Just For Fun

A video version of what garageband basically does

... without the crashing and burning in the end. That's just because it's Beaker.

PLN : Garageband

PLN : Garageband

Garageband is the best addition to my PLN thus-far. It is a multi-track recording tool, meaning it "records many tracks" and overlaps them, allowing you to create and arrange your own music. In the classroom, this tool is incredible. It can be used to record music for the background of story-telling, as demonstrated, or to cut a full song to a version that they would be preforming. It both enhances the already established classroom techniques, and leads the way for easier resources. 

Applications

Google form : 1

Here is my first google form. It is a simple solfeg test (with bonus question)

Solfeg Test

PLN : Google Docs

PLN: Google Docs

Unlike my post on Google in general, my Google Docs (Google Drive) post comes with a warning. This is amazingly useful for creating all types of useful forms. From online assessments to printable quizzes, this is a great tool for all types of educators. Starting to make the document is as easy as pushing a giant red button, literally. From there, it is easy to configure and finish the document. In my opinion, it is hard to sure and edit the document, but I am still inexperienced at it. Hopefully in time I will become an expert at it.

RR : Bauer and Bauer

Reading Reaction : Bauer and Bauer

I was very surprised to hear that "most music educators are not making an extensive use of technology." In my opinion, advancing technology, when used correctly, makes music easier to both teach and learn. Teachers now have aids they can use, which weren't available to them before. Students, tied to technology more now than ever, can benefit by having further means of communication with other musicians, more at home help, and a more exciting way to learn in general. If more teachers actually invested time into examining their own PLN and use of all three sections of TPACK, technology, pedagogy and content, I think the musical classroom could be improved vastly.

Same with the other Bauer reading. As a teacher, a PLN can be a great way to help yourself be a teacher and your students to be better learners. Your PLN let's you connect with other teachers and create an easy way to see what resources they have, some of which might help you. If studying through PLNs could help teachers, they could help students too. Instead of just giving a child resources in school, now they can have them out of school too, by following their teachers PLN.

While technology will never be the predominant method of etching music, it can definitely be a helpful guide. As we progress with technology, I believe we should progress with technology in our education programs.

PLN: Diigo

PLN : Diigo

Diigo is a "social bookmarking site" used to remember and post websites publicly. I, so far, have used it to organize my resources which were currently all over my computer. My resources include blogs, websites, and wiki accounts based on, or having to do with, Music Education. In the future, I hope to also use this tool to connect to other music educators, and view the resources they find helpful. Diigo is an amazing tool, which has added so much to my PLN.

PLN blogger

PLN : Blogger

This is my first blog about my "Personal Learning Network". So while I have had a google account for years, I simply only used it for Gmail. I am now a part of Blogger and finding it so useful. It is so easy to control and manipulate, and even easier for others to see your ideas and thoughts. Blogger allows me to communicate with my classmates and music educators from all over. It provides an easy way to stay connected which is amazingly useful in the education profession. In my opinion, this was "one small step for my blog, and one Giant leap for my PLN."