Thing 18-Building Your Personal Learning Network

In regards to personal learning networks, I am very grateful for the people who join them. They engage themselves in specific topics and get answers from other people in the field. Ideas, thoughts, and suggestions are shared by people of all experience levels. With a forum, the reader may need to further investigate the answer if doubt plays a part. I encourage all readers to continue researching the answer.

On a positive note, personal learning networks are a great way to further your knowledge on topics of your choice. I did locate some useful resources on mel.org in a search for music education. From the latter website, I read forums on the MENC Web-site for about 45-minutes while completing this assignment. It was interesting to read the questions posed and the answers given.

Thing 17-More Web 2.0 Winners

(image by simplerandomness) Using Web 2.0, I discovered a music site called Pandora.com. I was a fan in the first minute. In the search box, I entered Paul Simon, my favorite artist! Pandora then created a personal radio station for me. I could choose between an all Paul Simon station or Paul Simon interspersed with other similar artists. When the song plays, you can click on the thumbs up or thumbs down. With that information, Pandora narrows down your choices to a personalized radio station.

I can definitely see using this application in school. Many styles of music and many pieces or songs within each style are just a click away. Create the station of your choice and have it readily accessible to the students.

Thing 16-Teach Digital

One message that was unanimously heard throughout each video were students' needs for developing their creativity through diverse and interactive means. Great! Sign them all up for a fine arts class! In all reality, on one hand I am concerned about today's youth's ability to focus over an extended time. Their video game screens move so quickly from screen to screen. And, on the other hand, they are really devote to the technology available to them. We should incorporate technology in our teaching to capture their interest and to prepare them for future endeavors.

The videos created by the students had them stating that teachers need to be more current in our teaching methods. The youth want us to change our old fashioned teaching methods. But the truth is is that great teaching is great teaching. Build a rapport with your students. Know your subject material. Be prepared. Have confidence in your students' abilities, so they, too, can learn to believe in themselves. Present each lesson in an organized manner. As I stated above, great teaching is great teaching no matter which generation you are from.

In conclusion, a balance needs to be had. In all three video's the viewer was encouraged to embrace a change in educational practices. Lecturing, referred to as outdated, is commonplace in the working world known as meetings. Although Sir Ken Robinson 'lectured' for 20 minutes, he engaged listeners with a balance of stories, intellectualism, research, and humor. In addition to incorporating technology, students need the stories, the laughter, a teacher who can sense that within a lecture, the listener needs a change of pace. Use technology. Learn the world of your students to be in touch with their interests and balance it with your best teaching techniques.

Thing 15- How to Use Podcasts in School

Podcasts in the classroom are useful to supplement the concepts being taught during the lesson. With an iPod and deck, I have played podcasts for my students of musical performances and interviews with professional musicians. Although I have previously found resources on NPR and music-based Web-sites, I look forward to searching for relevant podcasts in Podcast Alley and other sources mentioned.

Fortunately, administrators have been supportive of advancing technology. I enjoy using podcasts and have used them in other ways. For instance, I record and edit our band concerts in order to create a podcast of each song performed at the concert. At the subsequent band classes, we listen to the podcasts and critique our concert performance ending with a discussion about strengths, weaknesses, and future goals. The podcasts are then placed on the band website for future listening.

The video by Katie Grassel had some useful ideas. One of my future goals is to create a podcast for my students on how to practice a new piece of music. It would contain the information needed to be gathered at the first look at the piece, such as tempo, style, time/key signatures, etc. Then I would continue with the form of the piece and the best practice techniques for each phrase and or section of music.

Thing 14-Learn About Podcasting

(Image by OllieBray) I consider myself very fortunate to have the job that I do. Once I prepare the 6th grade band students with the basic instrumental musical concepts, there are so many opportunities in our band program awaiting them. One for instance, is our outstanding high school jazz department. There are three jazz bands in the high school. Knowing this, I introduce the blues and jazz styles to my 6th grade band students.

One of my favorite NPR shows is "Piano Jazz" by Marion McPartland, which airs each Saturday morning from 10-11 AM on NPR 104.1. There is a lot to be learned from listening to the great and inspiring musicians' music and life stories. Its always interesting finding out how these musicians got to where they are. Some grew up associating with the jazz greats and others had parents who supported their children's interest in music.

Dave Samuels with Alain Mallet on Piano Jazz Dave Samuels plays the vibraphone, but started out on the drums and piano. He soon chose the vibes because, to him, it was a mixture of his two favorite instruments or the best of both worlds. Students listening to this podcast would hear the sound of great musicians performing in a couple different styles of music. They would also hear the enthusiasm in Mr. Samuels' voice telling about the other great musicians he had the honor to perform and record with and meet.

"Musicians in Their Own Words" is another one of my favorite NPR shows. In the Podcast
A Musicians Guide to the Pre-Concert Warm-Up, professional musicians speak about techniques to warming up before a concert. Whether producing raspberry sounds, bird calls, or sirens, proper warm-up is necessary at the beginning of every practice session or performance. Yo-Yo-Ma's respect of his relationship with his cello, bow, and music is most impressive. As in any level of musical ability, a great sound is always a requirement whether it's the first, middle, or last note produced.

Thing 13-Sharing Your Vision

Jack Stamp is music professor at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania College of Fine Arts. He promotes music education in this poignant, yet passionate presentation. Listening to his speech reminds me that teaching is more than the subject material. Teaching is about inspiring students to take pride in their work and motivating them to achieve more than they believe they can.

Slide was fun to use. Lots of creative themes for a captivating presentation. A presentation like this one would be a good introduction for a lesson on some instruments in the woodwind family.

Thing 12-Productivity Anywhere You Have a Browser

I looked at each tools trying to decide which would best fit my curriculum. I was intrigued by many of the Web-sites and would like to use some of them in the future, but for now, Slide was decidedly the most useful. It was easy to use, whereas you pick your creation and upload pictures or a You Tube video to it. Its uses have quite a range from creating a photo album of a special personal event or pictures from a school event. My favorite feature was being able to upload a You Tube video and framing it. The frames ranged everywhere between an old T.V. to an outline of an iPhone.