Working in the educational space, I like to find creative ways to encourage learning. I often mix multimedia elements to better engage with the learner. This is not always possible, as often the subjects are too esoteric. Finding humorous videos on the FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) or information security can be a daunting task. My remedy: Memes.
A few years back, the BBC wrote about a 1921 cartoon that they believed could be the first meme ever used. The “flashlight” was the word used for a photo.
These simple images–often humorous–provide others an opportunity to view a concept through another lens. Anna Harvey (2020) wrote in the British Medical Journal: “These images spread and ‘evolve’ quickly—often gaining many layers of meaning. Online groups can have their own ‘meme culture,’ with images and phrases being essentially impenetrable to those outside of the group” (¶ 5).
Memes are meant to be engaging. Some are sarcastic. Some are serious. Most make others smile or chuckle. This is how I use memes: Not to poke fun at myself or others, but to provide a temporary respite from a serious topic. Below are some tips I use when utilizing memes:
- Find a suitable picture to reflect the topic. When I am creating educational material, I tend to go to sites like ImgFlip. They have a “meme maker” where you can select from dozens of popular images from film or other sources. You can then type in the text to illustrate your topic. I tend to use the same image for memes (e.g., the Dos Equis guy), but I have definitely ventured from this to other photos.
- Know the backstory of the image. It is definitely important to stick with a similar theme for your meme as the original story. This will help your learners to relate more easily to your concept, especially if the meme image is popular.
- Don’t shy from making fun of yourself or your profession. It is important to always connect with your audience. I do that through being vulnerable. This vulnerability is often shown through my tendency to be self-deprecating.
A few years back, I was in meeting and a coworker snapped a photo and created a meme of me. The backstory was that I had setup a meeting with two stakeholders to (hopefully) bring them together for consensus. The meeting did not work as well as I was expecting, and apparently my face reflected that.
What tips do you have about creating memes or using memes for education?
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