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

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

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

8th and 9th grade students Age range: 14 – 16 years old Large population of student body in

GEAR UP cohort Urban area schools

Baker HighBelaire HighRobert E. Lee HighScotlandville High

Students expressed interest in presentation style

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

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

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 9th 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

SurveysAssess the students’ knowledge

Goal: 40% of the students and families will KNOW information

Develop questions that assess memoryMeet APR Goals

All grants require students & families tohave college-access information

Surveys reflect this

IncentivesEncourage student participationEncourage students to return parent

surveys

Building student relationshipsCollege-aged presenterMusic style easily relatableBreak from traditional classroom style

AdvertisingTutoringMySpace & Bebo sitesSummer College ToursGEAR UP Camps

New StudentsStudents not in program want to join

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

Lesson materials

Demonstration of lesson

Performance of rap

Visit www.gearup.lsu.edu for more information

Letrez A. Myer, M.A.Program CoordinatorLetrezM@lsu.edu

James MilliganEvent Coordinator/MentorJMilli2@lsu.edu

Tamatha BrownGEAR UP Advisortamathab@lsu.edu

Office Phone: 225.578.1751

?