Slide 1

Using Hip-Hop to Increase GEAR UP Students Knowledge of College Access, Acceptance, Enrollment and Excellence By: Letrez A. Myer, M.A., Tamatha Brown, & James C. Milligan Slide 2 GEAR UP Goal Alignment Demographic of Students Constructing the Lessons Making it Fun Presentation & Partnership Surveys &Incentives Benefits Showcasing Talents See it in Action Lesson Plan & Video Questions & Answers Slide 3 Increase GEAR UP students and their families knowledge of postsecondary education options, preparation and financing LSU GEAR UP Specific Objectives Increase knowledge of GU students and families about: Cost of Louisiana postsecondary institutions Requirements to enter Louisiana postsecondary institutions Financial aid available for Louisiana postsecondary institutions Slide 4 8 th and 9 th grade students Age range: 14 16 years old Large population of student body in GEAR UP cohort Urban area schools Baker High Belaire High Robert E. Lee High Scotlandville High Students expressed interest in presentation style Slide 5 Assess goals What is the desired end result? What information is needed to meet the goal? Gathering Materials Websites Brochures Guidance Counselors Colleges/Universities/Community Colleges Fact Finding Cannot include everything MUST include information that meets your goal Preparing the Presentation Powerpoint presentation with necessary information One page handouts Condense for students Slide 6 Slide 7 Students not interested in PowerPoint Created themes Used partnership with YWCA Parent liaison also a mentor and motivational speaker Able to put into an interesting format i.e., basketball Sweet 16 Three-pointer Fast Break Created one pagers Condensed information for students Set information to music Students expressed interest in raps after pilot presentation Wrote lyrics and composed beats Slide 8 Needed to reach 40% of students Chose schools that had high concentration of GEAR UP cohort Baker, Belaire, Lee and Scotlandville Population: Approximately 850 of the 1400 student cohort Needed to use the school day Meetingwith principals and 9 th grade Academy Coordinators Four days (Mon-Thurs) to accomplish three lessons Agreed not to interrupt major courses English, Math, Science and Social Studies Some principals utilized English classes All students required to take Education for Careers Course Utilized this course; aligned with course goals Approximately 45-50 minutes Slide 9 Surveys Assess the students knowledge Goal: 40% of the students and families will KNOW information Develop questions that assess memory Meet APR Goals All grants require students & families to have college-access information Surveys reflect this Incentives Encourage student participation Encourage students to return parent surveys Slide 10 Building student relationships College-aged presenter Music style easily relatable Break from traditional classroom style Advertising Tutoring MySpace & Bebo sites Summer College Tours GEAR UP Camps New Students Students not in program want to join Slide 11 Students get opportunities to perform: Summer program graduation For parents at awards banquets Talent show performances Created a rap video Looking into getting students on morning news show Slide 12 Lesson materials Demonstration of lesson Performance of rap Slide 13 Visit www.gearup.lsu.edu for more informationwww.gearup.lsu.edu Letrez A. Myer, M.A. Program Coordinator LetrezM@lsu.edu LetrezM@lsu.edu James Milligan Event Coordinator/Mentor JMilli2@lsu.edu JMilli2@lsu.edu Tamatha Brown GEAR UP Advisor tamathab@lsu.edu Office Phone: 225.578.1751 ?