Module 7

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!