In the fast-evolving world of website builders, finding the ideal platform can be an arduous task. Enter 10Web, a website builder that caught the eye of Ruby Jane, who penned a comprehensive review in the July 2023 issue of TechRadar. Her article offers valuable insights into the 10Web experience, shedding light on its noteworthy pros and cons, along with its rich set of features and website-building capabilities.
The Bright Side: Key Pros of 10Web
Round-the-Clock Support: 10Web stands out with its 24/7 customer support, ensuring users always have a helping hand.
User-Friendly Paradise: Its reputation as a user-friendly platform is well-earned. Navigating through 10Web is a breeze, thanks to its streamlined layout.
Intuitive Interface: The platform’s well-organized structure and intuitive layout make it user-friendly, providing a hassle-free experience for all.
Fortified Security: 10Web takes website security seriously, employing robust measures to monitor and protect websites.
AI Magic: With its AI-powered templates and drag-and-drop interface, 10Web empowers users to craft visually stunning websites without any coding or design skills.
Every Rose Has Its Thorns: Key Cons of 10Web
The Price Tag: While 10Web offers a rich feature set, its pricing might not be the best fit for users on a tight budget.
Not for the Most Complex: 10Web shines for standard websites, but complex or highly customized projects might need a different toolset.
Unpacking the Treasure Chest: The Feature Set of 10Web
Rock-Solid Backups: With a single click, users can create backups of their websites, ensuring peace of mind when making significant changes.
AI-Powered Optimization: 10Web utilizes AI to optimize elements such as meta tags, keywords, and page speed, enhancing website visibility and search engine ranking.
AI Website Builder: The AI-powered website builder simplifies website creation with its drag-and-drop tools and AI templates. Users can experiment in a staging environment without touching the live site.
Speed Boosting: The Website Booster enhances website performance, improving loading speed and user experience. Integration with Cloudflare CDN further amps up speed and security.
Seamless Migration: Migrating existing websites to 10Web is a breeze, saving time and ensuring a smooth transition.
AI Writing and Editing: AI-generated suggestions and writing templates empower users to craft compelling and error-free content efficiently.
Ecommerce Excellence: 10Web supports WooCommerce, making it a go-to choice for those seeking to set up and manage online stores.
Collaboration Oasis: Team members and clients can effortlessly collaborate on website projects, assign roles, and streamline communication.
No Worries Hosting: With automated WordPress hosting, users can delegate the technical aspects, enjoying convenience and peace of mind.
The AI Miracle: Unveiling 10Web’s AI Website Builder
10Web’s AI website builder is the crown jewel. Users provide key business information, and the AI delivers tailored website templates. Users can also input a URL of a website they find inspiring, and the AI will replicate its layout and design. Additionally, a collection of AI design templates awaits for customization.
Setting the Gold Standard: What Makes 10Web Unique
10Web carves its niche with a remarkable combination of features, including AI content and image generation, SEO optimization, and seamless integration with WordPress. The platform champions collaboration with its workspace feature, enabling multiple team members to work harmoniously on a single project, a feature that sets it apart from competitors.
Pricing: Options for Every Need and Budget
Personal Plan: Priced at $10 per month (billed annually at $120) for a single website. Ideal for individuals or small businesses.
Premium Plan: At $24 per month (billed annually at $288), this plan supports three websites and adds more features.
Agency Plan: For larger-scale needs, the Agency plan is available at $60 per month (billed annually at $720). It offers all the features of the Premium plan and more.
In Conclusion: The 10Web Experience
10Web is a powerhouse website builder with a user-friendly interface, robust AI capabilities, and top-tier customer support. While it may not be the most budget-friendly choice, its extensive feature set and AI technology integration make it a fierce competitor in the website builder arena. Whether you’re an individual, a small business owner, or part of a larger team, 10Web offers a comprehensive solution for creating and managing websites with ease. It’s not just another website builder; it’s the key to unlocking your website’s full potential.
You can dive deeper into Ruby Jane’s insightful review in the July 2023 issue of TechRadar.
Venturing back to the heyday of hip-hop, the era between the pulsating mid-1980s and the culture-shaking mid-1990s, we find the origins and the meteoric rise of hip-hop: rap, breakdancing, graffiti art, and deejaying. Fast forward to today, and Chicago-based indie record label, Closed Sessions, is raising eyebrows with its third hip-hop compilation in a decade. Could this be the genesis of a new golden age in hip-hop?
Delving into articles by Ogden Payne, Tara C. Mahadevan, Jack Riedy, and Mark Braboy, we discover how Closed Sessions has been the driving force behind Chicago’s hip-hop scene since its inception in 2009, providing a pivotal platform for creative content and album releases.
In Ogden Payne’s 2016 article in Forbes, he unravels the origins of the label’s name—stemming from closed video sessions that founders Alex Fruchter and Michael Kolar held with budding hip-hop talents. Picture this: artists, new to the Chicago scene, being introduced to the city’s eateries by co-owner Alex Fruchter, only to later lay down tracks at Soundscape Studios, guided by chief audio engineer and co-owner Michael Kolar. These recordings would soon catapult into breakout projects for these rising stars (Payne).
Soundscape Studios acts as a nurturing ground for emcees, aiding them in their breakout projects, while Fruchter takes on the role of a promoter, organizing live shows at local venues. Their philosophy? It’s all about supporting new talent while imparting crucial lessons about the music industry’s inner workings. As Kolar emphasizes, “I’ve seen some [artists] get lost in the major label system; I’ve seen some get lost and then climb their way to priority, but we [at Closed Sessions] don’t want to take anything on that we don’t think we can put our effort into” (Payne).
The core of Closed Sessions’ artist-friendly business model lies in grassroots marketing, steadily building a fan base, and refusing to cut corners. Payne sheds light on this model, revealing that Closed Sessions’ artists retain 100% ownership of their master recordings—a stark contrast to the typical arrangement where the record company holds this asset, paying artists a mere 10-15% in royalties (Payne).
Shifting the spotlight to Tara C. Mahadevan’s exploration in 2019, we get an intimate look into what inspired Fruchter and Kolar to launch a Chicago indie hip-hop label. The piece showcases various artists under the Closed Sessions umbrella, providing captivating music samples from the likes of Jack Larsen, Jamila Woods, Femdot, and Kweku Collins. Dive into the link for a musical journey through Chicago’s hip-hop heartbeat: A Guide to Chicago’s Closed Sessions Label.
Jack Riedy’s 2020 Block Club Chicago article dissects Closed Sessions’ third hip-hop compilation in a decade. In response to external labels attempting to define Chicago hip-hop, Alex Fruchter designed the first two Closed Sessions compilations to intertwine prominent artists like Raekwon, Freddie Gibbs, and Action Bronson with Chicago’s homegrown talents like GLC and Sir Michael Rocks (Riedy).
In this 2019 compilation, we witness BoatHouse at the production helm, with contributions from artists like Kemba, Curtis Roach, Khary, Ajani Jones, ShowYouSuck, and the dynamic duo Mother Nature—all converging to create a magnetic soundscape. And in the lead single, “Whiskey And Push-Ups,” we find Los Angeles rapper Open Mike Eagle, originally hailing from Chicago, leaving an indelible mark (Riedy).
One artist, Ajani Jones, stands out, crediting Closed Sessions for refocusing his trajectory towards long-term success. In his own words, “They helped me by showing me the ropes in the industry, and how it works, and what it really takes to garner the attention that you’re seeking…Before I just kept putting music out because that’s what I love to do, but I think I became a lot more aware of what my music does and what effect it can have on people” (Riedy).
In this symphony of talent, innovation, and mentorship, Closed Sessions seems to be not only shaping artists but potentially steering hip-hop towards another golden era. Stay tuned, for the beat goes on.
LA Fitness and Esporta Fitness are working together across the country to provide fitness classes and workout equipment to people that enjoy working out. However, recently the Lansing LA Fitness has closed, as well as the Matteson location. Rumor has it that other locations in the South Suburbs as well as in Chicago may be closing soon.
I asked ChatGPT for a business plan to offer fitness classes, and this is what it came up with. Impressive!!
Creating a business plan to offer various fitness classes in the absence of LA Fitness clubs in the South Suburbs of Chicago can be a viable venture. Here’s a step-by-step approach to developing a business plan for this:
Market Research: a. Identify the target market in the south suburbs of Chicago interested in fitness classes. b. Understand preferences regarding class types, timings, pricing, and location.
Identify Suitable Locations: a. Look for accessible and visible locations for the fitness classes. b. Consider leasing, renting, or partnering with existing facilities.
Diversify Class Offerings: a. Offer a variety of fitness classes, including Zumba, spin, yoga, HIIT, etc., to cater to different preferences. b. Ensure a flexible schedule to accommodate various lifestyles.
Hire Qualified Instructors: a. Recruit certified and experienced fitness instructors for different classes. b. Ensure they are knowledgeable, personable, and able to motivate clients.
Marketing and Promotion: a. Develop a marketing strategy to attract and retain clients. b. Utilize social media, local advertising, partnerships, and referral programs. c. Offer promotional deals or free trials to encourage new members.
Pricing Structure: a. Determine competitive and reasonable pricing based on market research. b. Consider package options, monthly subscriptions, and class passes.
Equipment and Facilities: a. Invest in appropriate workout equipment and ensure a well-maintained space. b. Consider the purchase or rental of necessary fitness gear.
Technology Integration: a. Implement an online booking and scheduling system for classes. b. Use social media and a website to provide information and updates.
Customer Experience and Retention: a. Focus on delivering exceptional customer service to retain clients. b. Consider loyalty programs, discounts for long-term memberships, and referral bonuses.
Financial Projections and Budget: a. Develop a financial model projecting revenues, expenses, and profitability. b. Determine the initial investment required and plan for sustainable growth.
Legal and Compliance: a. Ensure compliance with local health and safety regulations. b. Acquire any necessary licenses or permits.
Risk Assessment and Mitigation: a. Identify potential risks such as low demand or increased competition. b. Develop strategies to mitigate these risks effectively.
Sustainability and Growth Strategy: a. Outline plans for expanding classes, locations, or services in the future. b. Consider partnerships, franchise opportunities, or online class options.
Networking and Community Involvement: a. Engage with the local community through fitness events, workshops, or partnerships. b. Build relationships with other local businesses for mutual benefits.
By carefully considering these steps and tailoring them to the specific context of the south suburbs of Chicago, instructors can create a robust business plan to offer various fitness classes and address the needs of individuals impacted by the closure of LA Fitness clubs.
Comma usage is not difficult if you understand a few basic rules.
Understanding and applying these fundamental comma rules will significantly enhance your writing, providing structure and clarity to your sentences.
And regular practice using commas appropriately will refine your writing skills and ensure effective communication in your written work.
Commas, the versatile punctuation marks, play a crucial role in sentence structure and conveyance of meaning. Let’s explore some fundamental comma rules accompanied by a variety of examples to grasp their correct usage effectively.
Rule 1: Use Commas to Separate Items in a Series
Rule: Use commas to separate three or more items in a series.
Examples:
The picnic basket was filled with sandwiches, fruits, chips, and drinks.
She excels in singing, dancing, painting, and acting.
Rule 2: Use Commas with Introductory Phrases
Rule: Use a comma after introductory words, phrases, or clauses to set the stage for the main part of the sentence.
Examples:
After a long day at work, I like to relax with a good book.
In the distance, the mountains looked majestic.
Rule 3: Use Commas with Coordinate Adjectives
Rule: Use commas to separate two or more adjectives that independently describe a noun.
Examples:
He lived in a tall, impressive building.
The old, rusty, iron gate creaked open.
Rule 4: Use Commas with Appositives
Rule: Use commas to set off appositives, which are noun phrases that rename a nearby noun.
Examples:
My best friend, Alex, is coming over.
The painter, an artist of great repute, showcased his latest work.
Rule 5: Use Commas to Join Independent Clauses
Rule: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) when joining two independent clauses.
Examples:
She loves hiking, but he prefers swimming.
He works late, so he sleeps in.
Rule 6: Use Commas in Direct Address
Rule: Use commas to set off a person’s name or other noun when directly addressing them.
Jack’s childhood in the vibrant streets of the South Side of Chicago was filled with adventures, both thrilling and treacherous. But one memory that stood out like a shining beacon in his mind was that of third grade and the notorious duo, Smiley and Chucky. Smiley, a tough kid with a dark complexion, always sported a mischievous grin whenever he found himself in the midst of a brawl, and Chucky, his trusty partner in crime, was never far behind. Jack, being near-sighted, often wished he could see trouble like these two coming from a mile away.
It was an ordinary day at school when an extraordinary event took place – a party! The teacher had laid out a tantalizing spread of candy, cookies, and cake on her desk, tempting the students with its sugary allure. One by one, the classmates lined up to claim their sweet prize. As Jack’s turn approached, he happened to pass by Chucky’s desk, and amidst the commotion, he caught a whisper: “Don’t take the cake!”
Intrigued by this mysterious warning, Jack’s curiosity piqued. Ignoring Chucky’s cautionary words, he reached out and grabbed the last piece of chocolate cake from the teacher’s desk. Triumphantly, he made his way back to his seat, savoring the anticipation of devouring the delicious treat. But just as he passed Chucky’s desk again, he heard a foreboding voice: “Don’t come outside for recess!!”
Suddenly, the sweet taste of victory soured in Jack’s mouth as he contemplated Chucky’s chilling words. He hesitated, weighing the risks, and ultimately decided to take refuge in the sanctuary of the washroom during recess. It was a small price to pay for the safety of his cake-filled belly.
When the bell rang signaling the end of recess, Jack cautiously rejoined the bustling crowd of students. As he glanced over his shoulder, his heart skipped a beat. There, approaching him with an air of impending doom, were Smiley and Chucky. Panic flooded Jack’s veins, and he sprinted away, desperate to evade their clutches. But fate had a cruel sense of humor, and in his haste, Jack collided headfirst into a solid wall. BAMM! He hit the ground, blood trickling down his face like a crimson river.
Dazed but determined, Jack picked himself up, his mind racing with confusion. He searched the area frantically, hoping to spot Smiley and Chucky, only to realize that he had unwittingly run into an unyielding wall, causing his own injury. It was a comical twist of fate that left Jack both embarrassed and in pain.
Wounded and disoriented, Jack staggered into the gymnasium, seeking first aid assistance. Among the whispers and concerned murmurs, he overheard someone utter the fateful words: “Chucky messed him up!” The blame was misplaced, yet Jack couldn’t help but find a glimmer of humor in the situation. Chucky was taking credit for Jack’s unfortunate encounter with the wall, as if he were the puppet master orchestrating Jack’s misfortune.
Relieved to have escaped further harm, Jack couldn’t shake the nagging thought that perhaps he had stumbled upon a stroke of luck. Would this incident foreshadow a streak of fortune in his future, or was it merely a fleeting moment of respite from the chaos of schoolyard battles? The question lingered in his mind, casting a curious shadow over his eight-year-old heart.
And so, as Jack wiped away the last remnants of blood from his face, he embarked on a journey through the unpredictable maze of childhood, where the lines between luck and misfortune were as blurry as his own vision. Little did he know that his encounters with Smiley and Chucky were just the beginning of a series of escapades that would shape his character and test the limits of his resilience.
Our lives are filled with unforgettable moments, cherished memories, and the people who make it all worthwhile- from the smallest joys to our biggest achievements, each day paints a stroke on the canvas of our lives.
And how often do we pause to reflect on our journey in life, and have you ever thought about preserving these memories and emotions in a video that captures the essence of your existence?
What is a Life Video?
A life video is not just a compilation of photographs and video clips; it’s a living and breathing testament to your unique journey. It’s your story, narrated by you, for you and your loved ones to treasure.
Here’s why you should consider creating one:
1. Embracing Your Legacy: Life videos allow you to share your values, beliefs, and the lessons you’ve learned along the way. It’s a powerful medium to convey your legacy, ensuring that your wisdom lives on for generations.
2. Celebrating Life’s Journey: Life videos celebrate your achievements, both big and small. They remind you of the beautiful moments you’ve experienced and the hurdles you’ve overcome, helping you appreciate the journey.
3. Connecting with Loved Ones: Life videos offer a unique opportunity to reconnect with family and friends. Including comments and anecdotes from your loved ones brings warmth and depth to your story.
4. Preserving Memories: Life videos are like time capsules that capture your personality, passions, and relationships. They allow you to preserve these memories in vivid detail.
5. Self-Reflection: Creating a life video encourages introspection. As you compile your story, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of your life’s purpose and the meaning you’ve found along the way.
How to Create Your Life Video
Creating a life video can be a fulfilling and creative process. Here are some steps to get you started:
1. Gather Your Materials: Collect old photos, videos, and memorabilia that hold sentimental value. These will be the building blocks of your video.
2. Select a Theme: Choose a theme or message that encapsulates the essence of your life. It could be your love for family, your passion for travel, or a message of resilience and hope.
3. Compile Footage: Organize your photos and videos chronologically or thematically. Use transitions, music, and text to enhance the narrative.
4. Share Your Voice: Narrate your story in your own words. Share your thoughts, feelings, and the life lessons you’ve learned. It’s your chance to inspire and connect.
5. Include Comments: Reach out to friends and family for comments and anecdotes. Their voices add depth and authenticity to your video.
6. Reflect on Your Legacy: Conclude your video with a message about the legacy you hope to leave behind. It’s a chance to share your values and aspirations.
7. Edit and Review: Edit your video to ensure it flows smoothly and captures the essence of your life. Review it with loved ones for their input.
8. Share and Treasure: Once your life video is ready, share it with your inner circle or keep it as a personal treasure. It’s a beautiful reminder of your journey.
There should be no set length for a life video. It can be as short as 5 minutes or as long as 20 minutes – it’s up to you. What matters most is that it reflects your personality and the significance of your life.
Share your legacy, inspire others, and treasure the memories that define you because your story deserves to be told.
ChatGPT is an advanced language model developed by OpenAI, designed to generate human-like text responses and engage in conversations. While ChatGPT presents several advantages, it is essential to explore both the benefits and considerations associated with its use. In this report, we will delve into why people should or should not use ChatGPT, addressing ethical concerns, intellectual property issues, and the importance of verifying information accuracy.
I. Benefits of Using ChatGPT:
Enhanced Creativity: ChatGPT can serve as a valuable tool to stimulate and enhance creative thinking. It can assist in generating ideas, brainstorming sessions, and even aid in the creation of original content like poems, songs, books, or plays.
Educational Purposes: ChatGPT can provide valuable educational support by answering questions, explaining complex concepts, and helping individuals grasp new ideas. It can serve as a tutor or mentor, offering guidance across various subjects.
Personal Assistance: ChatGPT can function as a friendly helper, providing recommendations, suggestions, and solutions to everyday problems. It can assist with tasks like scheduling, finding information, or providing basic tech support.
Language Learning: ChatGPT can aid individuals in practicing and improving their language skills. It can engage in conversations, correct grammar, and provide feedback, creating a dynamic and interactive learning experience.
II. Ethical Concerns:
Plagiarism and Academic Integrity: One ethical concern associated with ChatGPT is the potential misuse by students who may copy papers or assignments generated by the model and submit them as their own work. It is crucial to highlight the importance of academic integrity and discourage such practices.
Misinformation and Bias: ChatGPT’s responses are generated based on patterns and examples from the internet, making it susceptible to propagating inaccuracies or biased information. Users must exercise caution and critically evaluate the information provided by ChatGPT to avoid spreading misinformation.
III. Intellectual Property Issues:
Original Content Creation: When using ChatGPT to create original content like poems, songs, books, or plays, people typically retain intellectual property rights in the creation. However, it is advisable to consult with professionals or review relevant copyright laws to ensure compliance and protect their rights.
Copyright and Trademark Infringement: Users should be aware that ChatGPT is trained on a vast amount of copyrighted and trademarked material. It is essential to avoid directly copying or infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others when using ChatGPT to generate content.
IV. Accuracy and Timeliness of Information:
Verifying Information: While ChatGPT strives to provide accurate information, it is prudent to double-check and verify any critical information obtained from the model. Cross-referencing with reliable sources is crucial to ensure accuracy and avoid potential misinformation.
Currency of Information: ChatGPT’s training data predominantly consists of text up until 2021. Therefore, the model may not be aware of current events or possess the most up-to-date information. Users should consider this limitation and seek more recent sources for time-sensitive topics.
Conclusion:
ChatGPT offers several benefits, such as fostering creativity, educational support, personal assistance, and language learning. However, ethical considerations like plagiarism and misinformation must be addressed. Users should also be mindful of intellectual property rights and verify information obtained from ChatGPT for accuracy and currency. By using ChatGPT responsibly and with critical thinking, individuals can harness its potential while mitigating any associated risks.
Malaika Costello-Dougherty is a writer for Edutopia. In this informative 2009 article, she describes how Daniel Joseph Duey and Alex Kajitani use hip-hop beats to teach math to their middle school students.
Then see what you think of two YouTube videos: One is a 2011 video on Math Rap by Mathodman, and the other is Mr. A’s 2017 Math Rap.
Duey is a professional rapper and teaches middle school in Westland, Michigan. His video called Fractionshas been shown on TeacherTube.com and in math classes around the country. Teachers use the video “to introduce a lesson, engage inner-city students who prefer music to math, and show students how to calculate their grades on an assignment” (Costello-Dougherty).
The video has more than 580, 000 views and teachers say “When these teachers play rap videos like Fractions in class, they find that students can quickly grasp complicated concepts: The repetition and rhyme help with memorization, and students connect with the lesson” (Costello-Dougherty).
Alex Kajitani, known as the rappin mathematician, also uses hip-hop to relate to his students. He teaches middle school in Escondido, California, and says it’s one of the most poverty-stricken areas of California. When he first started teaching, he could not get students to pay attention. However, when he noticed how easily they memorized rap songs, he went to work and created a hip-hop song for a math lesson. It was a disaster, but the students loved it-and he had made the teaching connection that he wanted (Costello-Dougherty).
He later heard the students rapping to his song So Many Lines, and they seemed excited about class the next day. In the process, they learned that “parallel lines are two lines that never touch, they never intersect, and that’s why they are such” (Costello-Dougherty).
Also, check out these next two videos. Does this seem like a good way to get students interested in math?
Works Cited
Costello-Dougherty, Malaika. “Rapping Math Teachers Bring It.” Edutopia, George Lucas Educational Foundation, 2 Nov. 2009.
If you really want to learn how to tell a great story, check out the Paradigm Online Writing Assistant by professor Chuck Guilford.
It has helped me with personal, academic, and business writing. His website starts with the statement: “Use your writing process to learn and discover.”
The topics that you will learn include writing a draft, choosing a subject, strong sentences, grammar, storytelling, thesis statements, and using outside sources.
You can start today to become a better writer. Go for it!!
Harnessing the Power of Hip-Hop in Education: An Exploration
by Larry Alexander
September 16, 2023
Imagine driving down the street when suddenly a car pulls up alongside, blaring a hip-hop track filled with potent lyrics, pulsating beats, and raw energy. The music reverberates through your body, making you acutely aware of its presence. Then, just as quickly as it arrived, the car disappears, and the world returns to its familiar rhythm.
This scenario has become increasingly common, reminding us that hip-hop is everywhere; it’s an inescapable force in modern culture. It permeates our radios, television screens, the internet, and even our classrooms. The question that arises is how to harness the undeniable influence of hip-hop effectively within the realm of education.
In this blog, I examine hip-hop-based education (HHBE) – a teaching approach that employs hip-hop culture and music as educational tools and where educators draw upon the dynamic elements of hip-hop to captivate students and connect with them on a cultural level.
However, the use of HHBE raises essential questions:
Is incorporating hip-hop in education merely a cop-out, or should it be an educational imperative?
Does hip-hop have the potential to elevate the learning experience?
Conversely, how can educators navigate the explicit content and negative themes prevalent in some hip-hop music, such as profanity, violence, and misogyny?
This blog aims to address these questions and provide valuable resources for anyone interested in the intersection of hip-hop and education, whether you’re a student, parent, educator, or simply intrigued by the educational journey of young minds.
In this post, there is a TEDx video, an article about the power of hip-hop music, a Goldman Sachs projection on hip-hop music sales, a definition of hip-hop, questions about hip-hop based education, a definition of hip-hop based education, a discussion on American education issues, and a brief book review on hip-hop based education.
We also meet Cassie Crim, Alex Fruchter, and Quam Neloms, three teachers who use hip-hop based education in their classrooms, and Nolan Jones, an Oakland, California, professor who trains teachers on hip-hop based education, curriculum, and practices.
In my next post, we will look at some of the negative aspects of hip-hop and rap; then we will discuss research on hip-hop based curriculum and practices.
Keep in mind that the research on this question is voluminous, and I am barely scratching the surface in terms of what is available. You can find some great articles on the Internet and on Google Scholar if you want to research this topic. Just search for articles on hip-hop in education.
Thank you for reading this post and for all of your thoughts and ideas!
Using Hip-Hop Based Education in the Classroom(HHBE)
Donna-Claire Chesman, an editor at DJBooth, examines the successful use of hip-hop in education in a 2018 article. She focuses on Cassie Crim, a Joliet West High School teacher in Illinois who incorporates hip-hop learning into her math classes, and Alex Fruchter, an Assistant Professor of Instruction at Chicago’s Columbia College who uses hip-hop learning in all three of his classes.
Cassie Crim
Cassie Crim has been teaching high school math for 10 years and did a rap video based upon a Cardi B song. After the video was released, Crim noticed more student participation and engagement in class. For example, one student said, “Ms. Crim, I can’t stand math, but dang, you doing this video caught me off guard and now I’m gonna have to really pay attention” (Chesman).
She knew that she had inspired that student. “He said that to me in the middle of class. Good! That was the purpose. I want to connect with my students, I wanna get them engaged and get that buy-in” (Chesman).
You can see a 2017 Cate Caugurian ABC interview with Crim here:
Alex Fruchter, a professor at Chicago’s Columbia College and co-owner of the indie music label Closed Sessions, is another teacher that incorporates hip-hop into his courses to help prepare students for life in the music industry. The courses are Business of Music, Applied Marketing: Music Business, and AEMMP Hip-Hop Practicum (Chesman).
He recognizes the relevance of using hip-hop in education when he asserts: “I use stories from Closed Sessions in all my classes, and I bring in artists, attorneys, music supervisors, booking agents, etc. in all my classes. I actually wrote a hip-hop based curriculum called ‘You Can Quote Me On That.’ It used hip-hop songs to teach psychology and sociology to elementary and high school students” (Chesman).
In his AEMMP practicum course, which is closely tied to hip-hop, students get the full label experience, which includes pitching the college for a budget, setting up studio sessions and events, and running social media campaigns (Chesman).
Fruchter argues that hip-hop based education is becoming more prevalent in the classroom because “Education is part of hip-hop culture…The fifth element of hip-hop is knowledge” (Chesman).
Quan Neloms
I came across a 2018 self-profile on Quan Neloms in the Education Post. Be sure to view the link in the Education Post below which contains a video on Neloms with some of his pupils.
Neloms is a Detroit public school teacher who uses hip-hop in the classroom to encourage his students to think creatively by analyzing hip-hop lyrics. He found that by engaging his students in hip-hop analysis, he was able to increase student achievement using a curriculum called Rhymes with Reason and increase test scores and achievement within a 10-week period (Neloms).
He also started the Lyricist Society nine years ago, a program that uses hip-hop to get students more involved in their learning. He calls it an important program because “The subjects and vocabulary utilized in hip-hop are tools that engage students in higher-level thinking. And seeing their own interests touted as brilliant and scholarly leads them to see themselves in the same light” (Neloms).
Research analyst Charloitte Götting prepared a 2018 report for Statista on album music consumption by genre. She found that hip-hop and rap are the most popular music in America and accounted for 21.7 percent of the music consumed by Americans, followed by pop with 20.1 percent, rock with 14 percent, and R&B with 10.6 percent (Götting).
Goldman Sachs also recognizes the popularity of hip-hop music and according to a 2019 article inForbes
forecast that music revenue is going to more than double to about $131 billion by 2030. Currently music streaming sales are dominated by top R&B and hip-hop artists such as Drake, Kendrick Lamar, The Weekend, Migos and Cardi B. Music publishers and labels also stand to profit greatly from the rise of streaming, led by black listeners who are the largest user group…R&B and hip-hop are music’s most consumed genre and leading the industry’s revival (Hale).
These articles highlight the significance of hip-hop music, which has exploded in worldwide popularity since its origin in the 1970s in the South Bronx.
Because of the influence of hip-hop on young people, a number of educators and scholars have used it in the classroom to motivate and inspire student learning. Although people have different opinions on the effectiveness of this approach, it is being used more and more frequently to teach students about subjects like math, science, and English.
Origin of Hip-Hop
Hip-hop originated in the South Bronx in the 1970s by Black and Latino teens and is composed of four* elements: deejaying (aka turntabling), rapping (aka MCing or rhyming), graffiti painting (aka graf), B-boying (hip-hop dance, style, attitude, and body language), *knowledge of self/consciousness is sometimes added by socially conscious hip-hop artists and scholars (Tate).
Questions About Hip-Hop Based Education or Pedagogy (HHBE)
Some of the questions asked about this topic include: What is hip-hop based education? Who supports it? Who opposes it? Is there a hip-hop based curriculum? Is there certification or training? Who is qualified to teach it? Who is using hip-hop based education in classes? How do you measure if it works? Are all grade levels appropriate for hip-hop based education? Who funds hip-hop based education?
What is Hip-Hop Based Education?
A 2015 article by professors Edmund Adjapong and Christopher Emdin in the Journal of Urban Learning on the use of hip-hop pedagogy defined it “as a way of authentically and practically incorporating the creative elements of Hip-Hop into teaching, and inviting students to have a connection with the content while meeting them on their cultural turf by teaching to, and through their realities and experiences” (Adjapong and Emdin 67).
Education Issues
In 2008, Chance Lewis and other researchers at Texas A&M University examined the educational performance of African American students in urban school settings, the consistent Black-White achievement gap, and recommendations on how to close the gap. They also looked at previous research on Black and White student achievement- including studies that assumed the reality of high African American academic failure, blamed the learner for their academic situation, or demonstrated that African American learners went through periods of academic successes and failures (Lewis et al. 127-128).
They conclude with this thought: “Nearly 9 out of 10 African American students attending urban schools… are not meeting proficiency rates in reading and math. It is not possible to imagine a situation more bleak and disparate than the educational crisis in urban America…We reluctantly concede that in its current condition, American education is ill-equipped to meet the needs of African American learners, particularly those in urban educational settings” (Lewis et al. 148).
Education writer Kate Barrington also addresses failures in American education in a 2022 article in Public School Review. She summarizes 15 problems with the American education system, including rising violence, student poverty, lower performance on standardized tests, mental health challenges, a lack of parental involvement, a lack of teacher innovation, and teachers using outdated teaching methods and failing to meet the needs of their students (Barrington).
These essays raise the question: Can hip-hop based learning help to address a system that is failing to meet the needs of its students?
Can Hip-Hop Based Learning Address Education Issues?
The Harvard Educational Review examines the 2013 book on this topic called Schooling Hip-Hop: Expanding Hip-Hop Based Education Across the Curriculum by scholars Marc Lamont Hill Emery Petchauer.
Marc Lamont Hill and Emery Petchauer
Hill and Petchauer support using hip-hop based learning in the classroom to address some of the failures in American education. However, they recognize a need for a “deeper aesthetic, epistemological, and theoretical engagement with hip-hop as a holistic cultural movement” beyond teachers who use rhymes to help students memorize facts or to encourage adherence to dress codes. Both support additional research on hip-hop culture and how HHBE can be used in subjects other than English (qtd in Harvard).
The book’s contributors emphasize that although using rap and rhymes to help students with memory is popular, hip-hop pedagogy extends beyond teachers who rap. They advocate finding alternatives to using “rappin” as the main teaching tool and call for more educational focus on knowledge of self, the fifth element of hip-hop (qtd in Harvard).
As one example of how hip-hop pedagogy extends beyond teachers who rap, one of the the book’s contributors, Derek Pardue, shows how hip-hop is being used to influence how Brazilians see citizenship and education. he describes how the Canhema Cultural Center in Rio de Janeiro was initially operated by the government but subsequently turned over to a committee and later became known as the “Hip-Hop House,” which focuses on the relationship between the hip-hop arts and Brazilian hip-hop cultural forms (qtd in Harvard).
According to the Harvard Educational Review, one weakness of their research is its inability to draw a strong connection between hip-hop pedagogy and academic content; however, Hill and Petchauer persuasively promote the importance of hip-hop pedagogy in each chapter of the book (Harvard).
Teaching Hip-Hop Based Education
Although it sounds reasonable to promote addressing education issues with hip-hop based learning, how do teachers learn how to teach it?
Professor Nolan Jones of Mills College in Oakland, California, addresses this question in a 2020 essay. He highlights teachers who use the most popular music in America to make subjects more relevant to their students. One instructor teaches high school math and uses rap in her class, another uses rap to study current events and history, and a third has his students study rap lyrics for college vocabulary and concepts relating to American history (Jones).
He calls this type of teaching hip-hop pedagogy, or teaching that uses the popularity of hip-hop to motivate student learning, and he says each of the teachers using it has seen improvement in pupil test scores and achievement (Jones).
Jones has taught hip-hop pedagogy courses for the last 10 years for K-12 teachers and for higher education teachers, and he believes that the courses can help connect students to subjects from Shakespeare to neuroscience. According to him, the keys to teaching hip-hop pedagogy are for teachers to be genuine, avoid gimmicks, and keep their instruction relevant to the subject matter (Jones).
He also recognizes the importance of almost 30 years of scholarly research examining the effectiveness of hip-hop in education and says the research “has found that hip-hop can be used to teach critical thinking skills, critical literacy, media literacy skills, STEM skills, critical consciousness and more.” In addition, over 300 colleges and universities now offer courses on hip-hop, despite initial questions about the validity of this approach (Jones).
Jones argues that teachers need to use hip-hop culture to reach students because “Many students are already forming their views of society and the world based on the lyrics of their favorite rap artists. It only makes sense to infuse what they’re already listening to into the class so that – at the very least – there’s a common point of reference” (Jones).
Final Thoughts
I hope this blog raised questions in your mind about the use of hip-hop based education in the classroom. We looked at the popularity of hip-hop, educational issues, and educators who support using it as a tool to motivate and inspire students. Supporters claim improvement in motivation, learning, and test scores. If you found this post informative, please share it with your friends and colleagues to see what they think.
You can also send me your thoughts at tutorwithlarry@gmail.com.
In my next post, we will look at opposition to using hip-hop based education in the classroom.
Thank you again for reading this post and for all of your ideas on this issue!
Works Cited
Adjapong, Edmund S., and Christopher Emdin. “Rethinking Pedagogy in Urban Spaces: Implementing Hip-Hop Pedagogy in the Urban Science Classroom.” Journal of Urban Learning, Teaching, and Research, vol.11, pp. 66-77, 2015.
Barrington, Kate. “The 15 Biggest Failures of the American Public Education System.” Public School Review, 27 May 2022.
Caugurian, Cate. “Rapping Joliet Math Teacher Creates Viral Video to Help Students.” ABC7 Chicago, WLS-TV, 5 Nov. 2017.
Chesman, Donna-Claire. “From the Crates to the Classroom: Legitimizing Hip-Hop in Education.” DJBooth, 14 Feb. 2018.
Götting, Marie Charlotte. “Music Album Consumption in the U.S. by Genre 2018.” Statista, 8 Jan. 2021.
Hale, Kori. “Goldman Sachs Bets on Hip Hop and Millennials for Music Revival.” Forbes, 6 Feb. 2019.
Harvard Educational Review. “About Schooling Hip-Hop: Expanding Hip-Hop Based Education Across the Curriculum.” vol. 84, Winter 2022.
Jones , Nolan. “Why Hip-Hop Belongs in Today’s Classrooms.” The Conversation, 20 Nov. 2020.
Lewis, Chance W., et al. “Framing African American Students’ Success and Failure in Urban Settings.” Urban Education, vol. 43, no. 2, 2008, pp. 127–153.
Neloms , Neloms. “Literacy Powered by Students’ Favorite Music.” Rhymes with Reason, 3 May 2022.
Neloms, Quan “Video: This Detroit Teacher Uses Hip-Hop Literacy to Engage His Students and the Community.” Education Post, 2017.
Neloms, Quan. “What Is Lyricist Society?” YouTube, 2 Feb. 2016.
“Rapping Joliet Math Teacher Creates Viral Video to Help Students.” ABC7 Chicago, 5 Nov. 2017.
Tate, Greg, et al. “Hip-Hop.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 12 Jan. 2023.
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