'Gangnam Style' Science Video Engages Shaker Heights Students

Just like millions of other people, Shaker Heights High School science teacher Nathanael Hsu has seen the viral video "Gangnam Style."

And like many others, the Beachwood resident parodied the famous song. Sure, he wanted to make students laugh. But he had another goal in mind. 

"I've had other videos in the past where I combine music with a science idea. The first one was on cellular respiration, and it's a very tough topic, and a lot of students struggle with it, especially in honors biology," said Hsu, who has taught at Shaker for five years. "They started singing it and it just became a positive experience and it engaged them."

He used "Gangnam Style" to teach students about macromolecules, another difficult concept, and called the tune "Molecules Gone Wild (Bio Style)." Though he just posted it Oct. 4, it's already received nearly 18,000 hits. 

"I wasn't trying to get viral or famous. I was watching it like everyone else, so it was on my mind, and it just popped in my head to do it," he said.

He filmed the video during the Rosh Hashanah holiday, when school was closed. He had some help from teachers, and when he didn't, he set up a tripod and filmed it himself. And he performed the song live for students during class.

"When I perform it in the class, I have a PowerPoint version with the words more clearly written. I perform it and dance with it, and use words and pictures (on PowerPoint) so they learn from it," he said.

Some science topics can "alienate a lot of kids, because they're so molecular and so detailed and abstract," he said. He hopes his videos make them comfortable with the difficult material.

"The challenge we have here, especially in honors science, is to get students to apply. And a song like that is not going to do that. It's just not possible. They have to make those connections," he said. But, "I think it helps engage them. It's fun, and it makes it more interesting."

And, he had this message for students in the beginning of his other music video on cellular respiration:

"If listening to this song helps you better understand and remember the process of cellular respiration, then making it was totally worth it."