Posts

Assessments and Google

As teachers develop their learning outcomes for assignments and projects, teachers also need to develop their assessments. Bauer (2014) states, “Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning,” (Bauer, p. 132, 2014). Authentic assessments are important for student learning, development, and success. In order to create valid assessments, teachers need to align their assessments with the learning outcomes. Furthermore, assessments need to be consistent throughout the assignments and from student to student (Bauer 2014).                  In music ensembles, teachers may develop checklists, rating scales, or rubrics to define necessary criteria to assess student growth in rehearsal and performance. “A checklist indicates achievement or nonachievement of an outcome” (Bauer, p. 137, 2014). Checklists show the lowest level of understanding. “Rating scales communicate a qu
Post a Comment
Read more

Learning, Copyright Rules, & Technology

As students learn, using technology and projects are becoming increasingly popular. While project based learning has many added benefits for student progress, teachers must also be aware of copyright laws in place protecting individual rights. Teachers and students need to know how to use materials properly to follow copyright laws.  In learning, students utilize their prior knowledge to make connections to new knowledge. As teachers plan lessons and activities teachers must be aware of students’ prior learning. To determine student knowledge teachers may use assessments, ask students questions, or speak with prior teachers. Students learn best through activity. As students actively learn in class, the teacher becomes more of a facilitator to aid in student learning. In learning, many subjects are learned socially. In social cognitive settings, students learn through modeling, observing, and imitating. As social constructivists, students “evaluate their own understanding of a
Post a Comment
Read more

Music and Technology: Responding

As music teachers, our goal is to provide music learning for all students. My district goal is to provide students with the ability to appreciate music for their entire lives. In order to best appreciate music, students need to develop their ability to listen to music. Students need to train both the expressive ear which captures the phrasing and timbre in music and the analytical ear which focuses on musical elements and themes. To increase student listening, students should be encouraged to verbally explain the music they are listening too as students will take ownership of being active listeners. In addition movement may be used to develop student listening. Bauer (2014) states, “bodily movement representative of musical sounds can facilitate meaningful music listening,” (pg. 110). By encouraging students to utilize movement to demonstrate specific music elements, students are listening closely, making internal connections, and reacting individually to music. As students grow,
Post a Comment
Read more

Music Performance & Technology Use

Music performance requires usage of a range of skills. Multiple skills must be in use at one time to achieve a successful performance of music. To achieve success, the necessary skills must be trained through practice and performance on a specific instrument. Learning the specific skills may be difficult and boring to many students, but with effective practice, proper feedback, both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, students will attain the skills needed to perform.                  In learning music, specific psychological skills are employed. First students must use their psychomotor skills to begin the process of learning music. Psychomotor skills means that students are able to learn and realize what it takes to make a musical performance. Within psychomotor skills, students will learn music through a specific process. The first stage is called the cognitive stage. Within the cognitive stage, students will begin to learn how to sing or play an instrument. The cognitive s
Post a Comment
Read more