Active Learning: Pop Culture in the Classroom

What is Active Learning? 

According to the presentation by Nicole Zumpano, active learning is “When students take responsibility for their learning and engage the material through reading, writing, talking, listening, reflection, and application” (Zumpano). Active learning encourages students to participate in the learning experience, to make meaning and build their knowledge. Active learning strategies exist on a continuum from more simple, like reflection, to more complex like site visits (Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, University of Michigan). This approach to teaching opposes a more passive method where students may just be receiving information. With that in mind, active learning can look a lot of different ways, but generally involves being hands-on in some way. The strategy I added to the shared slide deck is the incorporation of pop culture (IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching). In this strategy, the instructor incorporates pop culture references into class content to promote active learning and engagement. 

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Implementation

This is a strategy I have used many times as both a student and a teacher. When I was in middle school, my teacher loved football so she designed a fantasy football project. Even though I personally do not care about football, I remember enjoying the project. I practiced the strategy again in college. While taking my math methods courses in college, we would occasionally have to practice writing math problems about the topics we were learning about. To make it more engaging for myself, I used to write math problems about Taylor Swift and Harry Styles. This was an effective way for me to interact with the content because I made it relevant to myself. This was made even more entertaining because I knew the professor did not know what I was referencing, but sometimes had to rewrite the problems to correct them.

In my classroom I incorporated this strategy with my students as well. For example, my second graders loved Bluey so I tried to use it often, watching episodes for social emotional learning or ELA. My class also loved Billie Eilish, so I would try to use her in things as well. Incorporating pop culture as an active learning strategy also promotes relationship building. In order for it to be most effectively implemented with the most relevant information, you need to be tapped into what your students care about. When students feel like the content they are learning about in school connects to their interests or their life, they are more likely to care and make meaning out of it. When students feel like what they're learning about at school is relevant, they are more active stakeholders in their education.

Practicing the Strategy

Working through this week’s content, I was reminded of an episode of Abbott Elementary that is a great example of using pop culture for active learning. In the episode, one of the students in Gregory’s class keeps talking about Bluey and he is getting upset that his lessons are getting derailed. Eventually though, he realizes that if he incorporates Bluey into his lessons, the students are more engaged in their learning. This is the point of active learning- it helps students become more active participants in their own learning. 

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Works Cited

Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, University of Michigan. How can you incorporate active learning into your classroom?

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching.

Zumpano, Nicole. “What Is Active Learning?” 2020, https://prezi.com/vltahpm3b1hn/what-is-active-learning/?token=21acedd662237401cb58486f35352d6fba7d05e6b30cf495979ca34cbf121958&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy.