Urban Science Education for the Hip-Hop Generation

by Chris Emdin

Christopher Emdin is an assistant professor of science education and director of secondary school initiatives at the Urban Science Education Center at Teachers College, Columbia University. He holds a Ph.D. in urban education with a concentration in mathematics, science and technology; a master's degree in natural sciences; and a bachelor's degree in physical anthropology, biology, and chemistry. His book, Urban Science Education for the Hip-Hop Generation is rooted in his experiences as student, teacher, administrator, and researcher in urban schools and the deep relationship between hip-hop culture and science that he discovered at every stage of his academic and professional journey. The book utilizes autobiography, outcomes of research studies, theoretical explorations, and accounts of students' experiences in schools to shed light on the causes for the lack of educational achievement of urban youth from the hip-hop generation.

Genres: Education, Science, Nonfiction, Cultural

146 pages, Paperback

First published February 24, 2010

Reviews

[Colleen Broderick]

Just watched Emdin in a round table of sustaining school innovation for EduCon in Philly - Brilliant.

[SaraKat · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are a science teacher looking for an easy read with lots of practical tips on teaching urban students, this is not your book. This book reads like a thesis with very dense wording and a multitude of 100 dollar words. The author openly admits in the beginning that it is not a script-giving book that will give all science teachers a step-by-step guide to improving urban science teaching. This is more of an in-depth explanation of the history of hip-hop, the culture of hip-hop, and how this culture affects student participation in education. There were some really good points made and I feel I learned quite a bit about a culture that I didn't really even know existed and how it can cause misconceptions about these students in the classroom. I enjoyed the memoir-style snippets from the author's past that helped illuminate hip-hop culture. The 'ice grill' story was particularly intriguing and really made me re-think so many encounters with my hip-hop students.

Overall, the advice given to teachers of urban students is the same as is given to teachers for teaching all students nowadays. Build relationships with the students and learn about their lives, allow student voice and choice, and be honest and 'real' with them. So, the book's real value for me was in the cultural information provided and the argument for hip-hop as a separate culture.

[James Doherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always refreshing to consider new insights into an age old profession