Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Interactivity #4


I chose the “Compose a Phrase” lesson plan because it has clear curriculum goals. There were three main goals: 1) teaching students how to play G and C scales on the keyboard, 2) helping each student to play from the piano book pp.23-51 and 3) challenging students to compose a short notation project using Sibelius software. Also this lesson plan has a lot of use in digital technology such as computers, Sibelius software, digital camera and projector which can grab students’ attention easily. This lesson definitely supports many of NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards.

In my opinion, there was no gap between the curriculum goals, teaching strategies, and technologies used. Because the writer of this lesson plan used each technology on the appropriate teaching strategies, the achievement of the curriculum goals was the natural outcome. For example, she used Sibelius software after teaching students notes in G and C scales. By the time, students were very confident with using these scales and working with Sibelius could motivate students to apply what they learned to the real composition. The usage of electronic keyboards was a great idea, too. It really helps students to play the instrument to remember notes in scales rather than just reading and listening.         

The technologies that were used in this lesson plan were essential to achieve the curriculum goals in authenticity. Without electronic keyboards or Sibelius software on the computers, students would not be able to actively participate in music making. The whole curriculum goals were written based on the use of these technologies. Without these technologies, the curriculum goals would be possible to achieve in 40 minutes as it was planned. Perhaps it is possible, but it would take much longer to achieve it.   

URL of my spread sheet 
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AizMSVGMihqtdFgzYkEwVXVfb1BwOUgzdF9EOXl2MEE

3 comments:

  1. I think you did a good review of the lesson plan you chose. I agree with you, I think that without all of the technologies in your lesson it wouldn't be possible to do. I think they were very essential to your lesson. For this particular lesson, the students definitely need all of the technologies in order to achieve the most out of their music making.

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  2. Hi! I wonder what you think about our keyboard lab in Chapin Hall? Although not set up to work, we have hardware that would connect all of our keyboard to each other and the professor would be able to listen and talk to us through microphones and headphones. How would you use that in a high school classroom?

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  3. Scott! You are right! I love that equipment we have in Chapin. I wish we can use it properly so we don't waste the technology that we already own. Since I want to teach keyboard to students, it will be perfect to use them in a high school classroom! Thank you for a great suggestion :)

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