When I earned my Ph.D., I was days shy of 31. I was a kid. I didn’t know it. But I was.
My advisor sat me down & said, it’s easy connecting with kids now. It won’t be in ten years. He suggested I listen to pop music, keep up with what was hot on TV, and pay attention to the student culture.
I will never forget the deadly serious look that this not hip, super fly for a Southern white guy, wore on his graying, mustached face.
In the intervening years, I’ve learned why he was so serious.
It is tough to be a teacher & a mentor to students - at all levels - if you are completely disconnected from youth culture.
So, I’ve streamed podcasts, chatted with kids, and watched their shows. I’ve also asked from time to time - what do you read? Where do you find information? What tech do you use?
Sometimes, I get sidetracked - like watching John & Kate plus eight - that was a lost month!
Other times, I have been embarrassed - like the time we went to Twitter & I searched for a celebrity - and NSFW pics came up.
More often, I learn - like how values about gender, diversity & sexuality have changed (and not changed).
Conversations with students motivated me to add personal pronouns to my email, learn about cultural appropriation, introduced me to intersectionality & pursue new lines of research.
My very serious advisor was right, as he was about most things, paying attention to what the kids pay attention to, really helped me connect with students & made me a more effective teacher & open-minded mentor.
So how to stay up to date on youth culture? And have conversations with students? On youth culture?
First, assume they know you are old. About ten years ago, my student commented his dad DJ’d the music of my generation. He parlayed that into a conversation about music and social change.
Second, let students teach you. My first exposure to Facebook was from a student who shall remain nameless. She parlayed that into a conversation about what I should and should not post.
Third, create opportunities for conversations. I show up to class early and leave late. The kids like to chat. If they know that you will be there, about week 8, the dam bursts, and a few will bend your ear.
Fourth, interact. The best teacher I know had the class create a pandemic playlist. The range of music is remarkable - sadly - no John Denver! You can learn a lot about a class by casually asking their preferences.
Fifth, don’t force it. I do my own research. I pay attention to themes in songs and shows. I use Shazam. I learn more if I know a little about what students are talking about.
Finally, have fun with it. I don’t always love what they suggest. My teen trolls the college kids for being out of date all the time.
These days, I’m now the serious grey-haired, the sometimes sour guy telling Ph.D. students to keep learning.
Some wisdom is ageless.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jason-thatcher-0329764_mentors-culture-popculture-activity-6904928554333696001-Vfoh?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web
Comments