A cornerstone of strong project-based learning is incorporating experts and authentic audiences into the student learning experience in a rigorous and purposeful way. In Springpoint’s work with our partner schools, we have helped schools conceptualize and develop these cornerstone touchpoints and reach out to local and national experts.

Springpoint modeled this concept for our partners last fall. Aiming to provide an authentic learning experience, we contacted slam poets and slam venues. Through this outreach, we invited two slam poets, Jamele Adams and Usman Hameedi, to join us in Boston. These slam champions performed at the event and led our partners through a slam poetry unit to give them a rich professional development experience and show them how experts can be incorporated into learning experiences.

Usman performs “My Name is Usman” at AVMC in New York via Write About Now Poetry.

These past several months, with COVID-19 creating innumerable challenges, we have also been supporting many of our partners around remote teaching and learning practices. A bright side of remote learning is that it broadens the field of possibility for which experts schools can invite into their classrooms. For example, our partners at Opportunity Academy in Holyoke, MA connected with Usman as they embarked on our slam poetry unit this fall. Usman is serving as the expert for the unit and students are reading, watching, and analyzing his slam poetry too.

To kick off this partnership, Springpoint coach Christy Kingham teamed up with Usman and School Design Lead, Geoffrey Schmidt to set a vision for the collaboration. Each unit starts with an entry event intended to hook students and get them deeply interested in the topic. The entry event often asks students to jump right into an activity that will get them excited and preview the unit. The slam poetry unit featured Usman’s performance as well as an analysis and writing activity. He fired students up, talking about the history of slam and its activist roots.

Usman joins Opportunity Academy students virtually for a slam poetry kick off event

“Oh my gosh, [Usman] was so good,” said Naya, a student at Opportunity Academy. “His poems were really inspiring, and the way that he gave us an opportunity to write and to share…was really empowering. I loved being able to just see how he performs the poems that we read, and even seen on videos. It was better seeing him do it live.”

As the unit progresses, Usman will coach students on their own writing, helping them to become comfortable with the elements of slam poetry and helping them to improve their writing and performance skills. He will also work with students one on one and in small groups as students write and perform their own pieces.

“It was very cool being taught by someone who is really an expert at what we are learning,” said Isaiah, another student at Opportunity Academy. “I never had an experience to learn from a master. You should make more of your classes like that.”

“The impact on students from learning from an expert the caliber of Usman is apparent in the thoughts they shared about the kick-off event,” said Geoffrey Schmidt, School Design Lead at Opportunity Academy. “By not only being exposed to authentic expertise in a class like this, but to have opportunities to then share their work, and revise their work under the mentorship of an expert like Usman, has been an altering experience in their schooling. They now see themselves as worthy of opportunities like this.”

Geoffrey continued: “Many of the students who are excelling in this class have struggled in traditional schools and started to form an identity that they were not meant for high-quality authentic learning.”

We sat down (via Zoom) with Usman to hear more about the experience from his perspective and what drove some of his strategies and focus areas.

Springpoint: Thank you for speaking with us today Usman! And thank you for your work with our partner schools, particularly during a challenging time. Due to the ongoing pandemic, you have been joining classes with Opportunity Academy remotely. How is this different from in person slam poetry work and teaching that you have done?

Usman: Well, this is a challenging time for everyone. But I have been inspired by the educators who are putting in the effort for students and responding to these challenging times. Doing a slam poetry unit remotely makes it a little more difficult to bring the energy I normally would. I had to practice shouting at my computer a few times to get the feel for it.

Students were shy at first during the kick-off event. Ultimately, they warmed up and wanted to share. I tried to model the level energy of energy that slam poetry deserves and I got the sense that students immediately felt that.

And of course, there are some benefits to doing this work remotely. Students can turn camera off their cameras if they are nervous to speak in front of a group. It is a good way to help shy students participate. Also, people can Zoom in from anywhere. It’s easier to schedule and means that I can work with this school even though it’s about two hours from where I live.

Springpoint: What was the kick-off event like?

Usman: Geoffrey, Christy, and I planned it out very intentionally. It was tricky because activities that may make sense in person, didn’t virtually. But the virtual format meant we could do other things better. For example, I try not to have a PowerPoint presentation in person but on Zoom, everyone is looking at the computer anyway so it is a great tool in the remote space.

I wanted to be sure to show everyone diverse videos, both in terms of which poets we watched and the type of works we saw. For example, one poem was a group piece focused on the importance of extended metaphors. Another incorporated singing in English and Spanish. After each video, I would have a fluid debrief with the students, discussing what they noticed and what they found powerful. Students responded with all the things I wanted them to pick up on. We also did an open mic and a Q&A.

Springpoint: What was your personal preparation process like?

Usman: In addition to practicing, I first got really clear on the goals for the event, especially thinking about what I want students to walk away with. I have a lot of content from my years in the slam poetry world so I selected poems based on those goals. I also made sure that there was a lot of diverse representation so that the poems and performances would resonate with many students no matter where they are coming from.

I also always ask myself: What would I have needed to see when I was a student? And then, of course, I had to factor in that we are doing this virtually.

Mostly, I am just really inspired and thankful for getting to work with students. It felt like a break from the norm and a really welcome change of pace.

Springpoint: Why are excited to be working with students right now?

Usman: When it comes to poetry and performance art it can be overwhelming to simply go on YouTube and search. It is important to have a guidance in that exploration. I want to make sure that students see enough of what is out there that they can be inspired by many forms of slam and then create something of their own; I don’t want them to perform or write like someone else.

I also lend an authentic perspective and voice, and bring my years of experience. I love to help young people find their voices. I also enjoy connecting with anyone engaged in slam poetry and working with students one on one is going to be an especially enjoyable means of engagement.

Springpoint: Tell us about a time when working with an expert that had a big impact on you.

Usman: The first person that comes to mind is Jamele. He taught me that poetry can be learned and done outside of slam spaces. He is the dean of students at Brandeis University and an incredible slam poet. He creates a lot of intentional points for those two worlds to overlap and makes higher education relatable for students. Plus his repertoire is unmatched. There are poets and deans but there is only one Jamele.

He has a system that makes sense. The fact that he is an educator enriches his writing. That had an impact on me because I am also a scientist; I like tangible solutions and figuring things out. He showed me how you can bring many dimensions together to create something amazing and beautiful.

Springpoint: What advice do you have for educators or aspiring poets who are adapting to this remote reality?

Usman: Be positive even though it might be weird and uncomfortable for you – which it was for me at first. You have to be patient with yourself and practice.

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Usman can be reached at uhameedi@gmail.com and you can find a brief selection of his work here:

• Watch “My Name is Usman” performed by Usman at AVMC in New York via Write About Now Poetry.
• Watch “College Admissions” performed by Usman via Button Poetry.
• Read Hierloom by Usman Hameedi

On October 27 at 1pm, Springpoint and two of our partner schools will host a break out session during Aurora Institute’s first virtual symposium. It is free so please join us to learn even more about this work and how schools can set up structures and plan for this engaging work. Register here.