From Dr. Jeff Goldstein
Center Director, National Center for Earth and Space Science Education
Institute Director, Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education
on Twitter: @doctorjeff
A request to teachers –
After my keynote address to 6,000 teachers of science at the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) National Conference in 2011, I worked with John Boswell at Symphony of Science to create two short (3-min) auto-tuned music videos. The first, was for teachers everywhere, called We’ve Got to be That Light (see below), which apparently has been used at hundreds of briefings for teaching staff at the start of each new school year since 2012. The second, a Sense of Majesty, which was never completed (until now) was for students, meant to capture what human exploration and learning are all about, and to help in some small way to inspire this next generation.
Below is the audio track for A Sense of Majesty. Before marrying to the final video, we wanted to test the message with teachers. Please listen if you have a few minutes, and if you’re moved to do so, please leave a comment below and let me know what you think.
The very best wishes for the end of the 2014-15 academic year,
Jeff
also a ps–
We are in the midst of on-boarding school districts interested in coming aboard America’s and Canada’s Space Program (really) – the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) Mission 9 to the International Space Station (ISS), with program operations in participating communities starting on September 7, 2015. Immerse a couple hundred standouts in your community in every facet of real microgravity experiment design and proposal writing, and one of your stunted team experiments will launch to ISS. For information on how to come aboard, visit http://ssep.ncesse.org
FOR STUDENTS – A SENSE OF MAJESTY TESTBED AUDIO TRACK
FOR TEACHERS – WE’VE GOT TO BE THAT LIGHT
Oh my. Your passion for your student teared me up. I think students will hear your message. Great vehicle reach them.
Very powerful message!! Student will certainly hear it. I just wish we could students. Instead of the adult talking to the students it would be even stronger if students were talking among themselves (saying “we”). I might use the teacher’s video for my school if it’s ok with you. Keep the passion alive, it really makes a difference.
Lyrics seem mostly ok but if this is geared towards students then the music /tune could use some work. It sounds like an 80’s Christian rock tune and really needs a funky rhythm to grab kids’ attention and be memorable.
What age gp is it for? Primary kids wld like it, not sure it’s ‘hip’ enough for over 12s. Also the ‘hook’ needs to be more memorable. My lasting impression is the word ‘vista’ and I’m not sure what that is! Have you considered tapping into Will I Am’s philanthropic projects? I’ve read that he is very keen to promote education and especially links with Science; it may just be something he could help with?? All the best with your project. Not my area at all but as a Drama teacher I’ve just written a short script with the theme, ‘A Voyage of Discovery; Into The Beyond’ funnily enough!
I too am left remembering the word “vista” and not a catchy chorus to recall. I imagine my high schoolers who are used to listening to Chris Brown and Kendrick Lamar would find the “singer’s” voice unrelatable and old, and would dismiss it.
For what level student is this intended? The words may not hit younger students. I think of my 3rd graders and they would miss much of it. Older students may be put off by the music track. It sounds “aged” in a way that may lose them where they will not think it is important. The message is wonderful.