Hip-Hop Artist and University Professor Teaming to Teach STEM Concepts

The New York Times reports that hip-hop artist GZA and Columbia professor Dr. Christopher Emdin are collaborating on a project with lyrics site Rap Genius to use hip-hop as a science teaching tool with African-American youth.  The pilot will be used in 10 NYC public schools, with the hope of changing the way teachers relate to students of color.  In other efforts, the Rap Genius site recently received a $15 million venture capital investment, and it hopes to expand into education; GZA consulted with MIT physicists on an album about the cosmos; and Dr. Emdin has written a book on urban science for the hip-hop generation.  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/18/nyregion/columbia-professor-and-gza-aim-to-help-teach-science-through-hip-hop.html?_r=0

NASA-ISTE Magnetosphere Project Applications Due By 1/15/12

NASA is partnering with ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) to select 25 middle and high school teachers to "work collaboratively  to create learning and educational artifacts that teachers or students can use to gain a deeper understanding of the Earth's magnetosphere."  Projects may be presented at an upcoming ISTE conference and/or published on the NASA website.  Applicants (teachers from any content area) should have experience in and be interested in using social media tools, as well as be willing to create and test artifacts related to the mission.  A Learning Lab for the project will run beginning 6 February 2012. 


Applications are due by Sunday, 15 January 2012.  For more details and to access the application, visit:  http://www.iste.org/Libraries/PDFs/Learning_Laboratory_Description_for_Flyer.sflb.ashx .

Bakersfield College Students Learn STEM As They Build Guitars

Approximately 12 Bakersfield College students are taking a class to design and build their own electric guitars as a way to learn about STEM subjects.  Funded by a $15,000 grant through Cal State Bakersfield, the summer workshop taught by Steve Hageman was inspired to help increase enrollment in local engineering programs.  http://www.turnto23.com/news/28414139/detail.html

"Get the Math" Shows Middle and High School Students Math in Real-World Application

http://www.thirteen.org/get-the-math/ "Get the Math" is a multimedia project which shows middle and high school students how algebra is used in the real world, such as music, fashion, and video gaming.  Interactive challenges are provided by industry professionals in those career pathways, as well as lesson plans for teachers related to the challenges.