Using Zombies in Modern Media to Engage Students
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In the age of the social networking, classrooms have become an area of limited socialization amongst students. In an attempt to combat the void, zombies will take center stage. Using clips from a famous television show, students must work together to determine "what's wrong with my zombie?".
Keywords:
Critical Thinking, Increasing Engagement, Socialization
Abstract:
This poster presentation explores the pedagogical utility of AMC’s "The Walking Dead" to catalyze student engagement, social interaction, and critical thinking. By leveraging high-stakes narrative clips, instructors can bridge abstract theories from the classroom with lifelike scenarios. Participants will observe how "extreme fiction" serves as a laboratory for analyzing human anatomy and physiology. In these clips, zombies are often seen doing things that are physically impossible based on our knowledge of the human body. Students were asked to work in groups to determine "what's wrong with my zombie?". This session details a framework for using these clips to facilitatie collaborative problem-solving and debate. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for integrating popular media into diverse curricula to transform passive viewing into rigorous academic inquiry.
Outcomes:
1. Recognize an alternative method of testing student knowledge
2. Create a plan to increase social interactions within all courses (online and in person)
3. Conceptualize uses for modern media in their own classroom
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Transcript:
References:
Senthamaral, S. (2018). Interactive teaching strategies. Journal of Applied and Advanced Research, 3(1), 36-38.
Blyznyuk, T. & Kachak, T. (2024). Benefits of interactive learning for students critical thinking skills improvement. Journal of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University. 11(1). 94-102. http://journals.pnu.edu.ua.
Febliza, A., Afdal, Z., & Copriady, J. (2023). Improving students critical thinking skills: Is interactive video and interactive web module beneficial. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies (IJIM), 17(3), 1-17.
Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, R. T. (2018). Cooperative learning: The foundation for active learning. Provisional Chapter, 1-12.
Senthamaral, S. (2018). Interactive teaching strategies. Journal of Applied and Advanced Research, 3(1), 36-38.
Xu, E., Wang, W., & Wang, Q. (2023). The effectiveness of collaborative problem solving in promoting students' critical thinking: A meta-analysis based on empirical literature. Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, 1-11.