After recently adding this blog to my Google Reader account, I found it to be extremely interesting. I personally find the psychological aspect of music fascinating, and getting the latest information on the scientific justification for the significance of music and music education is something every future educator should be aware of.
URL: http://www.musiccognition.nl/blog/
RSS feed: (http://www.musiccognition.nl/blog/rss.xml)
Sunday, August 30, 2009
"TPACK" Article Reaction
Being a so-called "digital native teen" I often forget how much technology I untilize on a daily basis. From the iPhone that comes almost everywhere with me, to the music notation software I utilize on a frequent basis for musical compositions and arrangements, to the recording software I use not only when I have performances recorded but in the practice room as well, to the laptop I am currently using to type this entry on, it is difficult to pinpoint a time during the day that I am NOT depending on some form of technology to learn and obtain new forms of knowledge as a student. For the many other college undergraduates that are in a similar position as myself, especially those planning on pursuing education as a career path, the transition from student to teacher with the aid of technology should be extremely smooth due to our high level of 'field experience' touched upon in this article.
I strongly believe the use of multimedia and music technology in the classroom is a wonderful idea. Whether students become involved with 'MIDI' projects, allowing them to begin composing and arranging music at a young age, to using some type of music notation or practice aid software, it has been shown to be extremely beneficial on multiple levels. I almost wish I could go back to elementary school to take advantage of the latest technological advancements myself!
But just as a firm grasp of today's available technology in the world of music education can help students learn, it can just as easily be used to help teachers be more effective at their craft. A true educator is one whom is continuously learning and further educating themselves - something the internet can be a wonderful aid for. Not only can one continue to learn through researching, reading blogs/wikis/articles and current news, they can gain a better understanding of their 'pedagogical content knowledge' and thus a better understanding of the the technology itself. A better understanding of the advantages of technology in addition to a good understanding of one's pedagogical content knowledge and how to be an effective teacher makes a much stronger educator. In other words, the technology is not the main focus, but a strong tool, enhancing the pedagogical aspect of teaching. A teacher must constantly juggle to find balance between knowledge of technology, pedagogy, and content to truly 'rule' their classroom.
However, I was surprised to unfortunately read that few teachers said they used technology in the classroom on a regular basis. With so much at available at our fingertips and the benefits proven, it seems like a true waste and possibly the greatest kept secret in the current world of education.
I strongly believe the use of multimedia and music technology in the classroom is a wonderful idea. Whether students become involved with 'MIDI' projects, allowing them to begin composing and arranging music at a young age, to using some type of music notation or practice aid software, it has been shown to be extremely beneficial on multiple levels. I almost wish I could go back to elementary school to take advantage of the latest technological advancements myself!
But just as a firm grasp of today's available technology in the world of music education can help students learn, it can just as easily be used to help teachers be more effective at their craft. A true educator is one whom is continuously learning and further educating themselves - something the internet can be a wonderful aid for. Not only can one continue to learn through researching, reading blogs/wikis/articles and current news, they can gain a better understanding of their 'pedagogical content knowledge' and thus a better understanding of the the technology itself. A better understanding of the advantages of technology in addition to a good understanding of one's pedagogical content knowledge and how to be an effective teacher makes a much stronger educator. In other words, the technology is not the main focus, but a strong tool, enhancing the pedagogical aspect of teaching. A teacher must constantly juggle to find balance between knowledge of technology, pedagogy, and content to truly 'rule' their classroom.
However, I was surprised to unfortunately read that few teachers said they used technology in the classroom on a regular basis. With so much at available at our fingertips and the benefits proven, it seems like a true waste and possibly the greatest kept secret in the current world of education.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The 'Noteflight' Experience
Over all, I was generally impressed after my first experience using Noteflight online notation software. I found this program to be extremely user-friendly and hardly needed the tutorial videos and handouts to guide me through the process of completing our assignment. I also found the program to be surprisingly feature-rich for an online application that doesn't cost a penny. In regards to music education, I think Noteflight would definitely be a useful tool, most obviously, because it is free. For middle and high school students especially, it is doubtful that expensive music notation software such as Finale or Sibelius with all of the bells and whistles are necessary when free programs exist that serve their purpose just as well, like Noteflight, that students can have access to not only from school, but from home as well. Noteflight also easily allows one to post and share scores from any computer to anyone, which would make it fairly easy for music educators view their student's work. The utilization of this program and others like it will definitely make its way into high school theory and music classes sooner rather than later.
Bicycle Built for Two - Noteflight
Bicycle Built for Two - Noteflight
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