Week 1 Reflection
I used to think that I was pretty up to date on all of the new technology out there. I felt that I had could handle and understand the majority of technological aspects in the education field. In my previous teaching position, I was apart of the newly hired and younger teachers in that district. When we had professional development meetings that addressed our Smart Boards, updating our grading system, and creating and editing our class web pages, I understood and could follow the presenter clearly. At my current job, I am the 'more experienced' of two teachers in the music department. Throughout my first year at this job, I quickly realized that I wasn't as 'tech savvy' as I thought. I have had to ask my assistant director multiple times how to use our interactive whiteboard, how to pair to our Bluetooth speakers, and how to use other more advanced technologies.
In the first chapter of the reading for this week, Bauer had a section that discusses the technology integration gap. Bauer mentioned a national study that found that music teachers today normally use technology in the form of administrative tasks. These tasks include sending email, word processing, making worksheets, creating programs, and other uses. Having read that sentence, it made me think of how I use technology in my classroom and while at school. I too, mainly use technology for administrative purposes. The majority of which include sending and replying to email. I do use a projector and Bluetooth speakers in class to show our marching competition videos each week, but sadly, that is the extent of my technology usage. Our school just implemented a one on one device program this year. I haven't had time to research ways to use this to my student's advantage in class. I have asked them to download a few free apps, such as a tuner and a metronome, but I know that there are many more opportunities to incorporate technology. This is one thing that I am eager to learn about in this course.
Another topic mentioned in the reading that was intriguing to me, was the mention of using an iPod touch. After reading that, I looked to see when this book was published. It was published in 2014. Only three years ago, but to be honest, I can't remember the last time I have seen a student with, or heard an advertisement for an iPod touch. That made me realize how fast technology changes. What to me seems like ancient technology, was still popular enough to be written about three to four years ago. It makes me wonder what new technological advancement will make the technology we use today ancient or obsolete.
In the first chapter of the reading for this week, Bauer had a section that discusses the technology integration gap. Bauer mentioned a national study that found that music teachers today normally use technology in the form of administrative tasks. These tasks include sending email, word processing, making worksheets, creating programs, and other uses. Having read that sentence, it made me think of how I use technology in my classroom and while at school. I too, mainly use technology for administrative purposes. The majority of which include sending and replying to email. I do use a projector and Bluetooth speakers in class to show our marching competition videos each week, but sadly, that is the extent of my technology usage. Our school just implemented a one on one device program this year. I haven't had time to research ways to use this to my student's advantage in class. I have asked them to download a few free apps, such as a tuner and a metronome, but I know that there are many more opportunities to incorporate technology. This is one thing that I am eager to learn about in this course.
Another topic mentioned in the reading that was intriguing to me, was the mention of using an iPod touch. After reading that, I looked to see when this book was published. It was published in 2014. Only three years ago, but to be honest, I can't remember the last time I have seen a student with, or heard an advertisement for an iPod touch. That made me realize how fast technology changes. What to me seems like ancient technology, was still popular enough to be written about three to four years ago. It makes me wonder what new technological advancement will make the technology we use today ancient or obsolete.
Hi Allison,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your thoughtful and reflective post. I can relate to your point of feeling confident with technology in certain situations and then finding out there is a whole onslaught of new things you can't do "yet." I think it is exciting and a little frustrating at the same time.
We have been very fortunate to have had 1:1 technology for our students for years now. I too started with the tuner/metronome apps or sites and then quickly found how useful websites like www.teoria.com or www.musictheory.net are helping students with theory. Last year I tried using www.sightreadingfactory.com and loved it but transferred that budget money into providing my instrumentalists access to SmartMusic this year (I used the old platform with one student computer and am excited to use their new platform to help more kids).
When we first got the 1:1 technology, all our the teachers were finding their own sites and apps to use with their classes. Some had Edmodo, some used Class Dojo and I think the best thing to happen to our school was the collaborative effort to all use Google Classroom as our main platform to interact with our classes. Students know where to go for all teachers and it streamlined things for parents too.
I wish you all the best of luck as you explore how to incorporate the technology into your teaching! I highly recommend using Plickers.com. I use it to start my ensemble classes to take attendance, see who is prepared for class and collect a quick comprehensive snapshot with data I can use later all in one quick scan of the room with my phone. However, as you mentioned about the now somewhat outdated iPod touch, who knows what next week will bring?
Best of luck on your journey!
Becky
Allison,
ReplyDeleteYour post made me think about a few things that related to the Bauer readings. In one context, you discuss your level of comfort when dealing with new technologies and following presenters during professional development meetings. This seemed to have been when the technology was used in an administrative capacity, i.e. smartboard or grading. In another context, you describe feelings a level of discomfort when it came to implementing different technologies for your students, instead of just using technology for administrative tasks. I would consider this to be a great example of the TPACK paradigm. Context is important to this paradigm and the context is always changing depending on the situation. With the implementation of your school district's one-on-one program, you will have many opportunities to begin integrating technology into your classroom on a daily basis. Just remember to take baby steps and do it a little at a time. My previous school district went to a one-on-one initiative and it scared me. I was afraid that I would have to do every lesson using technology. I found that this was not the case and good teaching was, and still is, good teaching, with or without the technology component. This is especially true in a performance ensemble. Trust your skills, do some reading, and go through the technology before teaching the lesson, and you will be fine. Also, ipod touches are not as popular as they used to be because parents just buy their kids smartphones. You are right, the trends change pretty quickly.
Allison,
ReplyDeleteSo much of your reflection rings true with me. I am currently am one of the younger teachers in my music department and the district as a whole, however even I struggle with the technologies that we use. I mostly use technology for administrative purposes - email, SMART board, etc. My elementary schools have one-to-one chromebooks for 4th and 5th grade and multiple classroom iPads for the regular classroom. I have never even considered asking if those devices - already purchased and in use - could be brought to my general music classroom. I was struck when reading Bauer describe how technology could be use for composing. Composing is something that is already in my curriculum for these grades, and I will be researching and asking around for ways to integrate technology into these lessons!
Allison,
ReplyDeleteSimilar to you and Sarah, I am one of the younger teachers at my school and, like you guys, my use of technology in the classroom is restricted to administrative purposes. I think something that makes the use of technology difficult, is, as you said, it is evolving very quickly. I guess the best thing we can do is to learn from our students. They often know more than we do and can introduce us to what they are currently using. It is also difficult when we have a lack of resources or the pedagogical know-how of how to incorporate it into our lessons. It is no secret that money in education is usually lacking. I believe most of us would have to obtain a grant or fundraise in order to get technology for our rooms. Creating a PLN in this course will certainly be beneficial for all of us to share the knowledge and ideas for incorporating technology and the means for how to provide it to our students.