Start: February 6, 2025 4 p.m.
End: February 6, 2025 5:30 p.m.
Music saves lives, tells stories, and can potentially serve as effective and innovative tools in the classroom to engage a diverse student population. This interactive presentation will explore the ways music can be used to facilitate the understanding of complex subjects such as: assimilation, code switching, mental health struggles, substance abuse, and social justice movements.
Led by Dr. Sara Collas, the workshop will integrate pedagogical strategies from the sociology courses she teaches, with participants listening to songs, watching music videos, analyzing lyrics, and engaging in a collaborative songwriting project based on the group's discussion. Participants will learn innovative ways to implement music in their classrooms and enhance their teaching about a wide range of relevant societal subjects.
Last Night A Spiritual Saved My Life: Using Music to Teach Societal Issues
Thursday, February 6th
4:00-5:30 p.m., Zoom
RSVP
This session will be presented by Dr. Sara Collas as part of the faculty-led professional development series
Welcoming All Voices: Fostering Cultural and Intellectual Diversity.
Dr. Sara Collas is a Ball State Assistant Teaching Professor of Sociology by day and published author and artist by night. Dr. Collas (AKA Peru) specializes in creating visually stunning collages using recycled materials and strives towards creating spaces in her art, writing, and the classroom that promote a sense of belonging, diversity, inclusivity, and inspiration. She will be presenting the paper: “Sociology Doesn’t Always Have to be a Downer! Using Music and Art to Promote a Sense of Belonging, Inclusion, Empowerment, and Inspiration for our Diverse Students” at the 2025 Midwest Sociological Society Meetings.