Using Webquests, Powerpoints and Podcasting in the Music Classroom

Iowa Technology Education Connection Conference

Monday, October 12, 2009 1:30 – 2:10 PM

Elizabeth Fritz, Decorah Community Schools

Instructional Sample – Ensemble Unit and Virtual Concert

http://www.decorahbands.com/6thband/fensunit/

Webquest - Historical Component

Pitch and Tuning - Using Smart Music to enhance curriculum

http://www.smartmusic.com/teachers/resources/

Powerpoint Presentation – can be turned into a podcast with the use of Profcast

Podcast/iMovie – Publish to the Web or Kiosk

Journaling/ Blogging for Evaluation

Standards met:

2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

5. Reading and notating music.

6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.

7. Evaluating music and music performances.

8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.

9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.

Additional Resources:

http://www.learninginhand.com/podcasting/

http://podcastingscout.com/podcast-software

A how to guide and tutorial

Contact Information:

Elizabeth Fritz, Consultant - Music @River’s Bend

315 Riverview Drive, Decorah, Iowa 52101

Decorah Community Schools

Using Webquests, Powerpoints and Podcasting in the Music Classroom

Iowa Technology Education Connection Conference

Monday, October 12, 2009 1:30 – 2:10 PM

Elizabeth Fritz, Decorah Community Schools

Podcasting

What is it?

A podcast is a series of digital media files, usually either digital audio or video, that is made available for download via web syndication. The syndication aspect of the delivery is what differentiates podcasts from other ways of accessing files, such as simple download or streaming. Software known as “podcatchers” (such as Apple's iTunes) can automatically identify and retrieve new files in a series when they are made available, by accessing a centrally-maintained web feed that lists all files currently associated with that particular podcast. The files are downloaded and stored locally on the user's computer or other device, for offline use.

The term podcast can refer either to the content itself or to the method by which the content is syndicated; the latter is also called podcasting. A podcaster is the person who creates the content.

There are three kinds of podcasts. Audio podcasts are usually an MP3 file and are the most common types of podcasts. Enhanced podcasts can have images to go along with the audio. Video podcasts (or vodcasts) are movies, complete with sound. Video podcasts can be in a variety of formats, but MPEG-4 is the most popular.

Creating a Podcast

Gcast.com - Phone Podcasting

Audacity – for recording

MyPodcast.com – free recording and hosting

Apple Garageband

Profcast

Video Podcasts

iMovie and Windows Movie Maker

iTunes University

Pocketrak 2g from Yamaha – digital recording device - USB port direct to computer

Using Technology to Teach Comprehensive Musicianship

Iowa Technology Education Connection Conference

Monday, October 12, 2009 3:00 – 3:50 PM

Elizabeth Fritz, Decorah Community Schools

In our current educational climate, music educators face the same issues as the standard classroom teacher with regard to standards, integration and No Child Left Behind legislation and now the Iowa Core Curriculum. Many music programs must find ways to meet and integrate arts and technology standards to remain viable as a curricular offering.

Music educators need ideas to give their curriculum more value, help them teach their content in greater depth, and lead them toward creative instruction to meet these ideals. This session will provide examples of technology that assist instruction and support integrated curriculum in the music classroom as an avenue toward this goal.

This session will:

· Demonstrate technology tools available for instruction

· Provide examples of rich instructional content using technology

· Introduce teaching strategies (combined with technology) that result in more in-depth learning.

· Focus on the use of technology and online learning practices within a music education classroom.

How do we currently use technology in our classrooms?

I mention this because I feel strongly about using technology as a tool in the classroom, not just a gadget or a cool toy.

This was an often repeated theme during a recent trip to the MENC Technology Academy in Washington D.C. There are also music technology standards (Opportunity to Learn Standards) that were implemented in 1999 that further reinforce this ideal.

Technology Integration Ideas

Let’s brainstorm some of the ways we currently use technology.

Bubbl.us - Brainstorming made simple

Bubbl.us is a simple and free web application that lets you brainstorm online.

Uses include:

· Create colorful mind maps online

· Share and work with friends

· Embed your mind map in your blog or website

· Email and print your mind map

· Save your mind map as an image

WIKI’s

Online Blogs or Discussion

Online assessment tools

Technology and Comprehensive Musicianship

Comprehensive musicianship can be defined as theory applied to practice; and knowledge and skill applied to practical music-making. Technology integration is a possible tool to enable music teachers to incorporate this model effectively into their teaching.

The CMP Model

Shaping Sound Musicians – Patricia O’Toole

The following examples will demonstrate how to integrate technology using a comprehensive musicianship approach for curriculum development.

The curriculum drives the technology…

Instructional Sample – Teacher Resource Guides

Teacher Resource guide à Index.html

In Concert Band Series

Kjos Music Publishers

Uses webquests, online journaling, and additional resources in pdf format.

Standards met:

2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

5. Reading and notating music.

6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.

7. Evaluating music and music performances.

8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.

9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.

Other curricular ideas for podcasting in the music classroom

· Recording for self-assessment during lessons

· Research

· Composition

· Creating supplemental information for extending learning opportunities such as questionings and scenarios for blogging discussion

Additional Resources:

http://www.learninginhand.com/podcasting/

http://podcastingscout.com/podcast-software

A how to guide and tutorial

Contact Information:

Elizabeth Fritz, Consultant - Music @River’s Bend

315 Riverview Drive, Decorah, Iowa 52101

Decorah Community Schools