It’s no secret that the educational experiences at DePaul are wide-ranging and experiential. This week, we’re highlighting some of the stories from our professors who are participating in Alumni University, and the College of Communication's
Daniel Makagon will be present on April 16, 2016 to give a lecture on a very interesting and unique topic.
Daniel will be teaching “Sonic Storytelling” at
Alumni University, which shows students how to document sounds and interviews to tell stories.
“Students get lost in the sounds and are often hooked on this approach to sharing stories about contemporary life,” he says. Because of this positive response, he wants to provide alumni with the opportunity to experience this process and discuss how sound can engage people in unique ways.
Daniel, who started his career in the music industry, teaches media and communications in ways that get students out of their seats and into the city for first-hand experiences.
He approaches teaching—and his role in preparing students for life after graduation—with three goals in mind. First, he tries to instill a love of learning.
“Curiosity is the most important thing to being a good student, a good employee, a good family member and a good member of public life,” he says.
Second, he teaches students how to apply course content to the work that matters to them most. Finally, he encourages students to think about what makes them unique and how the course content can expand their horizons.
“A job is part of who we are, but not the totality of who we are. We ideally end up in jobs that inspire us, but I'm not a fan of viewing a university education as a step toward a piece of paper that is then a step toward a job that is then a step toward retirement. That path leads one to miss out on life,” he says.
Instead, Daniel hopes that his students will understand how all of their coursework fits together and impacts their lives both inside and outside of the classroom—and eventually, inside and outside of their careers.