The SingAboutScience.org database: An educational resource for instructors and students

• Published in: Biochemistry and molecular biology education Vol. 40; no. 1; pp. 19 - 22
• Main Author: Crowther, Gregory J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.01.2012; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Biochemistry; Biology songs; College Faculty; Correlation; Educational Resources; Internet; Learner Engagement; Majors (Students); Mathematics Education; Molecular Biology; Music; music database; Music Education; Science Education; sing about science; Teaching Methods; Undergraduate Students; Universities
• ISSN: 1470-8175; 1539-3429
• DOI: 10.1002/bmb.20567

Potential benefits of incorporating music into science and math curricula include enhanced recall of information, counteraction of perceptions that the material is dull or impenetrable, and opportunities for active student engagement and creativity. To help instructors and others find songs suited to their needs, I created the “Math And Science Song Information, Viewable Everywhere” database in March of 2004. Recently rebranded as the SingAboutScience.org database, it now covers >5,500 songs varying widely in topic and grade level. Website visitors may search the database using such criteria as keywords from lyrics, performer/songwriter names, and age ranges targeted by songs. Changes in the database's contents over the past 7 years suggest that the online availability of educational songs has increased greatly during this period. College biochemistry and molecular biology instructors can use the database to find songs covering core concepts for majors and nonmajors as well as relevant material from related subjects, such as physics and mathematics. In offering teachers and students a menu of existing scientific songs, the database may inspire some of them to create additional content‐rich music.