Using the Geek Culture of today to educate the future
I am a teacher and a geek. I teach middle school social studies and am the media and technology integrationist at a private, Southern school. And I decided to start this blog because being a geek and a teacher, I discovered something was missing. Now being a geek isn't a problem. In fact, it's actually "in" right now. I am in tune with the students. I watch what they watch, read what they read, play what they play, and that is unbelievably cool! Because let's face it. . . being into comics, Star Trek, and zombies when I was a kid wasn't a straight shot toward popularity.
But times have changed! Being geeky is cool! Comics and superheroes are everywhere and zombies invade our streets on a semi-regular basis. What was once odd, weird, and nerdy is now cool, in style, and popular.
And I wanted to use that in the classroom. So I started doing some research. See how other teachers had used popular culture in their classes. What did I find? Nothing. Seriously...nothing. I was in shock. I mean REALLY? NO geeky teachers out there have EVER used science fiction in a classroom?! Clearly this was what was missing! However, being the stubborn and mildly rebellious woman I am, I created my own lessons plans with nerdy and geeky aspects. Use Star Trek to teach Nebulas and Galaxies? Let's do it!! Compare human genetics to X-Men and superhuman attributes? Absolutely! Discuss bullying in relation to Wreck it Ralph and popular video games? I'm on it!!
The point is, education is a PERFECT mesh for geekdom, and kids today GET IT!! So why aren't more geeky teachers using this in the classroom? I can only assume it's because there are no references or examples of other teachers doing the same thing. They have to spend extra time coming up with new and innovative ways to incorporate geekdom into their lessons with an already busy and full schedule. (Because we ALL know teachers have SOOO much extra time on their hands!)
So that is what Geek Teach is for. It's for those educators who want to use geekdom and geek culture to better their teaching strategies and be able to relate more with their students. If that is what you're after, you're in the right place. if not. . . stay anyway!! I'm fairly certain I'm mildly entertaining :)
But times have changed! Being geeky is cool! Comics and superheroes are everywhere and zombies invade our streets on a semi-regular basis. What was once odd, weird, and nerdy is now cool, in style, and popular.
And I wanted to use that in the classroom. So I started doing some research. See how other teachers had used popular culture in their classes. What did I find? Nothing. Seriously...nothing. I was in shock. I mean REALLY? NO geeky teachers out there have EVER used science fiction in a classroom?! Clearly this was what was missing! However, being the stubborn and mildly rebellious woman I am, I created my own lessons plans with nerdy and geeky aspects. Use Star Trek to teach Nebulas and Galaxies? Let's do it!! Compare human genetics to X-Men and superhuman attributes? Absolutely! Discuss bullying in relation to Wreck it Ralph and popular video games? I'm on it!!
The point is, education is a PERFECT mesh for geekdom, and kids today GET IT!! So why aren't more geeky teachers using this in the classroom? I can only assume it's because there are no references or examples of other teachers doing the same thing. They have to spend extra time coming up with new and innovative ways to incorporate geekdom into their lessons with an already busy and full schedule. (Because we ALL know teachers have SOOO much extra time on their hands!)
So that is what Geek Teach is for. It's for those educators who want to use geekdom and geek culture to better their teaching strategies and be able to relate more with their students. If that is what you're after, you're in the right place. if not. . . stay anyway!! I'm fairly certain I'm mildly entertaining :)