Week 11- Integrated Lesson

Integrated Lesson

Music History

 Mr. Figliano

Final Music History Research Paper/ Presentation

Description of the unit and proposed classroom learning activity:

Students are to write a final research paper on their favorite musician, group, band or composer of their choice.  Along with the research paper students must give a 10- 15 minute class presentation.  This can be either someone who we discussed in class or someone you choose on your own.  The person may be living or diseased.

EXAMPLE:

-          Bach

-          Mozart

-          Beethoven

-          Copland

-          Elvis

-          The Beatles

-          Lady Gaga

 

Student learning objectives:

Students will have the ability to explore any musician or their choice.  This learning activity will be the final grade for Music History.  In class we have discussed a wide array of different musicians from Bach and the start of Baroque music up until The Beatles and the British invasion on America.  We were not able to discuss any one composer in-depth during class because of the wide variety of material.  Now the student has the opportunity to explore a detailed synopsis of their favorite musician.   

Specific curriculum objectives:

- Approximately 5 pages for the research paper

- Minimum of 5 PowerPoint slides briefly outlining the musician’s life  

- 12 point font, Times New Roman, Double Spaced

-  Bibliography page required

- Minimum of 5 brief musical examples of the musician (CD or I-POD excepts, video footage, or interviews) This means you can use concert footage or a interview from the BBC, MTV, VH1 etc…

- Minimum or 3 visual examples of the musician (paintings or pictures)

CPI # 1.3.12.B.1

Technical accuracy, musicality, and stylistic considerations vary according to genre, culture, and historical era.

CPI # 1.3.12.B.2

The ability to read and interpret music impacts musical fluency.

SUBSTANCE OF THE LESSON/ACTIVITY 

Technology to be used in this activity:

Students can use any valid source they choose for their research.  They are encouraged to use multiple different technological resources (Library, Internet, PowerPoint, DVD footage, CD and or I-Pod).  These particular technologies will be used because it allows students to explore their chosen musicians in a facet of different ways.  Students will need to become acquainted with Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint and audio/video technology such as CD’s, I- Pods and DVD’s.  This will enhance the lesson by presenting visual, audio and video examples.  Students will understand a greater facet of their chosen musician though seeing, hearing and listening.

Activity timeline/procedures:

Considering the large scale of this final assignment, students can begin their research process as soon as January.  The papers and presentations will be handed in and presented the final week of class.  Students should begin by researching as much as they possibly can.  Searching through books, websites (valid), video and concert footage should be the bases of the research.  Once the biographical information is completed then students can begin searching though different pictures and musical pieces to present to the class.    The biographical information that makes up the paper should include, birth, death (if applicable), living locations, spouses, education, musical works, performance information, impact on musical cultures and genera’s.  All sources must be sited and placed into a bibliography page at the end of the paper.  The presentation must include PowerPoint slides that briefly outline the musician/composters life.  They must also include 5 music excerpts of their original work.  These 5 excerpts should be major or significant pieces that revolutionized there career.  Also include a minimum of 3 visual examples of the musician (paintings or pictures).  These pictures must be iconic to the musician’s life and career.  (Example:  Beethoven portrait or The Beatles Abby Road album cover) ALL STUDENTS CAN USE ANY MATERIALS ALREADY PRESENTED IN CLASS, INCLUDING HANDOUTS OF BACH, MOZART AND BEETHOVEN. 

ASSESSMENT

Students will be assessed on their creativity and knowledge of their paper and presentation.  Since students have the ability to choose their own musician/composer they are expected to be quite knowledgeable on his or her life.  Musical examples must be chosen accordingly to their life and career.  The criteria for success are based on professionalism, historical content and knowledge of the musician’s career and life.  This will be a learning experience to students because it allows them to learn and explore information on one of there favorite musicians. 

Week 10- Sexting

     To be quite honest I was not totally surprised by the information given from the videos.  Due to today’s advances in technology more and more people seem to be losing their common sense and sense of reality, especially our youth.  The majority of pictures uploaded onto "facebook" are people partying at clubs with very little clothing on.  Today’s generation feels as though they must constantly exploit themselves.  A huge part of this is due to media.  Television shows, magazines and movies have all sold to major markets because of SEX.  So it is no surprise our youth is Sexting. 
     I was extremely disheartened to watch a mother describe what it was like to walk into a room and discover her daughter hung from the ceiling.  To blame personal choices a child has done on a teacher is inadequate to the school.  Parents play a huge role in setting the foundation for their children.  Schools can only educate students on the darker side of technology but it is the parents who need to reinforce them.  If a student is immature enough to send an explicit text message to someone they just met then that nobody else’s fault but their own and they must deal with the repercussions.  I do not believe banning cell phones or restricting internet options will solve any problems.  Students must be taught to always act professional and respectful in the online world much like they would act in a classroom.

Week 9- Fair Use

     I believe that most of us in class were very surprised with the outcome of there "Fair Use Copy Right" quiz.  Fair Use is the existing of a copyright law that provides for the fair use of copyright materials, especially for educational and researched based uses (Thompson, 2005).  With myself included I could not believe how many of those copyright rules were being broken even in my own high school.  I remember numerous occasions when teachers would bring in "20/20" or "Dateline" episodes for the class to watch.  In my senior year of High school my teacher videotaped the "Band of Brothers" series from HBO for the class to watch.  Was that considered breaking the copyright laws?  In many ways the times we are living in are very scary.  I take the music copyright laws very seriously.  When I am playing in a band and or writing original music there is always a sense or pressure to copyright my material.  Every time I completed a original song and copyright it I would have to fill out a booklet of forms and send a $55 check to Washington D.C.  The process to receive the official form back from the government takes approximately 10-12 months.  The whole procedure was a very long and tedious process.

Week 8- Technology Education Matrix

     The Technology Education Matrix cell that I choose was Authentic Learning Entry Level.  The objectives as given from the K-2 reading practice are "Students will develop literacy skills independently" and "Students will use basic computer skills such as keyboarding by using phonics games online".  These meets the NETS for Teachers standards 2a (design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity) and 2b (develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress).  Of course these two NETS standards are taught at a very rudimentary level because of the young age group of students.
     I believe that my technology education skills have vastly grown since the beginning of class.  I have learned to think quicker and more effectually.  Ever since I have left my comfort zone I have been able to grow and expand my knowledge in the digital world of education.  I feel that my Technology Education Matrix is at the Infusion level.  I still have more to learn and will continue to do so in the remaining weeks of the semester and further more in life. 

Week 7- Podcast

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Students are to search though their favorite songs and sets of lyrics.  As I have demonstrated in my Podcast, the purpose of this assignment is to find a song with lyrics that you can identify yourself with.  This means that the song could be something sentimental from your childhood, a song your grandfather used to sing to you or a love song you danced to with your girlfriend or boyfriend.  This is meant to be fun and to show me and the rest of the class your individual musical interests.  Once you choose a song please write a 1-2 page response on the song’s lyrics and why that particular song or lyric is important to you.

Week 6 - Philosophical - 21st Century Learning

Blog Response #1 (article)-
       In the fast moving world that we live in I believe that 21st Century skills are an absolute necessity.  Using these skills and integrating them into K-12 school systems will only help students.  Each graduating student will have an uphill battle in trying to succeed in today’s economy.  So anyway to equip them to be better rounded can only be beneficial.  Whether they go to college or learn a trade these 21st Century Skills will be cared in their future.  Maura Banta says in her The Value of Teaching 21st Century Skills article "These skills include problem-solving, financial and business literacy, global awareness, and innovation".  The job of the teacher or educator is to obviously teach students.  But perhaps the direction schools have been in the past is showing less effectiveness.  Stacy Teicher Khadaroo raises that exact point in her Schools tap 21st-century skills article.  Khadaroo says "For decades, the emphasis in public education has been on making sure that students can read, write, and do math. But can they apply those skills in a real-world scenario, such as designing a bridge? Can they identify what information they need and use digital tools to find it?"  I am sure for many new teachers and myself included, the rate in which technology is moving around the globe can be a very scary thought.  But in the same regard it is also very beautiful.  Students are learning much faster and have the ability to reach much higher educational avenues.  I agree with Khadaroo when she refers to today's economy as a "knowledge economy".  To move forward in today's world there is more precedence in earning a higher education for you and the foundation is built though learning these 21st-Century Skills.  A West Virginia state superintendent Steven Paine, refers to two different worlds for students.  The first, being the world of academia and the second is the real world.  He however believes that these two worlds are becoming one.  Job's in the past that were seen as requiring less education now require four year degree's.  I disagree with the Jay Mathews article The Last Doomed Pedagogical Fad: 21st-Century Skills.  "Suddenly, it became clear how 21st-century thinking was far more important than the mounds of content we were expected to force-feed our victims (I mean students)," says Mathews.  I believe this is an extremely radical standpoint.  The original subject matter will always be the most import aspect of teaching.  With no subject matter, teachers would have nothing to teach.  It is obvious that students just would not be sitting in classrooms and learning the Skill set and nothing else.  So we as teachers must help to incorporate 21st-Century Skills into our classroom along with our individual field of study.  In conclusion, I do not believe that 21st Century Skills are a fad.  "Knowledge is Power" and with the direction our would is moving this has become more evident.

Blog Response #2 (video)-
       I personally enjoyed watching Sir Ken Robinsons speech.  He was very charismatic and a great public speaker.  I was able to connect to the video on many different levels.  First, I am a musician and strongly agree with Robinson about the decline in the arts.  I understand that math and science are extremely important subjects but they are no more important than music or dance.  Growing up, I was much like the child Sir Robinson described.  I was constantly moving and hyper.  My parents and I had an appointment though the school to talk to an education expert.  My parents only wanted the best for me.  The Dr. told my parents that I suffered from ADD and would need to be put on medication.  My parent’s declined the offer and I was never taken to that Dr. again.  When I was introduced to music a few years later I was able to grow.  Many of my teachers thought my parents were crazy but now I can say I have graduated with Honors from Seton Hall University and am obviously in the MAT program at MSU.  So what Sir Robinson stated could not have been said better.  The notion that, if students fail there world is over needs to stop!  We must begin to teach that failing is okay only if we learn from it.  Part of growing up is learning how to pick yourself back up.  There also, should be no question whether or not there is room for creative subjects in public schools.  These are just excuses from administrators.  The bad economy is also another excuse on why they won't let music or dance grow.  Us as teachers need to push forward and help pave the way for the future artists.

Philosophical/Practical- 21st Century Learning Week # 5

Back to school night 1

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Posting a "Back to School" slideshow for parents and students gives a intimate look into what to expect for the school year.  I believe this technology is great!  Parents who could not make "back to school night" now have the opportunity to see and hear what direction there child's teacher is coming from.  It also opens up the parents to contact information of the teacher if they ever have any questions regarding there child or the class.

Philosophical/Practical - 21st Century Learning: Week 4

The benefits to having this technology in the classroom is convenience.  Though my slides were written for a very broad music class there are all sorts of way's 21st Century Skills can be incorporated into it.  There are music programs that are now available that quiz the listener using musicianship skills.  This means, the program will play a musical interval and the user must identify electronically the distance of that interval.  This may  be to advanced for a beginner class but is very appropriate for highschool students.  As said in CPI # 1.3.12.B.1 "Analyze compositions from different world cultures and genres with respect to technique, musicality, and stylistic nuance, and/or perform excerpts with technical accuracy, appropriate musicality, and the relevant stylistic nuance".  That is the reason why I included "Creativity and Innovation" in my slides.  Both creativity and innocation are applicable to all age ranges.  The use of creativity and innovation in a music classroom is vital to getting students to think for themselves and develop musical idea's. 

Philosophical 21 Century Learning: Week 3

Task 1-
     The philosophical 21st century learning techniques have many pros and cons.  We must first consider that each school and district will have their own budget.  Schools with a large budget will have the opportunity to afford the technological advancements needed to follow these standards.  Even wealthy students will have the “in home access” to retrieve online assignments, create multimedia presentations and have access to media rich resources.  School districts with low budgets will not be able to financially afford these new technological classroom advancements.  Where will this leave those students?  As stated in the Chatham High School video "we have all most ever instructional space in our building equipped with a LCD projector and smart boards".  I believe that the ability to have that kind or equipment in the classroom is a nice commodity but it is not essential to the development of a student’s growth.  In today's day and age it would be foolish not to take advantage of what technology has to offer us, but we must not let it consume are thought process into thinking this is the only way our students can learn. 
     The New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards of Technology are listed and constructed very well.  Each standard for there grade level is very fitting for that particular age group.  Students should be exposed in increments throughout their education, so that they can build on their ability to use technology.  However, the ability to use technology and relying on technology are two very different things.  As Greg said in the Chathem High School video said "I have never read a book".  This is a prime example of the cons today's technology brings forth.  These are students who now think there is not enough time in the day to complete all of their homework assignments.  And because of this they are relying on the “easy way” to complete what is asked from there teachers.  Looking answers up on spark notes and not from the assigned readings is not the educational direction we should be pointing are children in.  But the modern high school student is falling into this sort of lazy pattern.  Teachers should never be looked at as "entertainers"!  They must be respected from their students.  And if a classroom is perceived as a realm of entertainment for a student then they will have an unfortunate rude awaking when they enter the real world.
     Finally, I personally feel I will always continue to develop.  As a music teacher I want to use the positive side of technology to open up the doors for my students.  Rather than having them take shortcuts.  With commodities like I-tunes and YouTube students can look up musicians, composers and songs and do research for themselves.  This will allow them to discover for themselves what they like and don't like.  They can even bring in examples of musical pieces they would like to play in class or sing in choir.  This puts the students in the forefront of the classroom.  It also makes them involved in what the class is capable of learning and performing.  As said in the Catalina Foothills High school video "when students do real tasks they understand why it is important".  As a musician I feel students respond the best when they are part of that creative process.  Also, when I search and interview for a job I will look for a well rounded school district to enter in. 


 Task 2-
(8.1.2.C.1)  "Engage in a variety of developmentally appropriate learning activities with students in other classes, schools, or countries using electronic tools"
     My content area is music with a concentration in voice.  So I will be primarily teaching choirs along with other music courses.  The age group I hope to start out teaching is elementary.  I believe this standard will be affective for my students because it will give them the opportunity to see other young singers in the world much like themselves.  They could stream live footage of another elementary choir singing halfway around the world or have another school watch us perform.  This will allow them to see what other schools or doing and show them what we are accomplishing.  We can learn a lot from just watching and interacting using these electronic tools. 

Week 2- Blog

The school websites that I researched are the Bloomingdale Public Schools in Bloomingdale, NJ.  This is a very structured site that is broken down into subcategories.  All three school's in this district have there own personal links and provide specific information about that individual school. 

The Martha B Day School is a pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and 1st grade school.  There site gives a informative breakdown of the school's education philosophy, school schedule, principle's page and curricula and curricula mapping.  There is also a extensive faculty list where parents can look up there child's teacher.  Even though the schools activity column is limited due to the young age group this website goes above and beyond with informing parents of updated events.

The Samuel R. Donald School is a 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade elementary school.  This website is a bit harder to follow then the Martha B Day School's.  It is formatted as a template but also includes such links as principle's page, curricula and curricula mapping, photo's and school closings.  All of the scheduling can be found right on the Samuel R. Donald homepage.

The Walter T. Bergen is a 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade middle school.  This website definitely is the most informative of all of the Bloomingdale sites.  Each grade level is broken down in detail with links to all of the
teacher's personal academic web pages.  General information to all school activities and all administration including the nurse page is easily accessible.  A printable PDF file is accessible of the schools bells schedule for parent use and convenience. 

In conclusion, the information stated in the website is extremely effective and is everything a student, parent, teacher, or administrator would need to explore what the school can offer.  Easy access to individual teacher pages for homework updates or school weather announcements is now only a click away.  Online photo albums of children and teacher activities makes the Bloomingdale Public School website one that is user friendly to both parents and students.

Technology Blog: Week 1

I am 23 years old and feel very grateful to be afforded the opportunity to be living in this day and age.  Technology is constantly changing and we are at its forefront.  I’m sure most of us can remember the elementary schools days of having our parents and teachers push us to take beginner typing instruction or having to read out loud paragraphs from a heavy hardcover history book.   My mother and father both worked office jobs so I picked up the simplicities of a computer at a young age.  I never really was too far advanced but I was defiantly able to get by with using the different Microsoft Office programs.  Now however, we live in a completely different world.  Today’s world is filled with virtual technology, social networking, texting, twittering, e-mail, blogging and many others commodities.

The beauty of all this new technology is to have it channeled for positive and productive purposes.  Using such tools to create a learning project much like the one Karen Elini did with her 9th grade English students.  "Friends and Flags is a collaborative learning project that promotes multicultural awareness by connecting classrooms around the world in international learning teams made up of two to six countries" says Eini.  This is a prime example of using the social networks of today to link students from all over the world.  They are now able to interact and discuss different points of view from other students who come from completely different social, religious and economic backgrounds.  Susan M. Allen and Karen M. Dutt-Doner discuss the benefits of today’s modern digital and interactive libraries.  "Classrooms now have access to millions of digitized documents.  Students have the opportunity to use these documents as historians and scholars do: analyzing and evaluation information; interpreting snapshots of a given person, place or event; and synthesizing their findings".  This is huge for the creative mind of the learner.  Now the student is given the ability to explore and discover his or her own interpretation of their research. 

            In conclusion to my first blog, I am very excited to learn and explore the ways of using today’s technology for positive and productive reasons.  Like what was said in the video “Learning to Change- Changing to Learn” it is very important that we understand that the world moves forward and the right steps must be taken to bring that technology into our classroom’s.  I am very excited in taking the right steps forward and using our technology productively.