from
listening to learning
Using Podcasts to Spark Creativity in Educational Programs J E S S I C A RYA N
The future of fraternity and sorority life calls for change-
makers - people that will approach this work differently. I have been called to do this when creating leadership programs for high achieving students. When first responding to this challenge, and when working with high achieving students, I discovered the same old programs wouldn’t work. This realization and the task that followed wasn’t just challenging; it was also intimidating. I’m not the only professional that has been called to do this work differently, though - it is something we, as a field, are called to confront every day. This call is fast and loud. And it is time to tap into areas of the brain that may be hidden so we can develop more innovative and creative approaches to our individual and collective work. With the help of podcasts, I have found inspiration and content from many fields that can inform work within fraternity and sorority life. Incorporating new ideas sparked from podcasts has significantly improved my curriculum writing and educational programs developed for fraternity and sorority leaders. Members of fraternities and sororities often attend leadership programs locally, regionally, and inter/nationally hosted by their organizations and/ or associations. Unfortunately, content is often recycled and reused, and thus its potential impact diminishes over time. In my experience, and especially in working with high achievers, students seek deeper thinking and discussion of concepts, enjoy topics that relate back to what they are learning in the classroom, and benefit from the use of technology in delivering content. 19 PERSPECTIVES Issue #1
