Integrating Elements of Hip Hop and Digital Learning to Enhance Student Engagement in the English Language Subject: A Bahamian Context
Date
2024-04-30
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Abstract
Educational leaders are called to foster engaging classroom activities to address the learning needs of students across the Bahamas. However, the multiplicity of social, economic, and cultural challenges students face in the country is still a factor in the declining scores of the Bahamas Junior Certificate (BJC) English Language Exam, for instance. Thinking of the need to improve junior school-level language education, this scholarship draws on the need for educational practitioners to shift their attention to teaching practices and principles that incorporate learning methods that will enhance students’ engagement. Following a Hip-hop Based Education, the presented discussions touch base on innovative and creative ways to incorporate digital platforms to increase engagement levels of students, and consequently their improvement in the country’s national certificate exam. Literature suggests hip-hop has become a popular tool to improve student-teacher relationships, promote critical thinking and creativity, and enhance cultural awareness. Within the digital context, educational stakeholders have accessed broader implementation strategies that allow educators to work toward equipping students with contextualized skills, knowledge, and attitudes to thrive both inside the classrooms and in society. This qualitative case study further explores hip-hop use in the Bahamian context and how educators have been critically committed to helping change the current national certificate results among their students. Through the analysis of semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion, the study's participating educators have shown that the English Language can create personal and professional growth opportunities for Bahamian students. Hence, their commitment to enhancing students’ classroom engagement is an alternative to critically contributing to students’ successes. Keywords: hip-hop, student engagement, academic performance, student performance, digital learning
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Keywords
hip-hop, student engagement, academic performance, student performance
Citation
Cambridge, J. (2024). Integrating elements of hip hop and digital learning to enhance student engagement in the English language subject: a Bahamian context (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.