This session explores using elements of popular culture, like television shows and games, to introduce course content. We share specific examples we've used successfully in our library instruction and information literacy classes. These include the board games Guess Who? and Taboo, as well as an episode of The Big Bang Theory. We demonstrate the games and show a clip of the episode, explaining how these materials can teach concepts like Boolean searching, keyword selection, and research methods. Although our examples focus on information literacy, we provide suggestions for finding pop culture materials for other academic areas. We discuss the benefits of using pop culture to promote student engagement and active learning. We also examine potential fears about using pop culture in class, like students not "getting" the reference, and demonstrate ways to resolve those concerns.
