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The JN Foundation, through its Parish Histories of Jamaica project, recently launched the Anancy Story Competition.
The contest targets high-school students residing in the parish of St Thomas and invites them to vie for attractive prizes, based on colourful and animated video features about their parish’s contribution to Jamaica’s dynamic history.
Entries to the competition, which was officially announced at the Robert Lightbourne High School in St Thomas recently, closes on March 6.

Students are requested to upload their storytelling video features, not exceeding 10 minutes, about the past to the official Parish Histories of Jamaica website at www.historyjamaica.org Sebrina Brown, project officer at JN Foundation, noted that this initiative was conceptualised as part of the Parish Histories’ objective to present local history in an appealing, captivating and easy to comprehend format.
“We are, therefore, seeking the involvement of young people in the documentation and dissemination of our cultural history,” she stated, “And, it is our hope that students will respond by demonstrating their interest and enthusiasm to record the past and contribute to boosting cultural retention.”

COMMUNITY BUY-IN
She noted, “The Anancy Story Competition could be an exciting activity for students, particularly if they seek the buy-in from older relatives, grandparents and older persons in their communities, who will agree to tell Anancy stories in an animated and fun manner, similar to the approach of our folklorists.”
For additional information about the focus and format of entries to the competition, students are requested to visit www.historyjamaica.org and, subsequently, to submit their entries to that same website.

See the original article here!

Hollywood actor Derek Luke recently travelled to Jamaica in a show of support for Science Genius Jamaica.

The actor, known best for his roles in the films, Antwone Fisher and Friday Night Lights, accompanied his friend Professor Christopher Emdin to the island for the initiation of the project.
“This is the mecca of culture and expression, and what I love is that as a community of creativity, now it’s expanding with #DancehallEd,” Luke told THE STAR. The hashtag follows the model of #HipHopEd, popularised by Professor Emdin since the beginning of Science Genius US.
“It’s the expansion of dancehall with wisdom and intelligence,” Luke explained. To participate in the project, schools (grade nine in particular) will be asked to submit preview videos of themselves to the Science Genius Jamaica selection panel by February 28. The submissions will be narrowed to the top 20 schools, before they compete in clashes from which the top-five performing classes will be chosen. The five will then battle it out for the top spot in Jamaica, culminating in May of this year.
 
Luke told THE STAR that he and Professor Christopher Emdin became acquaintances over social media, eventually developing a friendship, which led to their collaboration on each other’s projects.
“He came to be part of it just by reading a script that I gave him. I was focusing on changing images for young African Americans on screen. He was focusing on changing images and identity in the classroom,” he said.
“My knowledge of real Jamaican music is thorough because to me, if you’ve ever seen a picture of a map – well, now hip hop is being traced all the way back to Jamaica. So my knowledge of traditional Jamaican music is not just reggae and dancehall, but it’s hip hop included. Bob Marley is the king. It doesn’t matter where I’m filming, in London, in Africa, there’s a Kingston in every country because of the contribution of soul music, pop music,” he said.
“Now, just as dancehall and reggae is worldwide, so will the minds in science. There is really no way you can meet Chris Emdin and not become a science genius,” Luke said.
Science Genius is sponsored by JN Foundation, and was launched with endorsements from Floyd Green, minister of state in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Andrew Wheatley, minister of science, energy and technology, with a show of support from Opposition spokesperson Julian ‘Jay’ Robinson, and Science Genius mentors Tifa and Wayne Marshall.

See the original article here!

If the organisers of Science Genius Jamaica: Science Meets Dancehall realise their vision, Jamaica will shortly become a production hub for some of the world’s greatest scientists.
Through a partnership between the Jamaica National Foundation and Science Genius — a US-based initiative that uses hip-hop music to reach students, the programme was launched Wednesday at the Knutsford Court Hotel with an aim to “create a buzz about science among high school students”. It will use dancehall music to educate and generate interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects in Jamaica.
According to Dr Renee Rattray, senior manager of learning, development, and culture at the JN Group, this will be implemented in the form of a competition in which students from across the island will vie for the opportunity to be named Science Genius of Jamaica.
“It’s JN Foundation’s latest education initiative. We’re about changing paradigms and shifting things up and this is a part of the education revolution. We’re wanting to turn the whole notion of science and mathematics being hard and being something that students cannot relate to, to something that is easy, and we figured that pairing music with that would be one of the best ways to do this,” Dr Rattray told the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday.

She explained that the students, guided by their teachers and music mentors Tifa, Wayne Marshall and other artistes, will write science-themed dancehall songs for the competition. The five best schools and five top individual students will move on to the final round of clashes, aptly termed BATTLES (Bringing Attention to Transforming Teaching, Learning and Engagement in Science) for the crowning of the winner.
Teachers and students will compete for cash, laptops, and other prizes, while the winning school will receive funds for its science labs.
“It kicks off today (Wednesday),” Rattray revealed. “They have to go away and do a video to say why they want to be a part of the programme and then we’re going to shortlist 20 schools and then we kick the project off from there and the final will be sometime at the end of May or early June.”
The project targets grade nine students.
“You’re going to have to immerse yourselves in the science content and then our mentors Tifa and Wayne will come around with some other music geniuses to support you as you develop your lyrics. They will train you about how to write good lyrics. We want deep meaningful content and we’re really excited because we know you can do it. We’re setting the bar really high because that’s how we do,” Dr Rattray told students.
“Ultimately, we’re just going to be turning this whole education business on its head. This is just one area we’re going to be a part of and it’s going to be cool,” she added.
Sceince Genius was developed by Dr Christopher Emdin, associate professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science, and Technology at Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr Emdin holds a PhD in Urban Education with a concentration in mathematics, science, and technology; Master’s degrees in both natural sciences and education administration, and Bachelor’s degrees in physical anthropology, biology, and chemistry.
On Wednesday he expressed his hope for Science Genius Jamaica.
“We are at a point in time in the history of this world, not just in Jamaica, where folks of colour who’ve been traditionally moved to the margins have become so much more central than ever before; whether we’re talking about the United States or we’re talking about the Caribbean or we’re talking about Europe.”
“What’s been happening is that folks who for a very long time were being told that they lack intelligence, or they lack brilliance, or that their culture lacks value are getting to the point where they’re saying, ‘No, and we’re gonna redefine who we are’. This moment today (Wednesday) really exemplifies that because in many ways we are pushing back against a schooling sytem and a set of traditions that you might not want me to say but in reality is the remnants of a dying colonial imperialism,” the professor said to resounding shouts and applause.
Seeking to dispel the suggestion that Science Genius Jamaica is just “a cool idea”, the professor pointed out that the project is a movement showing the reclamation of people’s brilliance. Making his case, Edmin made reference to the many in New York who he said doubted his efforts, but who are now astonished at its success.
“What we’re doing now is we’re showing people that intellectual abilities exist in low places as well as high places. The passion for the work exists in those places as well; all we had to do was allow the young folks to be able to do it on their own terms in their own culture,” he stated, pointing out that the project was implemented in communities where students were deemed unteachable and without ability.
“When you start marrying dancehall to science — and people say dancehall is a negative culture only interested in bleaching and celebration — what happens is that you are engaging the most cutting edge research based on what we know about neuro-plasticity; because by merging dancehall with science you are retraining the brains of youths who are embedded in dancehall to reimagine themselves as scientists,” stated the professor.
“At the end of it not only will we change science but we will change dancehall. We don’t wanna change dancehall to change the core and beauty of it, we want to expand dancehall to make intelligence cool again,” Emdin continued.
Local entertainers and government ministers were excited at Wednesday’s launch.
“As the minister and also a scientist, I thank the Jamaica National Foundation Group (JN Group) and its Foundation for setting an excellent precedence in public/private sector partnership in assisting in the rescue mission of science and mathematics in Jamaica,” said Minister of Science, Energy and Technology Dr Andrew Wheatley. “Let me thank you for your efforts in birthing the new generation of scientists, mathematicians, statisticians, engineers, botanists.”
His colleague, Floyd Green, state minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, in a rendition of a popular Bounty Killa song, encouraged students to “pressure unu book”.
“I really want to congratulate and commend the JN Foundation. Not only have they stepped outside of the box, they have removed the box completely and that is what is needed if we’re going to be successful in our education project,” he said.
“I think we all recognise now in education that no one cap fits all, no one size fits all. You have to take different approaches if we’re going to truly connect with our students,” he added.
Green, who highlighted the impact of dancehall on people the world over, was happy it is now being used to treat a challenge the country has faced for many years — that of low performance in STEM subjects.
“Our teachers will tell you (that) maths and the sciences are often shied away from in our society because it has significant volume of work. Oftentimes there is a mental block that you can’t get it right and I believe that one way to break down that mental barrier is present it in a fashion that again is innate and will resonate. So, instead of saying, ‘Dem young people yah know every song; dem can deejay every chune’, give them some lyrics that when them deejay it it is putting in their mind the knowledge that we need them to have,” Green urged.
Mentors Tifa and Wayne Marshall also expressed fusion of dancehall and science.
“I’m so happy to give back to the youth. I love edutaining, I love giving back to the youth, I love sharing my experience and I love showing people that not everything in dancehall is negative; you do have good people in dancehall,” Tifa said.
She encouraged teachers to keep an open mind as students create their pieces.
Said Marshall: “It (Emdin’s work) was very interesting, very unique. Chris Emdin is very passionate about educating and science and reaching children who are less expected be scientists, and I think anything to carry these great minds back to being an intellectual I’m there, I’m all for it.”
“I started thinking about that and I started writing lyrics, so I wrote a little verse…because I was thinking it might be difficult for the kids, but when I start thinking about it I realise it nah go be difficult. All it’s going to do is force them to mix something that they love passionately and they associate themselves with every day, to the science and it will bring them closer to science and learning.”

See the original article here!

In July 2016, the JN Foundation produced an exciting School Leadership Summit. It was one of the most lively two days one could imagine, with the tagline Join the Education Revolution! One of the revolutionaries who spoke at the conference was Dr. Christopher Emdin of Columbia University, a science advocate and founder of the #HipHopEd social media movement. Now, he has returned to Jamaica for the launch of the Foundation’s Science Genius Jamaica project. As Dr. Emdin said at last July’s event, quoting an African proverb:
“If the youth are not initiated into the tribe they will burn down the village just to feel its warmth.”
Sadly, I missed the launch of Science Genius Jamaica last week, but here is the JN Foundation’s press release, and some photographs. I am thrilled to hear this has come to fruition and wish the teachers and students every success!

Scientifically Swaggerific! New science/dancehall project aims to improve learning and expand music
Associate Professor of Mathematics and Science at Columbia University, Dr. Christopher Emdin, has pointed to the need for the education system in Jamaica to harness the cultural values of its people to strengthen teaching and learning.
Addressing government ministers, academics, students, corporate Jamaica and dancehall artistes at the launch of the JN Foundation’s Science Genius Jamaica in New Kingston, recently (Feb 22), the urban education expert noted that marginalised people of colour around the globe have come to recognise the value of their cultures in learning and development.
“In many ways we are pushing back against a schooling system and traditions that are a dying colonial imperialism,” he told a receptive audience.
“We are not doing dancehall with science because that seems cool. No. We are in a place where folks who have had their bodies, their minds, their souls incarcerated by a philosophy of age-old times, saying that we are going to reclaim our education by using a culture that is ours that you have told us has no value,” he said.
Pointing to Science Genius Jamaica, which will involve students producing dancehall music using science and mathematical content, he emphasised that the initiative should be seen as an effort to recoup the intellect of people who have been oppressed.
“This is not a celebration of a nice, cute thing. This is a statement about reclaiming our brilliance,” argued Dr. Emdin, who founded Science Genius in the United States, noting that the project has the capacity to reach students often deemed unreachable.
“You say dancehall is only a negative culture and that they, young people, are only interested in bleaching. What happens when you attach dancehall to science is that you are engaging them, because by merging dancehall with science, you are re-training the brains of youth who are embedded in dancehall, to re-imagine themselves as scientists,” he argued, using neuro-science research to support his point.
“We are not just engaging in a cute programme, we are engaging in neuro-scientifically re-wiring our generation!”
Dr Renee Rattray, Senior Manager of Learning, Development and Culture at the Jamaica National Group, who is managing the implementation of Science Genius Jamaica, said the aim of the project is not simply to excite students, but to assist them with the development of their confidence and ability to articulate rigorous science and maths content, given the continued under-performance in the subject.

Citing Ministry of Education data, she explained that Jamaican students have continued to achieve low passes in subjects such as mathematics, chemistry and physics, with a mere 48 per cent of those sitting exams passing maths; 57 per cent, chemistry and 63 per cent, physics.
“The launch of Science Genius Jamaica is not a debate about the pros and cons of dancehall music, but rather an acceptance of its cultural power,” she underscored. “It is a power which we can harness, as Jamaicans, not merely for packaging it, as a product; but something, which we are demonstrating today, that can be used as a tool to speak to our children; and diversify how we teach and assist them to learn.”
Endorsing the project, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information Floyd Green called the use of culture to reach students “genius.”
“What is undeniable is that dancehall touches us to our core, not only us here in Jamaica, but around the world…,” he said. “If it is so powerful. If it is so impactful, shouldn’t we be using it?” he argued.
Emphasising the need for the country’s deeper involvement in scientific research and innovation to support development, Minister of Energy, Science and Technology, the Hon. Dr Andrew Wheatley, was confident that more students would be drawn to science and mathematics as a result of the project.
“Stopping the downward trend of performance in national CSEC Science is something we are concerned about,” he said. “And as we seek prosperity, in whatever way we define prosperity, it is critical that the sciences are not neglected,” he continued. He congratulated Dr Emdin and the JN Foundation for the initiative to improve the science performance of students.
Saffrey Brown, General Manager of JN Foundation, indicated that Science Genius Jamaica was a continuation of the Foundation’s efforts to support the revolution of education in Jamaica.
“We are living in a Jamaica, and indeed a world, that begs for ‘difference.’ We are using a method of teaching that begs for ‘difference’ and our teachers are charged with molding minds that are ‘different’,” she said, pointing to the need for change to achieve better results.
“We know that the decline of interest in science among students is a worrying trend, therefore, we are doing something about it,” Miss Brown said.
Beyond enriching education, Dr. Emdin, who is also aptly referred to in the US as the Hip-Hop Professor, said the project also has the potential to expand the source of content for dancehall music.
“We are going to change dancehall, not to change the core of it and the beauty of it; but, we want to expand dancehall to make intelligence cool again,” he commented, emphasising that one can achieve a balance between dancehall culture and academia.
“You can be scientifically swaggerific!” he quipped.
“You can imagine a whole new world for yourself that’s beyond the possibilities that anyone else created before you,” he implored students.

See the original article here!

Scientifically Swaggerific! Columbia University Professor Brings Science Genius Program to Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Associate Professor of Mathematics and Science at Columbia University, Professor Christopher Emdin, has pointed to the need for the education system in Jamaica to harness the cultural values of its people to strengthen teaching and learning.
Addressing government ministers, academics, students, corporate Jamaica and dancehall artistes, at the launch of the JN Foundation’s Science Genius Jamaica in New Kingston, recently (Feb 22), the urban education expert, noted that marginalised people of colour around the globe have come to recognise the value of their cultures in learning and development.
“In many ways we are pushing back against a schooling system and traditions that are a dying colonial imperialism,” he told a receptive audience.
“We are not doing dancehall with science because that seems cool. No. We are in a place where folks who have had their bodies, their minds, their souls incarcerated by a philosophy of age-old times, saying that we are going to reclaim our education by using a culture that is ours that you have told us has no value,” he said.

New science/ dancehall project aims to improve learning and expand music
Pointing to Science Genius Jamaica, which will involve students producing dancehall music using science and mathematical content, he emphasised that the initiative should be seen as an effort to recoup the intellect of people who have been oppressed.
“This is not a celebration of a nice, cute thing. This is a statement about reclaiming our brilliance,” argued Prof Emdin, who founded Science Genius in the United States of America (USA), noting that the project has the capacity to reach students often deemed unreachable.
“You say dancehall is only a negative culture and that they, young people, are only interested in bleaching. What happens when you attach dancehall to science is that you are engaging them, because by merging dancehall with science, you are re-training the brains of youth who are embedded in dancehall, to re-imagine themselves as scientists,” he argued, using neuro-science research to support his point.
“We are not just engaging in a cute programme, we are engaging in neuro-scientifically re-wiring our generation!”
Dr Renee Rattray, senior manager, Learning, Development, Culture at The Jamaica National Group, who is managing the implementation of Science Genius Jamaica, said the aim of the project is not simply to excite students, but to assist them with the development of their confidence and ability to articulate rigorous science and maths content, given the continued under-performance in the subject.
Citing Ministry of Education data, she explained that Jamaican students have continued to achieve low passes in subjects, such as mathematics, chemistry and physics, with a mere 48 per cent of those sitting exams passing maths; 57 per cent, chemistry and 63 per cent, physics.
“The launch of Science Genius Jamaica is not a debate about the pros and cons of dancehall music, but rather an acceptance of its cultural power,” she underscored. “It is a power which we can harness, as Jamaicans, not merely for packaging it, as a product; but something, which we are demonstrating today, that can be used as a tool to speak to our children; and diversify how we teach and assist them to learn.”
Endorsing the project, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Floyd Green called the use of culture to reach students “genius.”
“What is undeniable is that dancehall touches us to our core, not only us here in Jamaica, but around the world…,” he said.  “If it is so powerful. If it is so impactful, shouldn’t we be using it?” he argued.

Emphasising the need for the country’s deeper involvement in scientific research and innovation to support development, Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, the Hon. Dr Andrew Wheatley, was confident that more students would be drawn to science and mathematics as a result of the project.
“Stopping the downward trend of performance in national CSEC science is something we are concerned about,” he said.  “And as we seek prosperity, in whatever way we define prosperity, it is critical that the sciences are not neglected,” he continued, and congratulated Dr Emdin and the JN Foundation for the initiative to improve the science performance of students.
Saffrey Brown, general manager, JN Foundation, indicated that Science Genius Jamaica was a continuation of the Foundation’s efforts to support the revolution of education in Jamaica.
“We are living in a Jamaica, and indeed a world, that begs for ‘difference.’  We are using a method of teaching that begs for ‘difference’ and our teachers are charged with molding minds that are ‘different’,” she said, pointing to the need for change to achieve better results.
“We know that the decline of interest in science among students is a worrying trend, therefore, we are doing something about it,” Miss Brown said.
Beyond enriching education, Professor Emdin, who is also aptly referred to in the US as the Hip-Hop Professor, said the project also has the potential to expand the source of content for dancehall music.
“We are going to change dancehall, not to change the core of it and the beauty of it; but, we want to expand dancehall to make intelligence cool again,” he commented, emphasising that one can achieve a balance between dancehall culture and academia.
“You can be scientifically swaggerific!” he quipped.
“You can imagine a whole new world for yourself that’s beyond the possibilities that anyone else created before you,” he implored students.

See the original article here!

Jamaica National (JN) Foundation has collaborated with Mathematics and Science Professor at Columbia University, Christopher Emdin, to launch its ‘Science Genius Jamaica’ education project, which fuses dancehall music with science.
The project was officially launched during a function held at The Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday (February 22).
Whereas Science Genius uses hip-hop music in the United States to reach students, Science Genius Jamaica will use dancehall music to bring the subject to life for students and teachers in an exciting ‘dancehall clash’ competition that is geared at helping them to explore and discover the wonders of science.
Senior Manager, Learning, Development and Culture at JN Group, Dr. Renée Rattray, said the initiative aims to inspire the confidence of students by using music and culture to get them more enthused about learning.
“As part of the broader science movement initiated by Chris (Prof. Emdin) in New York schools a few years ago, our project aims to connect youth culture with education, so that learning the rigourous content of mathematics and science becomes more effortless for young people,” Dr. Rattray said.
She noted that data show that students are not performing as well as they should in mathematics and the core science subjects. She said the pass rate for Mathematics is 48 per cent; Chemistry, 57 per cent; and Physics, 63 per cent.
“The influence of dancehall on our young people is a no-brainer. It is our popular culture and its influences, today, extend beyond class boundaries and country borders. It is like the air our children breathe,” she said.
Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, welcomed the project, noting that it is intended to convert students into science lovers through the use of popular culture.
“I thank the JN Group and its Foundation for setting an excellent precedence in public-private sector partnership in assisting in the rescue mission of science and mathematics in Jamaica. So let me say thank you for your efforts in birthing the new generation of scientists, mathematicians, statisticians, engineers, botanists – both girls and boys,” Dr. Wheatley said.
He also thanked Professor Emdin for taking the time to come to Jamaica to introduce his model of fusing popular music with science and mathematics education.
“Importantly, and as the educators have stated, this new fusion approach brings the sciences and the arts together and, in the land of reggae and dancehall I believe it will reap positive results in the near future and improve the national Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Science performance,” he noted.
State Minister for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green also commended the JN Group for its inititiave.
“We all recongnise now that no one cap fits all and no one size fits all and you have to take different approaches if you are going to truly connect with your students,” Mr. Green said.
Meanwhile, Professor Emdin noted that by merging dancehall to science “you are retraining the brain of youth who are embedded in dancehall, to reimagine themselves as scientists”.
“We are engaging in not just a cute programme; we are engaging in rewiring our generation,” Professor Emdin said.
Under the project, grade-nine students and teachers will be invited to submit videos to the JN Foundation Team by Tuesday, February 28.
Teachers and students will be coached over a five-week period to create and deliver dancehall and reggae songs with purely scientific content.
Project Ambassadors Tifa and Wayne Marshall will visit the schools and mentor students and teachers as well as assist them with the development of their songs.
In the final phase, teams will engage in classical dancehall clashes called BATTLES, an acronym for Bringing Attention to Transforming Teaching, Learning and Engagement in Science.
The five best schools and five top individual students will move on to the final round of BATTLES, where they will be judged by a team comprised of the project mentors, other professionals from the music industry, scientists and educators.
Teachers and students will compete for cash, laptops, among other prizes. The winning school will also receive funds for its science labs.

See the original article here!

Founded in 1874 on the concept of a social enterprise, the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), through its philanthropic arm, the JN Foundation, has channeled its vision to propel the social enterprise sector in Jamaica as a significant contributor to socio-economic development.
The financial institution, which converted to JN Bank on February 1, continues to place emphasis on maintaining and growing its member base, who share in the ownership of the institution, benefit from competitive products and service offerings, as well as philanthropic efforts aimed at building communities and empowering Jamaicans.
Demonstrating its vision and belief in the impact of social enterprises on a country’s economic outcome, after launching the Social Enterprise Boost Initiative (SEBI) in 2013, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the JN Foundation has solidified and created opportunities for social business ventures to become sustainable enterprises, while serving their social missions.
Eight social enterprises generated more than $37 million in revenue during the first phase of a three-year pilot. And with a current incubator comprising 21 social pioneers, Opal Whyte, project manager, of SEBI, said the programme has yielded positive results, which have significantly increased the visibility and growth of the sector.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the SEBI Summit at Jamaica Pegasus on Monday, January 30, Whyte emphasised the role of social enterprises in creating avenues for many groups including those living with a disability, those marginalised in underserved communities and others.

SOCIAL CHANGE
“Through SEBI, we are investing in social missions and long-term change. We are working to create an enabling environment for social enterprises to finance and grow their business, as well as increase the number of people they serve in their respective communities.”
Referring to the current batch of SEBI participants as “innovators”, Whyte revealed that 30 per cent of the enterprises in the incubator are “owned and operated by persons living with a disability”.
“Young deaf men are gainfully employed and affirming their identities and role in society. We also have change-makers who are transforming their mobility challenges into a business, which provides mobility impaired services and consultation to access buildings.”
Encouraging support for the social sector, the SEBI advocate emphasised the need for buy-in from the wider society to further boost the sector.

See the original article here!

KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Jamaica National (JN) Foundation has collaborated with Mathematics and Science Professor at Columbia University, Christopher Emdin, to launch its Science Genius Jamaica education project, which fuses dancehall music with science.
The project was officially launched during a function held at The Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday.
Whereas Science Genius uses hip-hop music in the United States to reach students, Science Genius Jamaica will use dancehall music to bring the subject to life for students and teachers in an exciting dancehall clash competition that is geared at helping them to explore and discover the wonders of science.
Senior Manager, Learning, Development and Culture at JN Group, Dr Renée Rattray, said the initiative aims to inspire the confidence of students by using music and culture to get them more enthused about learning.

“As part of the broader science movement initiated by Chris (Prof Emdin) in New York schools a few years ago, our project aims to connect youth culture with education, so that learning the rigourous content of mathematics and science becomes more effortless for young people, Dr Rattray said.

She noted that data show that students are not performing as well as they should in mathematics and the core science subjects. She said the pass rate for Mathematics is 48 per cent; Chemistry, 57 per cent; and Physics, 63 per cent.
The influence of dancehall on our young people is a no-brainer. It is our popular culture and its influences, today, extend beyond class boundaries and country borders. It is like the air our children breathe, she said.
Under the project, grade-nine students and teachers will be invited to submit videos to the JN Foundation Team by next Tuesday.
Teachers and students will be coached over a five-week period to create and deliver dancehall and reggae songs with purely scientific content.
Project Ambassadors Tifa and Wayne Marshall will visit the schools and mentor students and teachers as well as assist them with the development of their songs.
In the final phase, teams will engage in classical dancehall clashes called BATTLES, an acronym for Bringing Attention to Transforming Teaching, Learning and Engagement in Science.
The five best schools and five top individual students will move on to the final round of BATTLES, where they will be judged by a team comprised of the project mentors, other professionals from the music industry, scientists and educators.
Teachers and students will compete for cash, laptops, among other prizes. The winning school will also receive funds for its science labs.

See the original article here!

The use of dancehall and reggae music in teaching mathematics and the sciences has been credited by Floyd Green, minister of state in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, as a suitable means to deliver the detailed concepts of two of the most difficult subject areas at the secondary level.
Green made the disclosure while speaking with The Gleaner at the launch of the Jamaica National (JN) Foundation Science Genius Jamaica (SGJ) project at the Knutsford Court Hotel in St Andrew yesterday.
The brainchild of Dr Chris Emdin, professor at Columbia University in New York, United States, SGJ is geared towards increasing student interest in the sciences, ease engagement by teachers, and create a space where pop culture is synonymous with learning.
“This will enhance and complement the National Standards Curriculum. The curriculum focuses on different forms of delivery as you have to find different ways to engage different students. Debate of negativity or positivity aside, what is important is the undoubted power dancehall has to connect and impact our young people. So the question is, how do we use it for good?” said Green.
 
FIND NEW WAYS
 
“We’ve had difficulty getting students to the level that we want with maths and science over the years, and those subjects are critical components to the now economy and technology, so we have to find new ways. We’re happy that JN, as a private partner, has decided to try this new delivery, and the ministry endorses it,” the state minister continued.
“Almost as soon as you put out a dancehall song and it’s catchy and creative, the young people grasp it. Imagine if they can do that with scientific theory? That would help them greatly with retention, which would translate to application.”
Grade nine students were identified as the focal point of the SGJ, as crucial subject selections are usually made at that stage, according to RenÈe Rattray, senior manager of learning, development, and culture at JN, who spearheads the project.
 
PROJECT OUTLINE
 
– Project is titled #DancehallEd.
– Grade nine students and teachers from all schools across Jamaica can participate in the project.
– Students and teachers are to submit videos creatively conveying aspects of mathematics and science through songs.
– They will compete in clashes.
– The best 20 will get a spot in the project.
– Submissions are to be made by February 28.
– Individual and collective school prizes will be awarded, including upgrade of science labs.
– Students will receive mentorship from entertainers to reaffirm the notion that they can combine knowledge with contemporary style.

See the original story here!

Dancehall meets sciences will be a thing in Jamaica very soon.
Dancehall is perhaps the most dominant part of Jamaican culture particularly among the young generation and what better way to connect with youths than through music. Professor Christopher Emdin and JN Foundation are teaming up to launch a new academic project which will utilizes dancehall music to help push science among youngsters.
Professor Emdin is the mastermind of the popular Science Genius B.A.T.T.L.E.S in the Unites States where he teamed up with Rap Genius and GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan to help push science through hip hop music. Kendrick Lamar is also a part of the initiative known as #HipHopEd and the movement is having a lot of success in the United States. The of this as the dancehall version in Jamaica called #DancehallEd.
The Science Genius Jamaica programme will launch a series of dancehall clashes in Jamaica with the aim to energize students interested in science programs cross the island. “There is declining academic interest and performance in science and maths, and this is something that we need to address as a matter of urgency, even as we speak about improving our economic outcomes,” JN Foundation said in a statement.
Jamaica National Group senior manager, learning, development and culture, Dr Renee Rattray, will be leading the Science Genius Jamaica project. “Our Science Genius Jamaica competitions will mirror the clashes we are already familiar with in the Jamaican dancehall, as individual students and teams participate in an opening round. The top five students and teams from that round will move to the final round,” Dr Rattray said.

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