“Engaging Class Struggles”: Preparing Students for the “Real World” by Teaching “Activist” Cultural Production in the Classroom

Abstract

In this self-reflective essay, the author argues that communication studies offers opportunities for integrating activism with classroom content that is useful for teaching both academic knowledge and practical skills, while actively engaging students in subject matter that is of direct interest. Despite the deterioration of faculty working (and student learning) conditions, he argues that there is space for activist scholars to draw from their commitments and engage in forms of critical pedagogy that also meet student desires for professional skills. After offering an overview of his own teaching philosophy and background, he provides examples of content, assignments, and readings to illustrate how both critical thinking and writing skills are taught and student “disengagement” overcome.