Using music videos to teach science
The Glycolysis Rap (below) is a must-see for any biology or biochemistry enthusiast :)
If "rap" isn't your musical style of choice, then perhaps Mr. W's song on the Krebs Cycle is your taste. By the way, his music downloads are available for purchase.
Some of our very own students have used their creative talents to disseminate scientific knowledge. One of the very first submissions I had for any of my classes came from a couple of my students in Organic Chemistry 1 who decided to write a song concerning my take on explaining the inverse relationship between chemical reactivity and selectivity (i.e. the "submarine" parable that every student in Orgo seems to always remember....).
The submission below, concerning glycolysis from Biochemistry, used the juxtaposition of pictures and objects for "subliminal messaging".
We have had biochemistry students in the past also use other methods to demonstrate the scientific topic. Some of them have been quite interesting--interpretive dance, finger puppets, sword fighting, and even Legos (see below).
Of course, it is difficult to top the "We Are The World" parody of "The PCR Song" by the BioRad scientists...it cracks me up every time I watch it.
Have there been any videos that, even though they were made for fun, you found educational or beneficial in pursuing your studies? Feel free to share them in the comments section below and explain what it is about them that you thought rocked. (Pun intended.)
As always, I'm looking forward to this semester's video extra credit submissions....
Glycolysis! Come on sugar, come on sugar for the breakdown!!!!! YAAAAS!
ReplyDeleteThat really awkward moment when you think these are hilarious and so you show your friends laughing and they just stare blankly at the screen because they don't understand...
ReplyDeleteI am choosing to comment again on the beauty of these videos. 1. Because I like extra credit and 2. because I find myself singing these songs in the middle of class...All The Time! I admit that it did help me remember general aspects of glycolysis for the biochem exam.
ReplyDeletePHSO is Mariah Isaacs...Sorry.
ReplyDeleteI really liked Ciarra, Heather, and Preston's video from orgo last semester. So well done! I found Matt Selmer's extra credit video 'Build me up insulin, baby' to be hilarious also.
ReplyDeleteOn a more serious note, I have googled videos to help me understand NMR problems. I found Frank Wong's youtube channel (below) to be very helpful, as they show the process step-by-step in an easy to understand manner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Uy7GiRaV2A
Prof. Wolkenfeld is quite the musical artist. He emanates the street jives of Macklemore blended with the pleasant solicitude of easy-listening elevator music. He has that perfect balance of aptitude and vivacity that one can only find in the most experienced of teachers. These songs are extremely helpful for understanding scientific concepts and for making science “sexy.” If I could meet Prof. Wolkenfeld personally, I would shake his hand and then take him to a nice burger joint. I hope he makes many more of these videos in the years to come.
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ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed listening to the glycolysis rap when I was preparing for the quiz and exam in biochemistry where they were covered it. It was a nice way to take a break from studying to relax while still being semi-productive. It also made me laugh which helped me to calm down and study more efficiently instead of stressing out. However, I usually do not study using songs because I end up remembering the tune more than the words that I need for the test! But, I admire the creativity that the people who make these videos employ to further science and humanity.
ReplyDeleteI think video lessons and music videos are great way to learn topics. Most of can remember lyrics of songs after listing to it for the first couple of times. I think making music videos for topics would benefit those making it as well as anybody else that chooses to watch it. I personally like to watch different videos on YouTube to learn or relearn topics for organic chemistry. It makes the learning process fun and enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteThe videos are always a great way to learn harder material. When watching them I'm usually looking more for just content than anything else. Adding music to the videos helps a little, but I am more likely to remember the content if it is shown to me in a different. Either way, making the extra credit videos are always a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteI always remember topics and material better when they are put into a jingle. I surmise that if Dr. Daystorms made rap videos about organic chemistry, then the test score average would increase. I'm sure this method of teaching could also be a great avenue for some faith integration. I can hear it now...*beat boxing in the background*...You form the T.I., you collapse the T.I., break it down, obliterate it, cast it out in the name of Jesus...weekee, weekee, Word.
ReplyDeleteThese kind of videos have always helped me when looking for alternative ways to remember certain material. Different people learn in different ways. I'm a visual and auditory learner, so this method of studying really helps me, specially when it comes to overcoming the language barrier.
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that some teachers motivate their students to do projects like these. It helps students get out of their comfort zone and use "their other side of the brain" (creativity) to make different connections between theory, lyrics and rhythm.
The most memorable song I've heard from a professor was Dr. Abraham's cell song! I bet all of those who heard it, remember it!
I came across this song to memorize the 20 different amino acids. This will probably help those who are taking biochemistry next semester. (Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMgBM54tCUI ) Enjoy! Specially his 'great' vocals!
Being both a visual and an audial learner, I find music videos very helpful to learn from. I still have the quadratic formula song stuck in my head sometimes. Sometimes during tests I'll play songs in my mind or think of pictures in my mind and try to work my way through the answer. Although songs can be helpful, I must say not all educational music videos are helpful because some students made music videos that are confusing or have mumbly words thrown together. I think the key to a good educational music video is a short, simple, catchy tune that can work its way into getting stuck in students' heads.
ReplyDeleteThese videos are great! I am a very visual learner, so the use of diagrams and animations in teaching concepts are much more effective. Songs and jingles are also very effective in memorizing large lists of information. The more annoying or silly it is, the easier it is to remember (or the harder it is to forget). I'd love to hear a rap by Dr. Day-Storms this year!
ReplyDeleteWith being an extremely visual learner, videos like the ones above help me a great deal. I have a hard time just straight memorizing information, however, when that information is presented in a tune, I can actually retain it. Therefore, I personally believe educational videos to be helpful.
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ReplyDeleteThese videos are awesome. They are interesting, educative and fun to watch. I love music so much, so this is great way for me to have fun and learn at the same time! I can still remember the first 20 elements rap song my teacher taught me at high school. I will definitely search for interesting videos like these that will help with my science classes this year
ReplyDeleteI find this videos amazing! Sometimes is really hard to remember things that are not easily relatable. This songs and videos make learning more interesting than just reading information from a textbook. This is one of the perks of technology.
ReplyDeleteWhat if I told you I have used Mr. W's to help me study before? lol Yeah, like I said last week I love anything that can help me, or other students, learn complicated science material in an easy manner. Besides the Lord himself and my science textbooks, youtube has been my goto for studying just about anything!... Especially science. Probably the most notable videos that I can think of were not necessarily based around any simple fact (like the krebs cycle), but are more directed to inspire.
ReplyDeleteThey are actually a group of videos called the "Symphony of Science" and what it is is this guy "melodysheep" takes all these famous scientists (Carol Sagan, Neil deGrasse Tyson, David Attenborough, etc.) and autotunes them. As funny as it sounds they are done really well. I actually find myself listening to them when doing homework to get myself motivated! lol But also I see these as great tools for teachers to introduce their students to new subjects. Here is just one of the examples.
It is a very poetic look at advancements in space exploration. :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akek6cFRZfY
or this one about evolution (even though I don't agree with everything said in the video lol)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxDOpAM2FrQ
I just love listening to all the different songs discussing the beauty that is science. And here is where you can actually download the entire album "Symphony of Science" legally and free! :)
http://melodysheep.bandcamp.com/album/symphony-of-science-collectors-edition
In closing, that PCR video was brilliant! lol
I have always found these little jingles and songs quite humorous. One in particular which I have recently used is one which lists the first twenty elements of the periodic table in order https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUDDiWtFtEM unfortunately I found this video after the quiz, but better late than never. I think that these types of videos are great for those who are visual learners as well as those who are audio learners. As well as having the additional benefit of showing that science can also be fun.
ReplyDeleteI thought all these tunes or songs as a handy way to remember something. I usually try to find a pattern when I'm having to remember a list or some idea about something. But sometimes that doesn't work and finding these types of videos helps a lot. I've found videos like this handy for things like the periodic table and have used it for religion courses for naming the books in order. With YouTube now you have a lot of interesting ways to imply yourself to whatever your learning. Plus a catchy tune in your head is never a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteThese videos just brought me so much joy! I will definitely be looking for fun videos to help me learn different processes in the future. Also, Matthew Scales has a pretty boss song for Cell Respiration that he wrote in high school. I'm almost positive that Dr. Abraham has it as well. Anyway, I definitely want to make a fun and educational video now! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHaha thanks for sharing. The we are the world parody is priceless. It's always fun to see how students can correlate music to complex topics such as this. It makes it more enjoyable to learn and easier to learn. Even when I hear the song fancy, I can't help but to think of the parody my friends and i did last year. Not only can music help you retain, but in the past I have used sign language to help me retain certain information. Just a fun fact.
ReplyDeleteI love finding fun and creative ways to learn information. I especially love making up songs to learn things. In high school, I made a song about Cell Respiration. It was so much fun to make, and it allowed the knowledge to stick in my head better. When I came to Southeastern, Dr. Abraham found out I had the song and played it for the class when we were learning about Cell Respiration. I have also had friends that listened to the song and said that it helped.
ReplyDeleteI love music. If I had any musical talents or abilities, I would definitely be pursuing a career in music performance. However, I cannot even keep a beat for a long period of time, so I am studying science and medicine instead. I do love to make up songs and beats to memorize the material I am learning in my classes. It is extremely helpful as a memorization tool. Also, when a song gets "stuck in my head" then I am forced to think about the material even if I am not intentionally studying it.
ReplyDeleteAny aspect of learning that can incorporate creativity and make the learning more enjoyable is beneficial. It allows individuals to engage the information in different ways. I love it when professors incorporate youtube videos or others in classroom settings. When I was younger, my mom showed my sisters and I BrainPop videos as a supplement to our homeschool curriculum. I remember looking forward to the videos since they made learning fun. Videos like the PCR song can make complex topics relatively simple to understand, and easy to memorize. I believe using music videos, and other forms of music is a great method of teaching and learning.
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