They emphasized the need for educators to respect the texts students bring to the table and how dismissal of these texts can be discouraging for students   

Teaching Assistant Professor of Digital Narrative Christopher “Mav” Maverick talked about a workshop course he created, in which students use digital tools to produce a variety of modalities of texts on a topic of their choosing. He emphasized the importance of teaching text-neutral concepts that students can then apply to texts that interest them. He hosts two cultural studies podcasts. Check them out at: https://voxpopcast.com/wp/ & https://goshgollywow.com/.  

Director Frances Vicioso is a community leader that works on empowerment regarding law, economy, housing and education. She underscored how educators can increase student engagement through asking students to consider texts and concepts (like clout) that they are already familiar with. She recommends For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood… and the Rest of Y’all Too by Christopher Emdin for further reading.   

A recording of the event can be found on the WMUx Events page.