Technology
SMARTBoards in theGeneralMusicClassroom by Jennifer Gilbert Mercer
This article first appeared in Triad, the official publication of the Ohio Music Educators Associaiton. It is reprinted here with permission from Triad Editor Karen Smith and author Jennifer Gilbert Mercer.
It was not that long ago, as I a young girl, sat in one of
Mrs.Gallahue’s general music classes, in the Edon Northwest School District. I watched her accompany our class on the autoharp and piano and model good singing technique. We skipped around the room to Froggy Went a Courtin and played Hot Cross Buns on our flutaphones.We learned how to sing and keep a steady beat, but above all gained a love of music through those fun experiences.Oh, thosewere the days! Thosememories help keep me rooted in the pedagogy of music education as I learn new teaching techniques through technology. It is always important to remember that great music teaching includes elements of instruction from our past while integrating methodology of the future. One should not be sacrificed for the other.
Technology continues to createwonderful opportunities
for innovative teaching practices in the generalmusic classroom. Some teachers choose to embrace itwhile others proceedwithout interest. One of the newest buzz words in technology is the interactive SMART board. Its implementation in elementary, middle, and high school settings has opened the door to diversified instruction and hasmet our students head onwith the technology many of them have come accustomed to at home. The fear of technology should not keep music educators from exploring new ways to teach traditional concepts. However, before jumping too quickly into the unknown, a few questions need to be addressed to provide a comfort level for technology integration. These questions include: “What is a SMART board?” “Why should I have interest in one?” “Howcan I use it toenhancemygeneralmusic lessons?” “How do I get one?”
In many cases, SMART boards appear in regular education classroomsettings before special area classrooms. It is important therefore, that general music teachers are able to justify having a SMART board in their classroom, when most of us are at the bottom of a long list of recipients.
What is a SMART board? A SMART board is an interactive white board that
combines the simplicity of a whiteboard with the power of a computer. The touch-sensitive display connects to your computer and digital projector to showyour computer image.You can then control computer applications directly from the display, write notes in digital ink and save your work to share later.
http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/Products/SMART+Boards /
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Practical Applications I have used technology in my classroom this year
through Finale Notepad student compositions, burning accompaniment CDs for concert performances, downloading songs fromiTunes for classroomuse, and utilizing variousmusic education websites. The SMART board has changed the way I prepare lesson plans and will continue to as I use them over the coming years. I have the free SMART board software installed on bothmy home and school computers,making lesson planning more easily. Once lessons have been created, they are permanently saved into grade level or theme oriented folders. I can access themat anytime and alter themwith ease.Never again will I be searching through file folders and boxes for that one lesson plan I did three years ago. It will be saved for years to come.
Why should I have interest in one? The SMART board helps meet the needs of all learners
in the music classroom through differentiated instruction. It enhances lessons with visual and auditory stimuli in an interactive presentation. If you have the added bonus of seeing every child in the school grades K-5, having a SMART board in the music room would give every student in the school the opportunity for this experience. The SMART board can be used to meet reading and
writing building goals, specifically in the area of music literacy. This technology will increase student engagement and learning in the general music classroom through interactive curriculum and hands-on music experiences. This can be achieved by integrating music notation composition software (Finale Notepad), interactive CD-roms, websites, smart notebook, iTunes, pod casting, and Music Ace and Making Music programs. The following academic content standards can be
addressed through using the SMART board:
• Improvisingmelodies, variations and accompaniments • Composing and arranging music within specific guidelines
• Reading and notating music • Listening to, analyzing, and describing music • Evaluating music and music performances • Understandingmusic in relation to history and culture
Nowthat IknowwhataSMARTboardis…Howdo Iget one? The first step to acquiring a SMART board is beingwell educated on the topic and not being afraid to ask questions. Get
October 2008
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