Look what I got...

Zoom H4n recorder

It happened!  My project from Donors Choose  came in on Friday!
It's a digital recorder that I plan to use to create audio portfolios of students' work.  I have to learn how it works, and am getting ready to hook it up to the school's Mac Book!

If you've never heard of Donors Choose, then I recommend it.  This little device was very expensive.  But thanks to the generous gift of Aija, and KIA motors, the project request was funded and within a week of funding, it arrived!

You can check out my project called Rock, Rock, Record and get some details.

The process of signing up for a project and the steps to qualify each time are a little challenging, but definitely "doable".  When creating a project you gain, earn and spend points.  The more points you collect, the bigger the funding projects you're allowed.
Project materials, become property of the school district.  You can't take it with you if you leave for parts unknown.  That's a newly stated policy it seems.  But that's ok.  I don't mind leaving it for the next person-if the technology doesn't improve in the next 10 years (right-LOL).

So, when I get some student songs and works recorded, I'll try and post them here, so you can HEAR what it sounds like.

In the meantime, try donorschoose.org if you need some funding for a project.  There are all kinds of examples, and help if needed.  It's worth the look.

Teaching aid for teacher

I found this site today.  What a great tool!  It is called the Teaching Channel and it is really cool.  It gives short videos usually between 1-20 minutes in length about all kinds of topics.  It gives you a place to keep notes in the video, with a time stamp, gives questions to consider in using the techniques or video in class, and gives you online work space to keep all of the information you collect.

Better still, the site gives you a button to put on your tool bar so that if you find something on the Web that you would like to use in a lesson, you click on the button and it saves it for you in your account for future use.  You can even schedule reminders in your account; suppose you find a site in September, but the timing to use it isn't until November.  Schedule a reminder for yourself!  No more searching through bookmarks!
(There's a sample video below...yes, they allow you to embed their stuff on to your website or blog too, and all of it is FREE!)

I'm just learning all of the details, but what I've experienced so far, I recommend trying.  There are some great ideas for all topics and they are looking to add more.
Check it out!

I just found this from the Music Teachers Facebook page.  What a great way to analyze music and get an idea of cultural interpretation. See the full explanation at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8SD3ToKDsw

Awesome video and teaching lesson on HOW TO LISTEN by deaf percussionist, Evelyn Glennie. from www.TED.com

Copyright 2012. Magnifying the Universe by Number Sleuth.

I saw this on a blog for music education and technology that I receive.  It is truly amazing.  Thanks MusicTech.net for sharing this first.  But try it with the music playing...It is awesome!  





Just joined Spotify-free music to listen to.  It allows embedding too.  I recommend checking it out!  You can connect with it through your Facebook account.  Talk about connecting music technology and science... very cool!
  

"Watch out boys here she comes..."

feel like this often?

The end of the school year for 2011-2012 approaches.  Where is my mind?  Already on the following year and all that is about to explode onto the scene of education, well at least here in NY. Couple that with the changes within the district (shift to grade level schools and the political fall-out) and next year should be very, how shall I say, challenging.  My fox friend here is a great depiction of how I feel, but it is not what I'm doing. (Yes, I used this picture before, but it is just SO appropriate!)

I'm busy; searching, looking, studying, signing up for courses, cultivating ideas, and as much as I am able, keeping colleagues informed.  It seems that resisting (or hiding from) the change like my fox friend is not an option.  It just exacerbates the problem.  There's too much "stuff" coming and it is fast and too hard to hide from it.  So, with a boldness that I never had before, I choose to face it head on.  I'll be taking a guitar course this summer to help with classroom pedagogy and project based learning I hope  (see Teaching Guitar Workshop);  a course on assessment called DESIGNING AND FACILITATING QUALITY GROWTH AND LOCALLY‐SELECTED MEASURES (see My Learning Plan --scroll down to see course description ) and a course on the Underground Railroad in the Hudson Valley teaching the Hudson Valley Events Website     to enhance my already existing project in 5th grade music.  I'm also waiting for information about online training from the Buck Institute of Education which will be offering 2 week online courses on project based learning PBLU .  Needless to say, I'll have few dull moments this summer.  

I don't know about the rest of my colleagues in NYS  but if there is anyone out there, not just NY teachers, I mean ANYONE interested/concerned/seeking/knowledgeable out there about all of this, I would love to engage in helpful conversations with you.  If you're interested, please leave a comment.

As my courses unfold, I'll keep posting on my discoveries.  I just hope it will help someone, anyone out there and in the process, help me too.  Cheers!

   

Project Based Learning...CCSS...and me

First, my apologies to the creator of this fine .gif file.  I downloaded this from somewhere literally years ago, long before I really understood copyright.  Please forgive me and I will remove this if requested.   (But I had to use it; it's just so cool!)

In the meantime-Here's a project:  How DO we put Humpty Dumpty back together again?

IF I'm understanding common core state standards correctly, reflect back on my days at Full Sail University (KOOL AID) and using my deductive reasoning, I'd say project based learning is where this is all headed.  I have no real "proof" of this, but constructivism, data-driven instruction and "deeper learning" are some of the buzz words in all of the information I've gathered.  Am I on target?

Having said that, I wanted to share a new tool I've found that may interest some of you Full Sailors if you don't know of it already.  It's called Live Binders and it is quite the handy tool.  I am currently working on one now.  It is like having a notebook with all of your notes, links, forms, papers, etc.  available in ONE place, organized by tabs just like in a binder.  Here's the cool part:  IT'S FREE!

binder cover in Live Binder.com

You can keep it private, or share with others as you wish.  It is a little tricky to navigate at first.  I restarted 2 times trying to get my information in the best order I could.  However, it's like any other program, once you figure it out, you just do it. When completed, I plan on sharing it.

The binder topic I'm working on is all about the Common Core State Standards and everything I have found out so far.  It is far from complete, but it is expanding rapidly as I continue on my search for HELP in this state required educational mania that is coming.  I'll be spending my summer researching again!


I've been periodically sending informative web links to my building principal and curriculum administrator at district office.  My building principal asked if I would be willing to share my finds at a faculty meeting.  I can think of at least 2 other people more qualified than me to do such a task.  However, with all fear and trepidation I agreed, so long as I had time to be prepared.  (See the post on "The Art of Possibility" I have to believe!)


So my journey in CCSS continues.  Your thoughts would be appreciated, especially if your state has already begun this process.  Any help or feedback from anyone?

Where will all the music have gone?

I find it amazing that in all of the plans and common core standards and all of that, well, yes important stuff, music programs in schools all over this country are facing cuts.  I have heard it at board meetings, only recently and in budget discussions both far and near.  It is incredibly disheartening.  Even colleagues at times have said such disparaging remarks like "why do we even need instrument lessons?  Why can't kids just take private lessons?"  My answer:  because it's a PUBLIC SCHOOL!  (Sorry for the cyber shouting.)  If it wasn't for a public school education, I would never have been able to have music lessons, though I loved music from a very early age.  But I digress...


And yet, I have a question that no one seems able to answer:  If there are no music classes, or music ensembles (or art classes for that matter) who is going to create all of the images and sounds, music  that everyone clamors for in project-based learning, in technology, in multimedia presentations, for differentiated instruction?    If music programs are eradicated from the curriculum for whatever reason, what will the future hold for our culture, our society and the legacy of our nation? 


I'm not going to debate the validity of the pop music culture and the "artistic license" some individuals take.  That's a different discussion.  My question I believe is down to the very core of the issue, as it has been since I started as a music education major years ago now.  What is the value of music education in our society?  


I know, I get it.  Students need to read and write, and perform mathematics for various reasons.  But as educators are we going to face the truth?  If we are to "educate the whole child"  (don't you just love that phrase?) then we must  include the arts as well.  Music is part of the very core of our being.  From mother's womb when she sings to us (good or bad singing notwithstanding) or listening to music and feeling it in herself, her child inside feels it too.  


I know, not every child is going to be a musician, just like not every child will be a doctor or lawyer or ......NOR SHOULD THEY BE.  Each person is unique and therefore has something unique to themselves to contribute to our society in their own way.  But in order to do that, children need the opportunity to learn in ALL fields of learning to make their own informed decisions as to how they want their life to be and how they will contribute.  That information is obtained by a time of study in every field, especially and including the arts.  


Heard this before have you?  Yes, I know.  I've been defending my work for 22 years.  As a music teacher, I still have to "defend" what I do as valuable to some who see me as a nuisance.  We hear the cry for deeper understanding, for data-driven instruction, for common core standards of learning, for teacher accountability.  When will the powers that be follow their own advice, take a look at the data and see the scientific proof that music and art are not only important, but VITAL to the education of every child? 

So what?
So a lot of things.  Taking care of family is so important and usually something has to give.  In my case it was my blog which I actually enjoyed doing.  Now that Mom's health is somewhat better and changes loom in the air, I thought it was time to start writing again.  


So what's the deal with Common Core Standards, SLO's (in NY) APPR's (teacher evaluations) and a whole bunch of other changes coming down upon us next year, at least where I live?  (Really, do we need MORE acronyms in education?)


In doing some research and making some realizations; after contemplating all that I've learned at Full Sail, (and then my navel) and what I've been doing in the last 20 years in my classroom it's time to make a HUGE change in what and how I teach.  


New York State is making huge and admittedly necessary changes in its approach to education.  It has embraced the Common Core State Standards (engageNY.org) revamped teacher evaluations which includes student progress as 20% of a teacher's overall grade and SLO's (Student learning objectives) complete with a formalized format and expected for every student for every lesson, OR unit OR quarter OR year, OR all of the above.  


So what?  In the information age, it's no longer what you know, but learning how to obtain information and then use it.  The idea is to create "deeper" and more "meaningful" learning experiences.  Academic research supports this premise (see Eric Jensen's Book Brain-Based Learning 2nd edition, 2008 just for starters!) and now the paradigm shift begins from "knowing facts" to "knowing how to find and use facts."  (That's not a quote, it's my little mind trying to grasp a concept and put it into simple terms.) 

So what?  What now?  What to do about it?  Change or get run over!  Embrace the change or resist it but change is still coming.  I'm looking back and seeing a few things as I get ready to move ahead.  For me, personally, change is NECESSARY!

One of the reason's I attended Full Sail University last year was because of my district's push to use technology in class (see last year's archives if you want more details).  Little did I know how much that one decision would change my outlook on these changes coming ahead.

I want to amend a familiar saying:  There are only 2 things of which we can be certain: death and taxes.  Rather it should say "There are 3 things of which we can be certain:  death, taxes and CHANGE.

Change is inevitable, even if it's cyclical.  Even if it has already been here before, like fashions or the seasons, it is still change.  It may have hallmarks of being here before, but it's never quite exactly the same as before.  Some change is easily assimilated, some is not.  Each person handles it differently.  But I think success in these changes in education will best be met by accepting rather than fighting the change.

I have learned I cannot always control what happens to me.  I can only control how I handle what happens to me.  I can be reactive or proactive.  I am choosing the later.  

So now the next phase of my Full Sail experience begins.  Using the examples of my course directors as a guide, it's time to embrace the new ways and carefully discard those ways that are no longer useful.  Constructivism learning theory is the order of the day.  Now how to make it work?

So what?  So in a nutshell it means using project-based learning (PBL).  I was looking for help in this area.  How do I go deeper into musical learning, meet Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and Math, STEM and all of the other requirements and still provide a  meaningful musical experience?

So, that's what this blog is now going to be about.  Perhaps if I chronicle what I learn, it will help me keep it straight in my mind, and just possibly help someone else along the way.

So let's start simply.  I found a website that might be helpful as a starting point.  Buck Institute of Education has very clear and simple step on how to start in project based learning.  They also offer resources for sale, samples of lesson plans (complete with rubrics) for those who want them.  I recommend taking a look if anyone is  interested or needs assistance.

So what?  So here we go.  Let the change begin.  I just hope I can keep up!  (LOL!)