The Future of Education
Transmedia Learning in Primary Education: The Case of Rim Tim Tagi Dim
Darija Kuharić, Faculty of Education, J. J. Strossmayer University Osijek (Croatia)
Abstract
This paper explores the potential application of popular culture in primary education, focusing on integrating recent cultural phenomena into the teaching process. Through an analysis of the picture book Baby Lasagna and Stipe the Cat: A Great Friendship, published ahead of Baby Lasagna’s performance at Eurovision 2024, we examine the possibilities of implementing pop culture in the teaching of Croatian and English language, mathematics, nature and society, physical education, and visual arts. The theoretical framework of this study is based on recent research on the role of popular culture in education (Marsh, 2022; Pugh et al., 2021) and studies that explore transmedia storytelling as tools for enhancing motivation and creativity in learning (Jenkins, 2006). Recent works (Baker, 2023; Rowsell, 2022) emphasize the importance of authentic and relevant materials for student engagement, further justifying the use of contemporary pop culture references in education. Additionally, domestic literature (Škoda, 2024; Jurić, 2019;) highlights the importance of connecting educational content with students’ cultural contexts and the role of modern media formats in developing children’s literacy and critical thinking. This paper argues that popular culture is a powerful pedagogical tool that connects with students, promotes interactive learning, and fosters critical thinking.
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Keywords |
popular culture, transmedia storytelling, education, motivation, creativity |
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REFERENCES |
[1] Baker, F. W. (2023). Media Literacy in the K-12 Classroom. International Society for Technology in Education. [2] Dyson, A. H. (2003). “Welcome to the Jam: Popular Culture, School Literacy, and the Making of Childhoods.” Harvard Educational Review, 73(3), 328–361. https://doi.org/10.17763/haer.73.3.0w1m740r8k2x2v30 [3]Jenkins, H., Purushotma, R., Weigel, M., Clinton, K., & Robison, A. J. (2009). Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Culture: Media Education for the 21st Century. MIT Press. [4] Jurić, M. (2019). Popularna kultura u nastavi hrvatskog jezika. [5] Marsh, J., & Millard, E. (2000). Literacy and Popular Culture: Using Children's Culture in the Classroom. Paul Chapman Publishing. [6] Pugh, K. J., Linnenbrink-Garcia, L., Koskey, K. L. K., Stewart, V. C., & Manzey, C. (2011). “Motivation, Learning, and Transformative Experience: A Study of Deep Engagement in Science.” Science Education, 94(1), 1–28. [7] Rowsell, J., & Walsh, M. (2011). “Rethinking Literacy Education in New Times: Multimodality, Multiliteracies, and New Literacies.” Brock Education Journal, 21(1), 53–62. https://journals.library.brocku.ca/index.php/brocked/article/view/254 [8] Škoda, J. (2024). Primjena transmedijskog pripovijedanja u razvoju komunikacijske jezične kompetencije, doctoral thesis, Koprivnica: University North, https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:122:385154 |
