Wk 2 Project

My content proposal is finished and submitted. Definitely a very good feeling. I have now started working on the media project. My media project is going to be a combination of a website, a Ning site, and a Udutu. All of these media will be linked to one another. The website will serve as a tool to let the community know what is happening in the Bell Middle School Orchestra. The Ning site will serve as communicating the importance of music and a social network for the parents and students. The Udutu will serve as a tool in further music advocacy.

At first I felt like this was all too much. Now that I have started on it, I am feeling better. Perhaps it is too much, and I will discover something better to do later on. For now I am excited to get further along, and see this media project develop.

Wk 2 Free Choice - 21st Century Learners

Before beginning this program at Full Sail, I had not put much thought into how I was reaching my 21st century classroom.

As a music teacher, I have mainly concentrated on the music portion of class and not so much on the technology available.

This video is something I came across at the beginning of my time with Full Sail. It is inspirational to me. It makes me think

about what my students would like to experience in my class. If they do not experience anything like that in any other class,

at least I can provide that.

In my class I want to introduce my students to music technology. There are so many programs that could be helpful in the

music program. Programs such as Smart Music, Sibellius, recording programs, etc. Music games are abundant and help

reinforce what I am teaching. Learners of the 21st century do need to learn different skills than the learners of the past. As

a music teacher I can provide that, and I am excited for the opportunities. I am also excited to see how my students react to

new aspects of technology that I include in my lessons.

Wk 2 Comments - Response to Tanya Doll

Tanya's post can be found at:

http://tanyadollhouse.blogspot.com/2010/03/week-2-choice-gaming-in-corporations.html

Wk 2 Reading - Contributing to the environment

As teachers and students we are all so concerned about appearance. Do I look ok? Did I express that statement right? What do the other teachers think of me? What do my peers think of me? Do they like me? These questions can consume us, until we are so concerned about ourselves and consumed with not failing. We set ourselves up for failure by being so concerned about it. The way to truly succeed is to consider what we can contribute and what we already contribute to the setting we are in. Every student contributes good things to the class, and it is vital that they know that in order to feel that they are a success. Every teacher and student contributes good things, and the more we think and dwell on those things, the better chances at success we will have.

Part of contributing involves Rule Number 6 from the reading. The rule of humor. The contribution of humor adds so much to a classroom setting and any setting we come into in life. The ability to lighten up situations and make people laugh promotes learning. Every teacher might grow tired of their class clown cracking jokes constantly, but that person contributes something important in the class. As teachers we need to show our students, even our "troublemakers," that they do contribute good things in the class. They do not need to be consumed with failure. Through teaching the students the rule of humor and contribution, we can teach them to be a success in life.

The Art of Possibility, chapters 4-6