I'm still here!

I know it's been a long time since I last posted, but I am still here. Recently, I have not really had an opportunity to explore any emerging technologies that directly apply to music education.

However, I took a sneak peak at some of the classes I start in September, and it looks like I might have to start an account at Twitter. To be honest, I do not look forward to tweeting. The only thing that might make it worse is if I have to also open an account on Facebook. I've seen firsthand the issues being a teacher on Facebook can cause through my husband.

What are your horror stories on social sites as a teacher? Share them in the comment section below!

Prezi Presentations

Here is an example of a Prezi presentation.  It's an excellent way to create a non-linear presentation.  Take a look at what I created for my 1st graders as they study Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.

Peter and the Wolf on Prezi

Emerging Technology #4: Animoto

Next in the world of emerging music technology is the fabulous site, animoto.com!  On this site, you can create professional looking videos for free in just a few minutes.  Take a look at the one I created for National Novel Writing Month (coming this November)!



Pros

This site takes little to no technology skill to navigate.  The videos, photos, and music that are free with the site are excellent.  Sharing is easy and fun.  Adding text is also a breeze.

Cons


To use this site, you need to include your email address as you create an account.  This makes it impossible for me to use with my students with our district's technology use policies.  Editing is problematic.  You sort of get what you get, and it can be a bit random.  When adding text, there are character limits which can be problematic.  To create a full-length video (the free ones are 30 seconds), it costs $3 each or $30/year for unlimited use.  You also need to be careful with the music.  I did come across a song with lyrics that were inappropriate for school.

Uses in the Classroom

Since students cannot create videos, I will have to create them myself.  That might really add another layer of fun to the class.  I watched video created by one of my classmates about a concept in the subject of economics.  I really don't like economics, but watching her video made me want to learn more about it!

Implementation

I am toying with the idea of spending the $30 to use this program.  I can think of uses for class, home life, and even my church life where this technology would come in handy. 

Kids and Adults Design New Tech Tools

In my graduate work for IUPUI, I have been asked to watch several short and inspiring videos about education and the changing world around us.  One of them was a fun way to develop better habits.  I was so inspired by this video, I shows it to my fifth grade students in a discussion about how music enriches our lives.  The next asked us to do more with what the students already know about technology, and use it to our advantage.  I'm still grappling with the idea of allowing students to use cell phones in class.  (I don't even have a cell phone, believe it or not).

I hope you can take a moment to enjoy the following video from edutopia.org.  It is a delightful look at collaboration between adults and children in a non-threatening and totally equal way.  I found a lot of insight in the dynamics between the adults and the children.  One of the facilitators discussed how this sort of collaboration is difficult in a public school setting.  For good reason, students look to the adults as the more powerful in American schools.  This needs to happen when one adult is in charge of 20 or more students at a time.  However, this scenario allows the pairs to be equal partners.  How refreshing!



Now that I've seen this video, I feel inspired to brainstorm with my students ways that technology would be added to my curriculum in meaningful ways. They are the natives in this brave new world, so I should rely on their expertise to help guide my way.

Emerging Technology #3: Free Rice

The next technology I will explore is the website Free Rice.  When I first stumbled across this resource, I couldn't believe something so wonderful could really exist.  Free Rice is a non-for-profit website run by the United Nations.  When you first go to the site, it presents a series of vocabulary words from the very basic to SAT prep level words.  However, you can also change subjects.  It offers questions in art, chemistry, English, geography, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and math.  For each question a student answers correctly, the sponsors on the site will donate 10 grains of rice through the United Nations World Food Program.  When I had my students use the site, I told them they were bettering their minds while saving the world :).

If they simply go through the questions in the default settings, they receive a harder question in their category when they get a question right and an easier question when they get one wrong.  The student can also select a level to start to work through. 


Pros

The interactive nature of this site keeps the students engaged at a very high level.  They love seeing their bowls of rice piling up as they get more and more questions right.  It also requires no information from the student (or teacher!)  The site never asks for a name or email address.  It simply asks for your time as you attempt answer questions in the various subject areas. 

Cons

Once you try this site, you will have trouble getting on your computer and getting your work done.  This site is so addictive, it should come with a warning from the FDA!  I'd also like it if more subjects were added.  I'm sure there are many creative ways music could be added to the site :).


I feel it important to note that some of the pictures in the art section depict the naked human form.  It is definitely artistic, but younger students might not be ready to handle these images with maturity.  It is best to monitor the little ones at all times when they are on this site.

Uses in the Classroom

At least in my classroom, this is an optional activity for when they finish an assignment early.  Since music is not directly taught on this site, I don't feel right requiring my students to use it as part of my curriculum.  However, just about any other subject could benefit from the extra practice the students receive.  It can also tell when someone is just randomly hitting answers.  The site will bring up a message asking you to take your time, because it cannot handle going too quickly through the questions. 


Implementation

As I stated earlier, this site will not become a regular part of my curriculum until music is added.  However, it has been a great use of the students time in the lab when they finish an assignment early.  I've had little friendly competitions between students in various subject areas to see who could earn the most rice in a given amount of time.  My husband, who coaches our school's math bowl team, has used the math section as part of his regimen for his students' homework.  Not only does this site provide the students with academic growth, but it gives them a greater sense of social responsibility.  What could be better than that!

Emerging Technology #2: Jitterbug

The next technology I'd like to explore is the website Jitterbug.  This site is part of "kindie" movement (kids and independent music).  The site provides a platform for independent musicians to upload music specifically for young children.  It also links to great music for children that avoids irritating the adults being subjected to it!  Good children's music should be inspiring to the young and the young at heart.

The site has three main sections.  The category section organizes selections by type.   There is an artist section that features a variety of independent artists.  The radio section plays child appropriate music that can be customized by playlist if you sign in.  However, signing up is not a requirement to use this site.  This level of personalization should be very appealing to the mindset of our little "digital natives."  :)

This site isn't just for music educators.  I found a "channel" on the site that links to youtube videos of excellent televisions clips.  Check out this tender moment between Elmo and Nora Jones as they explore the letter Y.

In my own classroom, I can see myself using Jitterbug to introduce new styles of music to my students.  There are also some videos that feature famous musicians.  Some the students would recognize, and others the students should become more familiar with.  The challenge may be to keep this particular site open for my students.  We have a fairly rigorous internet filter that can filter in categories such as "music" or "videos."  A site that would be available today may be blocked tomorrow.  For this reason, I would need a back-up plan to include this in a lesson.

Emerging Technology 1: JamStudio.com

The first technology I chose to explore was the website www.jamstudio.com.  Some of my students had mentioned this site to me in the past, but I had never taken the time to explore it before.  It is an easy and fun way for students to create their own songs without a steep learning curve.  The sharing ability of this site also allows students to share their work and listen to others.  This makes it extremely "digital native" friendly.

Check out my song "Driving Time" at http://www.jamstudio.com/Studio/FWSongShare.asp?SongNum=528694&SongId=528855.  Once the page loads, simply press the play button in the lower left portion of the screen.

Pros

Jam studio has excellent instrument sounds and is very easy to use.  You can use this site without logging in or creating an account.  Most of the features available are free.  The styles of music and instruments provided are extremely engaging and desirable to even the most cynical of 8th grade students.

Cons

To actually save your work, you need to put in an email address and create an account.  This is against my district's technology usage policies.  To access some of the advanced features on the site, you need to pay a monthly subscription.  During playback, there seems to be a delay or lag between measures.  In order to eliminate that, the site recommends you pay the monthly subscription.

Uses in the Classroom

As a general music teacher, this would be an excellent way to teach chords and chord symbols to my students.  The students can easily and instantly hear the chord progressions in a variety of styles.  It can also be a non-threatening beginning to a composition unit.  Since student need not be aware of note names and rhythms, they can jump right into the creative process.  Although this can be a positive, I can see how it might give the wrong impression to students how a song is usually put together.

For a non-music teacher, this could be a great way to create works of music to go with other multimedia presentations.  Instead of sound effects, a student could create an original piece of music to play with their PowerPoint presentations or their movies.  This would only work, however, if the student is allowed to create an account to save their work.  If not, the program could really only be used for exploration.  That's okay if you subscribe to the process rather than product camp (which I do :)!).  Since you need not have music reading ability to use this, it could easily be used by any area teacher.

Implementation

Because the students will be unable to save their work, I will probably only offer this as an optional activity at best.  There are times when students complete their work early, and need a structured and open ended task.  This site would work well for that.  I will probably use this in at the beginning of my sixth grade composition unit before they start their saved compositions in Finale NotePad.  This will get the creative juices flowing before they need to start worrying about note names and note values.

If possible, I'd like to take my fourth grade students (who aren't always in a computer lab) into the lab to use this to explore chord progressions.  This may prove difficult, since computer lab time at my elementary school is at a premium, but it would be extremely engaging for the students if I can schedule them in.

A New Year a New Blog

Welcome to my new blog!  Over the next few months, I will use this blog to chronicle my journey into new technologies to use in the general music classroom.  Please check back often to see my progress.  Feel free to sign in as a follower, and I'd love to hear from you in the comments section!