Week 11 PLN

The Music and the Brain series in the Library of Congress examines how music affects different cultures. It also shows how studying music can affect your brain. I thought it was pretty cool so I'm passing it along to all of you! Here you go!

Week 11 Readings

The beginning of the How People Learn article, was no surprise to me. At my high school, you were not allowed to have your cellphones out during the day, and any technology was usually frowned upon. When it came to anything computer related, it was almost always home based, there was never any real integration with what was going on in the classroom. But the article offered ways that technology could be moved into our school system, and why it is quickly becoming an invaluable part of our education. The learning in context point made a lot of sense to me. When there was specific research for a paper that had to be done, it would have been extremely helpful to have taken the time in class to look up some things and then have the teacher guide us. The learning is active concept was also very technology based. Through technology, a student is constantly engaged in what they are doing, where as a lecture in a classroom can get very dull very fast. This is because students are just listening to what is happening, and can't get involved. In my personal experience, I do best in this type of class when I am using my computer to take notes, and even the internet to expand the notes I have already taken. Overall this article is a very good illustrator of different learning styles, and it also shows us how technology can be integrated to help benefit people of all learning styles.
The wave forms article was also very interesting. Telling us about the various wave forms that go through our internet was beneficial. I had never really understood the concept of bandwidth and what it did for our internet, and this article was very clarifying. And then all of the coding and compression steps are how different file can reach our computers. Also learning about different kinds of files is good because then we know how to save our files, and how they will translate to other computers.
The multimedia article was good for presenting. Each section made sense of how we could effectively use text, pictures, sound, and video to get our point across. We can clearly use technology in this manner is effectively present material to any kind of audience, and be able to have them be on our level of thinking based on our examples.

SmartMusic

This is an extraordinary resource. It gives music a way to assess students like you would with any other class. I know that a serious issue with music classes are way to assess our students. You can have them play in front of the class a short line from the music, but then you have to leave time during the class, and you would have to factor in a certain amount of stage fright when grading. This allows a music teacher to assign homework just like any other class. All that's needed is a computer. A student can play into the computer and re-do an assignment as many times as they want, just like they could with a math or science class. Then the teacher's job is to listen an let a student know what they need to improve on. For a student that may not have a computer at home, a computer could be made available for them. I know in my high school we had practice rooms, and as a teacher, I could do something like bring in my own laptop and leave it set up for them in a room like that, and that way each student would have the opportunity to complete the assignment. SmartMusic also gives students the chance to practice with an orchestra outside the orchestra setting. With home practice it can be hard sometimes to think about what the rest of the orchestra is doing, and short of practicing with a metronome, there really isn't a way to keep yourself in check. With SmartMusic, there is the chance to hear the rest of an ensemble, and know that what you are playing is definitively right or wrong. It takes away a lot of the guess work, and can make the job of being a music teacher a whole lot easier.

Week 10 Reading

Delicious seems like a seriously great tool. Its a way for music educators to collaborate and expand on their own knowledge. Its a way for everyone to make coming up with things to teach our students a little better. It saves so much time and gives us a way to save bookmarks without cluttering the desktop. I can't wait to get more involved with this site and get to use it for purposed beyond this class.

Week 10 PLN

I know that this class is mainly looking to the future of music and how we teach it, but heres a little something that looks into the past. I heard about this from a friend. Essentially researchers have found a way using technology to show how ancient people used sound to mark things like clay pots. This could be something to show students in a class, even link it with a history class. Enjoy!

PLN Post

I found this article about creativity very interesting. I know that I personally have issues with composing sometimes, and this showed me ways that I tend to hold myself back. I know I learned to not try to stifle myself. Enjoy!

CAI, White Boards, One Computer, Automatic Accompaniment

The first article this week was very informative. It broke down everything we could use in technology. It truly broke down every aspect so we could understand different ways to teach with technology.
Interactive Whiteboards are something that could be a serious help in a music classroom. When I was graduating, my high school had just started to install Smartboards is some of the english and history classes, so I got seriously limited experience using one. But interactive whiteboards can allow for students to complete activities in front of the class like in any other class. There could be music completion excersises, or identification, so these could be used in classrooms of younger and older students.
Right off the bat, I liked the One Computer Can Teach an Entire Class article. One problem I've been dealing with is how I could possibly add technology into what I was teaching, especially with in a situation where I don't have a technology lab, or a lab that I could use for musical purposes. The idea of a computer game seemed really great. Everyone gets a turn at the computer, and turn it in to a competition. With the adrenaline of the competition, kids are more likely to stay focused despite the lack of computer. The learning station idea was also a very good idea. It makes sure again that everyone gets a chance at the computer, and then everyone can being a part of an activity.
In the Automatic Accompaniment article, I really liked that we were told about all the different programs that we could use in our own classrooms. Band in a Box would be good for students to help develop their own music, which would be good in a theory or more composition geared class, especially because there is a chord based input. I think SmartMusic would be fun to work with. I liked that it came pre-programmed warm-ups that we could use with our own groups. iPas was also a good way to help plan out lessons. And the accompanist parts to help with band parts is good for practicing at home, and can improve the sound of your group.