On-Demand Goes to School Pandemic pasttime adds new viewpoints to engage students During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have turned to streaming channels for entertainment, enrichment and escape, making the most of a difficult and complicated moment in history. According to HUB, an entertainment research organization, 28 percent of us have signed up for a new streaming service since February. Many North Central College faculty are also fans of streaming channels and are finding content that engages students. “Having students connect popular culture to class content almost always
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increases engagement,” said Shelley Birdsong, associate professor of religious studies. “I like shows that tell a story and allow students to connect to a character. I am also a fan of documentaries that can sum up data in digestible and beautiful ways.” We asked North Central faculty about the shows that they connect to their courses and add academic dimensions, in hopes that our readers find new ways to explore important topics and the world outside their homes.
