Slow down
Let's face it. We are in the age of information, but we still don't know anything. Just think; when was the last time you used a phone book? With google and Siri, you are granted information within seconds. Teaching elementary students is very similar. They expect the answers immediately.
In this day and age, motivation and student engagement are hot topics. If you can capture their attention through curiosity, the possibilities of learning are endless. Since this world is so visually stimulated, children are enticed by interesting videos. I am mildly opposed to showing movies in the classroom (it has happened on two occasions). They tend to become bored. I prefer showing relevant and short clips or videos ranging from thirty seconds to five minutes. Youtube is absolutely perfect for this.
A minute long Youtube video can introduce an idea or interest into a child's mind. I take these sparks of curiosity and direct them toward an activity or lesson. Often times, the students are relentless with questions and comments about the video. They usually ask for more information so that they can search the video, which I am not at liberty to give during class time due to limited instruction time. Eventually, I should have videos posted that may have been seen in class.
In this day and age, motivation and student engagement are hot topics. If you can capture their attention through curiosity, the possibilities of learning are endless. Since this world is so visually stimulated, children are enticed by interesting videos. I am mildly opposed to showing movies in the classroom (it has happened on two occasions). They tend to become bored. I prefer showing relevant and short clips or videos ranging from thirty seconds to five minutes. Youtube is absolutely perfect for this.
A minute long Youtube video can introduce an idea or interest into a child's mind. I take these sparks of curiosity and direct them toward an activity or lesson. Often times, the students are relentless with questions and comments about the video. They usually ask for more information so that they can search the video, which I am not at liberty to give during class time due to limited instruction time. Eventually, I should have videos posted that may have been seen in class.
This Shift in Gears ain't What it used to be
Do I have all the answers? Of course, not. However, I do have some generalizations about where education is going. With so many schools overflowing across the nation, the student to teacher ratio is a concern that must be addressed. Home schooling, private school, and online public schooling are certainly alternatives to receiving more one-on-one instruction, especially if a parent is capable of assisting throughout any moment in the day. Nevertheless, the reality is most parents are busy working.
One day after school, I was talking to a fellow colleague about movies and videos that are educational. This colleague spoke in great detail about how these tools should be used more frequently. "It is the norm nowadays." He went on in great length about how infants are copying their parents by picking up smart phones and touching the screen. Moreover, cell phones, such as the Samsung Galaxy, are being redesigned larger so that the user can easily share videos with their friends. Furthermore, cell phones are practically replacing computers.
This is all true, and as technological advancements are cultivated in the realm of education, it can be said that the classroom may one day look like the education incubator on planet Vulcan from the movie Star Trek.
One day after school, I was talking to a fellow colleague about movies and videos that are educational. This colleague spoke in great detail about how these tools should be used more frequently. "It is the norm nowadays." He went on in great length about how infants are copying their parents by picking up smart phones and touching the screen. Moreover, cell phones, such as the Samsung Galaxy, are being redesigned larger so that the user can easily share videos with their friends. Furthermore, cell phones are practically replacing computers.
This is all true, and as technological advancements are cultivated in the realm of education, it can be said that the classroom may one day look like the education incubator on planet Vulcan from the movie Star Trek.
Why Still Music?
This could be a bit farfetched, but one day, a computer could potentially replace the teacher. However, there is still a basic need for the human element, and the social aspects obtained while interacting with other children have proven relevant to establishing the goals of peace and prosperity. That is why public education is so fundamental in our Democracy, but I digress.*
One of the most important tasks in the music classroom is listening to others. Students learn to compromise and balance their sound while listening to each other as a whole. Combined with listening, students create or compose their own music that will accompany an existing matter. When singing, a new study has revealed that a choirs' heartbeats synchronize. Throughout the process, they are interacting on a level that most adults cannot even fathom.
Children have remarkable capabilities, and it is our job as teachers to unleash these capabilities in a cooperative environment. Whether that be with or without technology is irrelevant. Technology is here to stay, and we must adapt too.
* Note: this in no way degrades the interactions achieved from home schooling.
One of the most important tasks in the music classroom is listening to others. Students learn to compromise and balance their sound while listening to each other as a whole. Combined with listening, students create or compose their own music that will accompany an existing matter. When singing, a new study has revealed that a choirs' heartbeats synchronize. Throughout the process, they are interacting on a level that most adults cannot even fathom.
Children have remarkable capabilities, and it is our job as teachers to unleash these capabilities in a cooperative environment. Whether that be with or without technology is irrelevant. Technology is here to stay, and we must adapt too.
* Note: this in no way degrades the interactions achieved from home schooling.