I have to be honest – I am not much of a science fiction, fantasy or horror fan. However, while I may not be an expert in such genres, my students maybe and this needs to be taken into consideration.
This week’s readings included a documentary by the Discovery Channel (2012) that discussed the Zombie Apocalypse. I was fascinated with the preparation that was underway and how seriously committed the people in the video were to their cause. I was left wondering how this could be applicable to the classroom. Upon further research using the Internet, I came across a fascinating site about Zombie-based learning (Hunter, 2016) to teach middle school geography. I have come to the conclusion that ZBL is another way of engaging students with the curriculum. It factors in their interest in pop culture and uses it to help them understand issues around geography and history. Furthermore, this strategy highlights the need for educators to be open-minded in their planning. If we want our teaching to focus on the student, then we need to be able to let go of control and set out of our comfort zone. For me, this may mean using topics like the Zombie apocalypse, which I am not that familiar with. That’s not to say that experts exist among the students I teach, who may have their interests peaked with ZBL is used in-class. If I want my lessons to be meaningful to my students, I need to implement ideas that involve their interests and understanding of popular culture. Zombie-based learning, here I come!
Hunter, D. (2016). Zombie-Based Learning. Retrieved: http://zombiebased.com.
The Discovery Channel. (2012). Zombie apocalypse. Retrieved:https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=75&v=YdAe18Xvs4Q.