From Narnia to Neverland: A Guide for Developing and Teaching Popular Culture-Themed Courses

Authors

  • Jill M. Swirsky Holy Family University Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2707-6991
  • Cole Belinsky Holy Family University Author
  • Kathy Doody Buffalo State University Author
  • Pamela Scheutze Buffalo State University Author
  • Susan Geffen Occidental College Author
  • Emily Coyle WestEd Author
  • Justin Crossfox Buffalo State University Author

Keywords:

Themed courses; student engagement; popular culture; popular culture themed courses

Abstract

Research on popular culture-themed (PCT) courses and their potential to boost student engagement and related educational outcomes has grown in recent years. To address this interest, this study gathered data-driven advice for instructors teaching PCT courses. Qualitative data were collected from 59 higher education instructors from across the United States who represented a wide range of disciplines and were currently teaching or had formerly taught a PCT course. Thematic analysis identified eight themes in response to the question, “What advice would you give to an instructor just starting out with themed courses?” Future research directions are also discussed.

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Author Biographies

  • Jill M. Swirsky, Holy Family University

    Dr. Jill M. Swirsky is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Holy Family University. Her research interests include peer relationships and social dynamics among early adolescents (e.g., aggression, victimization, and popularity) as well as the role of social media behaviors in adolescent development and adjustment. She is also interested in creative ways to foster student engagement in higher education (such as teaching through using popular culture!).

  • Cole Belinsky, Holy Family University

    Cole Belinsky, B.A. is a Research Assistant at Holy Family University. He is in the master’s program at Holy Family University in the clinical mental health counseling psychology track. His current focus is counseling, research, and industrial-organizational psychology.

  • Kathy Doody, Buffalo State University

    Dr. Kathy Doody is a Professor of Exceptional Education at SUNY, Buffalo State University, teaching early childhood courses. Other areas of interest include Autism Spectrum Disorder behavior management, educational collaboration, and low-incidence disabilities. She is also a certified special education teacher and worked for 14 years with infants/preschoolers on the autism spectrum.

  • Pamela Scheutze, Buffalo State University

    Dr. Pamela Schuetze is a Professor of Psychology at SUNY, Buffalo State University, where she also coordinates the Child Advocacy Studies program. Her research focuses on autonomic indices of regulatory processes in high-risk infants, children, and adolescents. She also regularly conducts research on the scholarship of teaching and learning.

  • Susan Geffen, Occidental College

    Dr. Susan Geffen is currently an NTT Assistant Professor of Psychology at Occidental College. Her research interests include the scholarship of teaching and learning and how babies, children, and adults develop language and cognitive skills.

  • Emily Coyle, WestEd

    Dr. Emily F. Coyle is a Senior Research Associate at WestEd and was formerly an Associate Professor of Psychology at Saint Martin’s University, with affiliations in Women’s, Gender, and Ethnic Studies and in Leadership Studies. Her research interests are in social cognitive development and its impact on aspiration and achievement, particularly in the context of informal settings (e.g., play) and of girls in STEM domains. She is broadly interested in gender role and stereotype development across the lifespan, including individual differences in attention to and schematic processing of gender-related cues.

  • Justin Crossfox, Buffalo State University

    Justin Crossfox is a User Experience and Outreach Librarian at SUNY Buffalo State University. He comes to Buffalo State after nearly two decades of experience in public libraries, primarily focused on children’s librarianship.

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Published

2026-08-05

Data Availability Statement

The datasets analyzed during the current study are not publicly available but are available from the first author on reasonable request.

How to Cite

From Narnia to Neverland: A Guide for Developing and Teaching Popular Culture-Themed Courses. (2026). Journal on Excellence in College Teaching, 37(3). https://celt.miamioh.edu/index.php/JECT/article/view/1263