Ok, so the last post wasn’t my last post! But I was just doing a final explore before tomorrow of my peer’s blogs.
It is amazing the research we have covered by sharing with one another! I noticed on Krizzia’s blog a link to a music teacher’s blog. I wish I had seen this before tonight! It could have provided many resources. I had a quick look over and it seems to have a lot of information I could spend hours looking over.
I thought I would post the link here too and will have a look through later to see what more it contains!
I thought to finish of my final blog posting before my assignment is marked I would think about posting a bit of a sum up of my learning experiences in this subject.
Entitled “Current Issues and Applications in Educational Computing” I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but it has been quite a learning journey. Both in terms of software use, but most importantly my view on using technology in the classroom.
I found this video tonight from Anderson Primary School in Singapore. It is a video that was shown at their end of year prize giving ceremony. It really brought home the value of using this technology. It has so many wonderful uses including reviewing an entire year through photos and videos.
While watching this I was reminded of my years at school where at Presentation Evening I would sit for a good 15 minutes while my principal would explain various activities which had happened in the year. This 4 minute video, I believe, would be more beneficial and can really show what has gone on during the year at that school.
The video also showed the value of using technology for a variety of means in the classroom across many different Key Learning Areas. Something I have also been challenged about in this subject.
But perhaps the thing that I am most reminded of in this video is the great opportunity technology provides in sharing our small community with the wider world. We have so many opportunities to connect our classrooms with those on the other side of the world! Our students will have opportunities that we never had in school to share and have their voice heard! This is something I do not want to pass up!
I have just been looking through some of Shirley’s old posts and came across her critique of one of my posts earlier on in my blogging. She reminded me of the importance of considering the appropriateness of resources for the kids we are teaching. I have become so excited about the wide range of resources available I think this was a helpful reminder before dosing my students with inappropriate things!
One point Shirley raises is that many resources for primary students are aimed at upper primary. There are very few for younger kids. I started thinking about how you could incorporate technology for them.
I then remembered LAMS!!!!!!! I have become excited remembering this wonderful tool and could see many benefits in using this to construct my own online learning experiences incorporating relevant parts of the technology available, but constructing an age appropriate, valid learning experience for kids!
I have just listened to Cassie’s post on Assistive Technologies for students with special needs. She explains assistive technology as, “any software or hardware that has been specially designed to help improve access to a computer”.
In some of the reading I have done it seems that music is deemed a useful tool for students to express themselves. I wonder now what technology might be available to assist students to use the music technology I have researched. Cassie’s post lists some hardware like larger keyboards and jostick controlled mice… I wonder if there is specific software available in as well….
“Because fewer public schools offer music programs to students, the nonprofit organization Little Kids Rock decided to “provide its unique music curriculum” free of charge to schools. And to us. Part of the expansive iTunes U, Little Kids Rock offers guitar lessons, drum lessons, and other musical resources.”
It then provides a link taking you to the “Little Kids Rock” page in itunes. I thought this seemed like an interesting thing to investigate, particularly given my interest in public education and music. I decided to look up the “Little Kids Rock” website . With a bit of exploring I found that the main program is American and does not have as much relevance to us, but there are still some worthwhile resources.
This is their rationale for the program.
“ believes that all children in our public schools deserve music education. Music education is a transforming force in children’s lives. This is why we are dedicated to bringing free musical instruments and music instruction to public school children. At Little Kids Rock, we believe that ”
(Little Kids Rock, n.d.)
The American program offers free music tuition in schools, providing the teachers and the instruments. However, recently on itunes they have put up a number of resources which could be helpful for teachers. These include activity books, videos teaching guitar and drums and various items from kids and professionals.
Reference:
Little Kids Rock. (n.d.). Little Kids Rock. Retrieved March 5, 2008 from Little Kids Rock website: http://www.littlekidsrock.org/index.htm.
I have done a critique for my assignment on the use of computer-mediated composition technologies. One which keeps popping up is Hyperscore so I wanted to have a go at using it myself to see if it’s all it’s cracked up to be. On my exploration I came across this midi file:
This was composed by a 10 year old child who had no musical background in composition. This was done in a week and performed by the Berlin Orchestra in 2001!
Unfortunately, I only own macs and hyperscore seems to work for Windows machines only and has costs to purchase, although from the research and various videos available both on the Hyperscore website and you-tube it seems to have positive reviews!
I have been reading a fair bit about music software for primary school students and one which keeps popping up is the “Super Duper Music Looper“. This is not free software, but you can play a demo online (requires flash).
One thing I like about this software is that it doesn’t require any musical notation knowledge to compose and by just using loops some fairly sophisticated compositions can be made! It is like garage band – but simpler! Students can also record their own voices into the composition and send it via email to others!
One disadvantage is that it only works for windows machines.
believes that all children in our public schools deserve music education. Music education is a transforming force in children’s lives. This is why we are dedicated to bringing free musical instruments and music instruction to public school children. At Little Kids Rock, we believe that 
”