PHOENIX (CBS5) -
Remember being back in school? It was often an instructor at the front of the room, lecturing in front of a chalkboard or dry erase board.
That was then, and this is now, as we met a professor at Grand Canyon University who raps his lessons to students.
GCU professor of humanities Dr. James Beggs is retiring after 35 years in education. He's not only known for his passion in the classroom, but for the hip-hop in his lectures.
"One of the things you have to do if you're going to teach them anything is to try and find a way to get their attention, help them remember the material and comprehend it," said Beggs.
Beggs says that although rap is probably his least favorite type of music, it does have a strong beat which he feels helps students better understand and grasp the material.
"It's been an interesting exercise, trying to get the key points of the lecture in a rap," added Beggs.
Students we spoke with at GCU said they enjoy Beggs' style.
"It's definitely very unique. But at GCU, every teacher is unique. But he kind of exceeds it," said senior Joshua Ostrand.
"There's something called death by Powerpoint in college, and he definitely does not let that happen," said junior Courtney Canner.
"Some of my students have said I was wonderful, but they didn't have any interest in an album," Beggs said jokingly.
But after all these years, Beggs punctuated that he's always enjoyed teaching because of the students. He said they've been "interesting, stimulating, irritating, wonderful and challenging, and have helped keep him young."
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