WHAT TO EXPECT FROM RTSB IN 2021?
Specifically for our Youth Conference, since we cannot host this conference in person, we are inviting teachers, practitioners, artists, and educators to submit videos ranging anywhere between 5-15 minutes to be placed on our main Rock The School Bells website for youth, students, teachers, and the community to easily access at any time. You will also have an opportunity to work with our video production team to ensure you are supported throughout the process. We want to ensure an amazing viewing experience for our youth and students.
RTSB 14 invites proposals for video workshops focused on, but not limited to, each of the 5 elements of Hip Hop (emcee, DJ/turntablism, b-boy/g-girl, aerosol writing, and knowledge), including its sub-categories such as fashion, entrepreneurship, and beatboxing. In addition, we invite video proposals that share unique and inspiring stories related to Hip Hop in the form of Rap Chats (our version of Ted Talks). While we want to provide video workshops that illustrate the different elements of Hip Hop, it is equally important to share stories to show the impact Hip Hop has on many people's lives.
THEME: RTSB UNIVERSE
SPACE OF INFINITE POSSIBILITIES
"While educators and teachers within specific disciplines call themselves content experts, it is very important to acknowledge that our youth and students are context experts."
Rock the School Bells is proud to present our 14th season in the form of a Digital & Virtual Conference with events and workshops spanned throughout the months of March and April. This year's theme is: RTSB Universe: Space of Infinite Possibilities. Given the virtual, mental, and environmental "space" that we are living in, this theme is very appropriate as it provides opportunities to address topics that impact youth and students, higher education, and Hip Hop culture as a whole.
Drawing from the theme above:
In what ways are we creating a space for students to dream big and dream out loud?
What kind of space are we creating to allow for creative expression and entrepreneurial thinking?
For educators, how will our curricular content and pedagogical approaches change and adapt when we purposefully center our students' voices and experiences?
How are we redefining our educational space to serve and support our students equitably?
How are we addressing challenges our students are facing as a result of the racial and environmental pandemic?
What can higher education institutions learn from Hip Hop culture and education in regards to social-emotional learning in a virtual space?
Hip Hop as a culture has always been youth-driven. It emanates an energy that is raw, gritty, and unapologetic. It is a culture that resonates with communities of color all over the world. Yet, our educational systems remain standard.
Our youth and students have so much to say! So, it is up to us to create SPACE OF INFINITE POSSIBILITIES!
Please Note - We will not deny workshops that do not follow this year’s theme. However, we will prioritize workshops that integrate:
1) One of the Hip Hop elements
2) This year’s theme, “SPACE OF INFINITE POSSIBILITIES”
3) Clear topics and stories that articulate the impact and power of Hip Hop in their lives
RTSB values the diversity and uniqueness of workshop proposal submissions. As such, we will highly consider workshops related to health and fitness, sustainability, career and technical education, and/or social justice.
Lastly, while RTSB is institutionally funded, our resources are becoming increasingly limited especially since we have shifted into complete online teaching and learning. Our annual conferences are organized by a volunteer-based team and in order for us to continue offering academic scholarships and no-cost conferences, we are humbly asking facilitators to volunteer their time and efforts without a monetary stipend. We know that these are financially challenging times for people, organizations, and institutions--we are honored and incredibly thankful to have a generous community of supporters.
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: Thursday March 4 , 2021
For all questions related to the Video Workshops, please email Bing at bing@rocktheschoolbells.com.