According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress released in 2011, 70% of New York City’s student body is not engaged in class.
Only 4% of African-American seniors and 27% of white seniors are proficient in sciences, according to the 2009 NAEP. That's abysmal.
Thanks to Dr. Emdin of Teachers College, Columbia University, GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, and Rap Genius, this is beginning to change. They've developed a program being used in schools to target students using hip hop and rap music and engage them in the classroom.
Meet Christopher Emdin
Dr. Christopher Emdin is a Harvard grad who, in collaboration with GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, has developed a program to engage and educate students in the sciences.
In October of 2013, he gave a TED Talk and stated that, "if we could transform teacher education to focus on teaching teachers how to create that magic then poof! we could make dead classes come alive, we could reignite imaginations, and we can change education."
Dr. Emdin has quite the impressive list of positions, ranging from Director of Science Education and tenured professor at Teacher's College at Columbia to STEAM Ambassador for the U.S. Department of State, and there is plenty in between.
He has always been a fan of hip hop music.
In October of 2013, he gave a TED Talk and stated that, "if we could transform teacher education to focus on teaching teachers how to create that magic then poof! we could make dead classes come alive, we could reignite imaginations, and we can change education."
Dr. Emdin has quite the impressive list of positions, ranging from Director of Science Education and tenured professor at Teacher's College at Columbia to STEAM Ambassador for the U.S. Department of State, and there is plenty in between.
He has always been a fan of hip hop music.
Meet Gary Grice
Better known as GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, he left school in the 10th grade. Now he is a huge advocate of education and targeting students in the sciences; combining their passion with their learning.
GZA has also been called "The Genius" and that's not far from the truth. An independent study of lyricists showed that he has the second largest vocabulary in hip-hop. He values education, as made clear in his TEDxTeen talk in 2014, and has been working with Dr. Emdin and the website Rap Genius on #HipHopEd to improve science education in New York City.
GZA has also been called "The Genius" and that's not far from the truth. An independent study of lyricists showed that he has the second largest vocabulary in hip-hop. He values education, as made clear in his TEDxTeen talk in 2014, and has been working with Dr. Emdin and the website Rap Genius on #HipHopEd to improve science education in New York City.
How exactly are a rapper and a doctor improving science education?
Much like Bill Nye combined science and strangeness, #HipHopEd is combining music and learning to create a passion.
Let's face it, as excited as we were to see that TV rolled into science class, zoning out to the movie didn't exactly engage us or inspire a passion for science.
So how does it work? Keep reading to find out...
Let's face it, as excited as we were to see that TV rolled into science class, zoning out to the movie didn't exactly engage us or inspire a passion for science.
So how does it work? Keep reading to find out...
Nothing has ever enchanted an entire generation the way that hip hop has captivated youth.
“If hip hop can grab them like that, and if science is a piece of who they are, and if there’s so much science in hip hop, then why not make those connections?” Dr. Emdin told KQED News at the Big Ideas Fest.
Students write their own raps on scientific concepts they're learning from the Core Curriculum.
GZA is hopeful that this is going to grow and continue to be successful, telling the New York Times, “This could turn into something in the future as big as the spelling bee.”
Students write their own raps on scientific concepts they're learning from the Core Curriculum.
GZA is hopeful that this is going to grow and continue to be successful, telling the New York Times, “This could turn into something in the future as big as the spelling bee.”
Hip Hop B.A.T.T.L.E.S. were born.
B.A.T.T.L.E.S. (Bring Attention to Transforming Teaching, Learning and Engagement in Science) actually allowed students to rap battle. What started as a New York City initiative now has Houston, St. Lucie, and various other cities participating.
The goal in 2014, "The raps that students will create will be part of a competition within schools that will eventually grow into competitions among participating schools," is already a reality.
The goal in 2014, "The raps that students will create will be part of a competition within schools that will eventually grow into competitions among participating schools," is already a reality.
We have a winner!
Jabari Johnson, whose rap "Quest for Jouelelry" about kinetic energy, came in first at the competition held at Columbia University.
Dr. Emdin explained why Johnson's rap was so successful in an interview with Star Talk Radio Show, as "the distinction between saying something that rhymes and being a prolific MC"
Rhyming words don't engage students to learn — but meeting them on their own turf, letting them write their own raps — that does.
Dr. Emdin explained why Johnson's rap was so successful in an interview with Star Talk Radio Show, as "the distinction between saying something that rhymes and being a prolific MC"
Rhyming words don't engage students to learn — but meeting them on their own turf, letting them write their own raps — that does.
Express yourself.
One day a week, students write and perform their scientific raps for their classes. The best rhymes are posted on Rap Genius and, now that B.A.T.T.L.E.S. has begun, the best rap is available to view on Teacher's College Columbia University's YouTube channel!
What do science and hip hop have in common, other than American youths?
Dr. Emdin told the New York Times that he has found several similarities between "the skills required for success in science to those of a good rapper: curiosity, keen observation, an ability to use metaphor and draw connections." This means that the students who are interested and good at rap and hip hop are already predisposed to be good at science — they just haven't wanted to until now.
For now, it seems to be working.
Despite critics claiming that hip hop is "anti-academic" and couldn't be about science, Dr. Emdin, GZA, and Rap Genius have managed to create a successful program which is really engaging students and isn't their love of learning what matters most?
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