Designing Culturally Relevant Hip-Hop Curriculum to Support Participation of STEM Students of Color

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 15
  In Roundtable Session: Culturally Sustaining Hip-Hop Pedagogies Across the Disciplines

Abstract

Difficulty in retaining students of color in STEM has resulted in lower persistence and graduation rate compared to their peers. This lack of diversity in STEM fields can hinder needed innovation within the STEM pipeline. Increasing participation and retention of students of color in STEM requires researchers and practitioners to design and use pedagogical methods that connect STEM content and underrepresented students’ lived experiences. This study examines the design and integration of hip-hop pedagogy as part of a summer research experience curriculum meant to promote the interest and retention of incoming STEM scholars of color. In this presentation, we will explain how hip-hop pedagogy can be designed and implemented to increase early engagement and belongingness of STEM students of color.

Authors

• Jessica McClain, Indiana University - Bloomington

• Rebecca Colina Neri, Indiana University Bloomington