The Educational Value Inherent in Genius

My interest in Genius as a platform for education is twofold: First, how can it be applied to the existing educational framework of literary texts and standardized testing? This would include annotated Common Core texts, test prep materials using Genius’s platform, or classroom annotation projects. Second, and perhaps more interesting, is Genius’ ability to be educational when it’s not trying to be. What value does Genius have as an educational tool for things that aren’t related to education at all?

To what degree does Genius and the act of annotating serve as something educational even when it is not part of a conventionally educational setting? In this case I am defining conventionally educational to include ordinary school work, but also annotations on texts widely considered to be “intellectual” or “literary.” Conversely, I would consider most music annotations to be outside of a conventionally educational setting. However, I would argue Genius annotations in these settings are educational, both for consumers of such annotations and for the people contributing them.

Genius annotations are educational for the people reading them because they serve to increase the reader’s knowledge of historical and cultural facts. Something as simple as giving a concrete explanation of common religious allusions serves to increase the reader’s knowledge base. Although it does not increase knowledge in a regimented or comprehensive manner, it serves both to transmit knowledge and to train readers to view texts in an analytical way.

As someone who writes Genius annotations, the writing process is very educational. Making a good annotation is a combination of research, creative writing, and literary analysis. Good annotations encourage the writer to learn new facts, and teaches elementary research practices. It also encourages in-depth analysis of written texts, especially in their imagery, allusions, and tone. Because so many of Genius’s users, especially in Rap Genius, are male high school students- a group often considered to be least interested in things like research or literary analysis, Genius provides a vital way to make these types of academic practices interesting and appealing to students.

As always, the annotated version of this post can be found here.