In 2020, TheWall Street Journalranked Cedarville Universitythesecond-best school for student engagement, largely due tofacultymembers who engage their students in ways that help students learn.

Now, with classes in session at Cedarville University, Dr. Robert Clark is prepared to use his creativity and skills to find new ways to connect with his students.

Helping Cedarville rank among schools such as Stanford and Harvard is Dr. Robert Clark, assistantprofessorofhistory. He not only teaches history in traditional lecture-style methods, but will also, on occasion, break out in song to emphasize a point in his lecture.

This unorthodox method of teaching history began for Clark when he was a high schoolteacherinthe1990s.

Clark believessinginga point from his lesson inthemiddle of a lecture engagesthestudents — and, at first, catchesthestudents off-guard.

History Lesson: What is the Story of America? --https://youtu.be/AA5e-cspEd4

Not only does this capture students’ attention, but it also facilitates a deeper understanding oftheday’s lesson.

“Viewpoints are often reflected in music,” said Clark. “It gives an opportunity to illustrate history in a way that comes alive for students. Bysingingperiod authentic music, I give a sense of what history is like atthegrassroots level. Sometimes it illustrates concepts in ways that just would not reach students otherwise.”

Clark has been intersecting music in his college lectures since he taught at Kansas State University, and now, at Cedarville.

Clark’s tendency tosingfor a class three to five times a semester is heavily influenced by his musical roots.

“I was in a very musical family,” Clark added. “I sang in a quartet when I was young, did orchestra in high school and was in multiple college choirs. Music is a part of my lifethatcan’t help but come out intheclassroom.”

While many people get stage fright or nerves over their voice, Clark embracestheintersection of music and history entirely.

“I’m never afraid tosing, even if my voice is feeling rough,” said Clark. “I will alwayssingsongs like Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ intheWind” during Social Movements class. It becomes something they can identify withthetime period, and that’s what teaching history is all about.”

Nobody appreciates Clark’s full commitment to student engagement more than those sitting in his classes.

“Dr. Clark brought so much energy totheclassroom when he sang,” said sophomore history student Will Galkin. “I loved his pure joy to be presenting history through those lyrics.”

WhiletheWall Street Journal cited how engaged students are in their studies at Cedarville University, it isprofessorslike Dr. Clark that make learning unique and helpful for students.

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,715 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is one ofthelargest private universities in Ohio, recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, includingtheBachelor of Arts inhistory, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and high student engagement ranking. For more information abouttheUniversity, visit cedarville.edu.