Shaking Up Shakespeare: Digital Tools for Digital Students

Advertisement

Originally published in TEACH Magazine, July/August 2022 Issue

By Deanna Ratzki

Unless you have an affinity for Shakespeare, there’s a good chance that you wouldn’t consider studying the Bard a highlight of your education. In the intermediate and senior classroom, there are always students who groan at even the mention of his name. Many of them dread reading Shakespeare out of fear of not understanding the words, or because they think his works have nothing to do with their 21st century interests.

It’s easy to perpetuate such beliefs if you, too, dreaded studying this subject as a student, like I did, and now also dread teaching it. In both high school and university I avoided Shakespeare’s works like the plague! Fortunately, in my case all it took was one BEd instructor who made it her goal to change my mind, and all of a sudden Shakespeare was transformed for me.

While pursuing my BEd, the Program Director, Stephanie Thompson, challenged my perceptions of Shakespeare, and ended up converting myself and fellow skeptical teacher candidates into some of the most effective teachers of his content.

In a two-part lesson dubbed “Shaking up Shakespeare,” Professor Thompson provided the class with a myriad of resources to genuinely engage today’s students with yesterday’s plays. Professor Thompson even inspired me to create my own assignments that blend current social media trends with inquiry-based learning, allowing students to explore Shakespeare’s relevance and enjoy themselves while doing so.

Below you’ll find examples of these assignments, along with some digital tools I’ve used in my own classroom to approach Shakespeare in a contemporary and Gen-Z-friendly manner.

Subscribe to Keep Reading

🔑 You’re one step away from unlocking premium content.
Subscribe now for just $15.99/year and get full access!
If you’re already subscribed, please .
Avatar photo

Deanna Ratzki has an honours degree from Toronto Metropolitan University. She is is expected to graduate this year from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and receive her BEd.

Education News

Ohio Teacher Wins Summer Getaway in “Sunshine for Teachers” Contest

The grand prize winner and 19 first prize winners celebrated with their schools during schoolwide smoothie parties hosted by Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

Helping Students Become Lifelong Readers

The best way to inspire today’s youth to read is by building a culture that celebrates their book choices and makes reading as fun and engaging as the media they already love.

How (and Why) to Make Classrooms More Musical

Music is a language that reaches across age, culture, and ability. And when we learn to use it with care and creativity, it becomes one of the most accessible and powerful tools we have in education.

Reading in America: Five Years Since COVID

While we continue to understand and measure the pandemic's impact on education, more and more evidence is confirming that, even five years later, students are still a long way off from rebounding academically.

Join Our Newsletter

Get 10% off a subscription, monthly giveaways, and the latest updates—straight to your inbox!

Deanna Ratzki
Deanna Ratzki
Deanna Ratzki has an honours degree from Toronto Metropolitan University. She is is expected to graduate this year from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and receive her BEd.

Advertisement

Read More

Ohio Teacher Wins Summer Getaway in “Sunshine for Teachers” Contest

The grand prize winner and 19 first prize winners celebrated with their schools during schoolwide smoothie parties hosted by Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

Paths to Success: Practicing Hope Theory in the Classroom

Throughout the decade I have spent working in education, I’ve seen the most positive impact when I’ve incorporated hope-based strategies into my teaching.

Helping Students Become Lifelong Readers

The best way to inspire today’s youth to read is by building a culture that celebrates their book choices and makes reading as fun and engaging as the media they already love.

How (and Why) to Make Classrooms More Musical

Music is a language that reaches across age, culture, and ability. And when we learn to use it with care and creativity, it becomes one of the most accessible and powerful tools we have in education.

Whose Face Belongs Here? Navigating Race in the World of AI

Teachers need support not only in understanding the tools, but also in managing the ethical, cultural, and emotional complexities that AI brings to the classroom.

Reading in America: Five Years Since COVID

While we continue to understand and measure the pandemic's impact on education, more and more evidence is confirming that, even five years later, students are still a long way off from rebounding academically.