This week I have been working on my WebQuest design. When I proposed my WebQuest, I originally proposed the title "Creative Composition" and students would have to learn how to use 4 different composition programs that were on the computer. However, according to some feedback, this was too vague and there wasn't a true assessment for it. So I have refined my WebQuest. Students will learn to use one program: incredibox.com. And Students will then have to compose a piece of music and present it to their classmates.
This week we discovered all the things that google.com can do for us. We have used different things from google so far in this class, but we really got to know the different functions this week. We learned how to use a form to test students over the computer. We also used their equivalent of powerpoint and learned how to use and share the calendar feature as well. I have used googles features many times over the years. I can't say it's my favorite program. Some of the features in the program kind of annoy me. The biggest one is that when I would copy and paste a text into a document, it would enter it with a white highlight. So when I went to get rid of the highlight, it was the same button as changing the text color...and I kept mixing them up which caused some frustration.
We were also told to check out dropbox.com this week. I really love dropbox and use it for a lot of things! In addition to teaching music, I actually create pixel art for a website. I use dropbox to hold all the pixel art files in addition to sharing lesson plans with friends who are also music teachers. It is a place that I can store my lesson plans in case I lose them on my computer. This is a great safety net as well as a way to share my documents.
We talked about assessing using technology as well. I think it's very interesting that I can create an assignment on google or other sites (such as surveymonkey) and I can have the students work at home. That would be very helpful. I don't assign grades in my class. I really wish I did. But I would love to have my students keep a portfolio of their work that they complete in music from the time they start Kindergarten through the time they complete 6th grade in my school. This would be a great resource for them. They could see how much they have grown as musicians during school. In addition, this would provide insight into what my students learn in the class and prove to my parents and administrators that my students learn actual music in my class and we aren't just an activity to have to give the classroom teachers a break!
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Week 6
This week, we began a project on WebQuests. WebQuests are defined as "an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the internet, optionally supplemented with videoconferencing" (Dodge). There are two types of WebQuests: Short term and Longer term. Short term WebQuests are designed to be completed over a few class periods whereas longer term WebQuests can last a week to even a month!
We will be building our own WebQuests over the next week. I will be creating a webquest about creative composition for my students. This will help them utilize several programs that will enable them to compose music in creative ways.
We also learned about copyright laws this week. “Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U.S. Code) to the authors of ‘original works of authorship,’ including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works” (Bauer pg. 161-162). Teachers need to be aware that there are copyright laws and we must make sure to observe them. Especially with digital copyright laws! If you were born after January 1, 1978, your copyright is in effect during your entire lifetime and for 70 years following your life. You automatically have copyright of anything you create and do not have to apply for a copyright. Copyright laws are in place to protect creators. We must abide by the copyright laws. There are serious penalties if you do not.
We also went over some information that I have previous learned in other classes of mine through my undergraduate and my graduate studies. One of those topics is Backwards Design. This occurs when you start a lesson plan "with the end in mind." This unit design makes sure the teacher creates a lesson in which the students will learn and demonstrate the skills they are supposed to be learning at that point.
“Technology is a means by which music teachers can differentiate instruction, providing different paths for students to achieve learning outcomes” (Bauer pg. 159). I am interested in differentiated instruction in the music class because my school has pushed differentiated instruction in the entire school this year. While I KNOW I differentiate instruction, sometimes it’s hard to pin point into words exactly what I do. The fact that I can differentiate music instruction through technology is incredible helpful. Teachers can use programs and websites in order to help students learn their history and their theory. Programs such as SmartMusic allow students to use and create “loops” which allows them to compose.
We will be building our own WebQuests over the next week. I will be creating a webquest about creative composition for my students. This will help them utilize several programs that will enable them to compose music in creative ways.
We also learned about copyright laws this week. “Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U.S. Code) to the authors of ‘original works of authorship,’ including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works” (Bauer pg. 161-162). Teachers need to be aware that there are copyright laws and we must make sure to observe them. Especially with digital copyright laws! If you were born after January 1, 1978, your copyright is in effect during your entire lifetime and for 70 years following your life. You automatically have copyright of anything you create and do not have to apply for a copyright. Copyright laws are in place to protect creators. We must abide by the copyright laws. There are serious penalties if you do not.
We also went over some information that I have previous learned in other classes of mine through my undergraduate and my graduate studies. One of those topics is Backwards Design. This occurs when you start a lesson plan "with the end in mind." This unit design makes sure the teacher creates a lesson in which the students will learn and demonstrate the skills they are supposed to be learning at that point.
“Technology is a means by which music teachers can differentiate instruction, providing different paths for students to achieve learning outcomes” (Bauer pg. 159). I am interested in differentiated instruction in the music class because my school has pushed differentiated instruction in the entire school this year. While I KNOW I differentiate instruction, sometimes it’s hard to pin point into words exactly what I do. The fact that I can differentiate music instruction through technology is incredible helpful. Teachers can use programs and websites in order to help students learn their history and their theory. Programs such as SmartMusic allow students to use and create “loops” which allows them to compose.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Week 5
This week we reviewed music education software and programs. There are many kinds of programs. According to the Wikipedia link provided by the class, "Freeware [...] is software that is available for use at no monetary cost or for an optional fee" (Wikipedia). I chose to focus on freeware for this module because I am always interested in programs that are free to use. As a teacher in her second year of teaching, I don't have a lot of money to buy programs for myself. I have many bills including student loans. And my school budget is a whopping 324 dollars a year. Unfortunately, that won't cover the cost of many music education programs. Because of this situation, I am always on the look out for programs that are free or have a very minimal fee.
We were charged with locating and reviewing a program. Using the lists provided by my Professor, I discovered a program called "Drum Station" but a company called D-Lusion. D-Lusion had a few different programs however, since my students are really interested in drums, I chose to use Drum Station. When I first downloaded the program, there was a tutorial on their website on how to download and install the program. However, when I opened the program, I discovered that it was incredibly confusing. There was no tutorial on how to actually use the program.
I began to play around the program and could not figure out how to make a sound. It took me about 7 minutes to discover how to actually begin composing music in the program. When I actually discovered how to compose in the program, it was incredibly simple. The program could benefit from either a tutorial on how to use it or an updated look that makes it easier to spot where you need to press in order to compose.
In this program, you were given four "measures" with four possible places to make a sound. There were 8 instruments you could use including closed and open high hats and claps. The user simple presses where in each "measure" they would like the instrument to play and it begins to play and loop the sounds over and over again. I discovered that you could adjust the tempo, dynamics, and the effects on each of the instruments as well which was a nice touch!
Overall I found the program incredibly confusing at first. But as I played with the program, I discovered it was incredibly easy to use. This would take just a little bit of explaining to my students and they would be able to create short loops using percussion instruments.
In addition, we used Diigo.com this week. Diigo.com is a website that you can bookmark website and webpages all in one place. There are also tools that enable you to highlight certain passages on the website so that you can easily identify what you bookmarked the website for. This is an incredibly helpful website for keeping all your resources in one area, rather than bookmarking each page individually. Users can create "folders" so that you can keep track of multiple things without mixing up your categories!
We were charged with locating and reviewing a program. Using the lists provided by my Professor, I discovered a program called "Drum Station" but a company called D-Lusion. D-Lusion had a few different programs however, since my students are really interested in drums, I chose to use Drum Station. When I first downloaded the program, there was a tutorial on their website on how to download and install the program. However, when I opened the program, I discovered that it was incredibly confusing. There was no tutorial on how to actually use the program.
I began to play around the program and could not figure out how to make a sound. It took me about 7 minutes to discover how to actually begin composing music in the program. When I actually discovered how to compose in the program, it was incredibly simple. The program could benefit from either a tutorial on how to use it or an updated look that makes it easier to spot where you need to press in order to compose.
In this program, you were given four "measures" with four possible places to make a sound. There were 8 instruments you could use including closed and open high hats and claps. The user simple presses where in each "measure" they would like the instrument to play and it begins to play and loop the sounds over and over again. I discovered that you could adjust the tempo, dynamics, and the effects on each of the instruments as well which was a nice touch!
Overall I found the program incredibly confusing at first. But as I played with the program, I discovered it was incredibly easy to use. This would take just a little bit of explaining to my students and they would be able to create short loops using percussion instruments.
In addition, we used Diigo.com this week. Diigo.com is a website that you can bookmark website and webpages all in one place. There are also tools that enable you to highlight certain passages on the website so that you can easily identify what you bookmarked the website for. This is an incredibly helpful website for keeping all your resources in one area, rather than bookmarking each page individually. Users can create "folders" so that you can keep track of multiple things without mixing up your categories!
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