THE CONVERSATION OF FORBIDDEN CONVERSATION

SUsing Taboos to Increase Student

Engagement and Effective Teaching

By Dr. DorothyBelle PoliRoanoke College

February 2014

WHAT IS UNUSUAL PEDAGOGY?

“CRAZY PEDAGOGY”: PINTREST

WHAT IS A TEACHER?

ME? NOT THAT STEREOTYPE… Are you?

WHO AM I? CRAZY PEDAGOGY?

EMBRACE YOUR TABOOS

We are in college…

MY FAVORITES SO FAR…Sex

Drugs

Tattoos

Fire

START WITH SOME STRANGE FACTS…

In one hour, the average sperm can swim seven inches.

Cannabis seeds were used as a food source in China as early as 6000 B.C.

In the early days, urine was sometimes used to mix tattoo color.

CREATE THE AWKWARD MOMENTS…

More the Merrier!

CONDOMS: SCIENTIFIC METHOD, SEX EDUCATION

EVEN IN GENERAL STUDIES!

TATTOOS:CELL BIOLOGY, PHYSICS, HUMAN HEALTH, ETHNOBOTANY

NOT SO TABOO, BUT OUT OF THE BOX…?? Using Tea and Cooking to Teach

Ethnobotany!

VIDEO GAMES CAN BE USEFUL…

COMPLICATIONS, PROBLEMS? Must be careful to not cross the line

Must keep the class in check and focused at times

Alternatives needed

BUT THERE ARE BETTER OUTCOMES… Cohesive class atmosphere, bonding

Lots of laughing and engagement

Retention of material through the course

Increased student learning

SUCCESS COMES WHEN…PRESENT Strange Facts,

CREATE Awkward Moments,

and MAKE SURE

to Laugh at It All!

REFERENCES Poli, DB., Fleenor, M. C., and Rearick, M. (2012) Drawing on

Popular Culture: Using Tattooing to Introduce Biological Concepts. American Biology Teacher 74 (6): 381-385.

Poli, DB., Berenotto, C., Blankenship, S., Piatkowski, B., Bader, G. A., and Poore, M. (2012) Bringing Evolution to a Technological Generation: A Case Study with SPORE. American Biology Teacher 74 (2): 100-103.

Poli, DB. (2011) Sex and the Scientific Method: Using Condoms to Engage College Students. American Biology Teacher 73 (6): 348-352.

Poli, DB. (2011)Teaching Cultural and Botanical Connections: Ethnobotany with Tea. American Biology Teacher 73 (4): 242.

WHAT ARE YOUR TABOOS?

History Art

English Chemistry

Physics Math

Language

CREATE THE MASTER LIST -

OPERATION DISSECTION… Use the number you were given upon

entering the room to form a group

Your group’s mission: To the master list – add disciplines that

could also be linked to each taboo

Jigsaw and add more to those lists!

PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER How easy was it to think of original

taboos?

How easy was it to match taboos to disciplines?

THINK PAIR SHARE… Share a taboo that you could use. How do you think you may bring it into

your class?

QUESTIONS?