Curriculum Map for new Music Technology class--Part 1

This is for a new middle school music technology class that I am starting in the fall. I have a set of 18 aging Win2000 desktops plus my personal WinXP laptop and my school issued Win2000 laptop (supposed to be replaced this summer, knock on wood!). We do have internet access and because these computers (with the exception of the school laptop) are mine (scavenged, purchased, donated and maintained by me) they are not locked down except for the district filtering software.

I previously purchased 20 copies and installed the older version of Super Duper Music Looper onto all of the computers, so that is available. I have asked that no more than 20 students be enrolled in the class, but considering how things work at my school, that number will probably be higher. I would prefer to keep it as close to 1 to 1 during class, but I will just have to wait and see.

Our school is 98% free and reduced lunch so most of my kids don't have a computer/internet at home. Our tech ed program was dropped two years ago by a previous principal so the students don't get much technology at school, so I would like to work on technology literacy in addition to music technology.

We have 45 min. class periods, 5 days a week, and this will be a semester class (18 weeks). There is no budget money for this class so I'm trying to do this with free software and on the web.

The ultimate product for each student (or possibly teams of students) in this class is a 1-3 minute video using music composed by the students and pictures/video (Creative Commons/Fair Use) found or created by the students. This will be uploaded to a class wiki and shared with the class. Other projects will be considered as the students' interests and time allow.

These are some of the resources that I've found so far and my current thoughts on using them. I would appreciate any comments, thoughts, tips, or ideas.


1. Pre-assessment of skills

TRAILS: Tool for Real-time Assessment of Information Literacy Skills

I will use this to assess what info literacy skills my students have. Hopefully, results from this will help to determine which Literacy Skills we need to focus on.

2. Basic Internet skills

Welcome to the Web

Well done, interactive site w/worksheets. Starts at the very beginning and works through basic skills. Detective challenge at the end. Pages can be resumed using pin codes. Suitable for grades 3-8.

Welcome to the Web via kwout

3.  Literacy Skills

Private and Personal Information

Investigating Search Engines and Directories

Smart Keyword Searching

Good Messaging Manners

Considering Copying

Depending on the results from the pre-assessment above, I will use some or all of the above to build skills. I will probably use these as whole class activities. They have large and small group activities and discussion questions.

Other resources that I've found and will possibly make use of:
Tech Literacy (this page was made with Cluster, a nifty Firefox add-on)

4. Bridging Activity--from Copyright to Composition

MBYTES



This is a great interactive site for understanding copyright and licensing using the tools that we will use in music tech class. Students use a fairly simple looping interface to create their own short songs. They can then assign licenses from completely free to for sale to others on the site. Users are assigned 200 credits to use for purchasing the loops for use in remixes or downloads. There are also videos and activities for discussing copyright, fair use, and intellectual property.


5. Online Music Apps

BBC OneStudio Sequencer

Pros: over 1,000 free downloadable music samples. Easy to use, 4 track sequencer.

Cons: Sequenced music file isn't downloadable, but can be emailed. Sequencer may be too simple to produce the best quality tracks. Also, site is no longer updated, so I don't know how long it will be up.

Philharmonia Orchestra Sequencer

Pros: Downloadable samples and free sequence software in addition to online sequencer. Lots of information/background on creating/composing, samples, and the orchestra. Online remixing of pre-existing compositions. Remixes can be saved (email required).

Cons: I don't see any way to download the online remixes that are created. The music samples are all orchestral (not my students favorite genre).


JamStudio

Pros: Lots of pop/rock/country instruments available. Can even record vocals.

Cons: Students must input chords, might need help with chord patterns. $4.95 per month per account. Can apply for grant program (none are available at present). Grants run out at the end of the school year.

Other Online Music Apps resources.


That concludes Part 1. I'll post later next week with my thoughts on freeware programs and other resources for creating the student presentations.

38 Interesting Ways to use your Interactive Whiteboard

From: 100 Interesting Ways

Also includes tips on using Google Earth and pocket video cameras.

Music, Learning and Real Life

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Art & Music Movies via kwout

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The Futures Channel

Short videos connecting learning to the real world.

It has videos about art and music. One I really liked was about drumming and math.

The videos are downloadable as well as available on the website. There is also an affordable option which gives you access to extra features and high-quality full-screen videos.

Thanks to I Want to Teach Forever for information on this site.

Digital Ethics

JabbaMatheez 40S (Winter 2008): Digital Ethics via kwout

From Darren Kuropatwa's class blog. How he discusses Digital Ethics with his students.

K12 Online Stacks

Searchme

View in searchme: full | lite

Searchable pages from the K12 Online conference. Thanks to Darren Kuropatwa and David Warlick.

Updated features in Nota

Nota now has Font Art, new clipart, and you can post to Blogger and LiveJournal from the site.

Tools for student presentations

Nota

I found the bassoon photo with flickrCC (reviewed below), then used Nota to add labels and arrows for the instrument parts. I changed the background to this lovely shade of green and added a link to a Wikipedkia article and also the link for the photo attribution because it was a little hard to see on the photo.One of the things that I'm asking my second year instrumental students to do this year is to find a picture of their instrument and label the parts. This would be a great tool for this if I can get all of the COPPA requirements met.

Pros:

• Simple, quick and easy to use.
• Can embed as html image (like above), i-frame, or Facebook.
• You can also email, link, or even print it out.
• You can upload pictures or find pictures from Flickr or My Photo.
• You can embed video from YouTube and information from Wikipedia.
• You may also use textures and clipart from the site along with other members Notas, and everything can be drawn on with a pencil tool.
• You can even create multiple pages and link them together like a scrapbook or ebook.
• Your Nota can be set to allow members to edit or not edit and you can allow or not allow comments. Non-members (or Guests) may leave comments.

Cons:

• In private beta right now (7/15/08) but you can contact them and ask for an invitation and once you join you have 50 invitations.
• Must be 13 and have an email to join. I am going to contact them about setting up a form for my parents to sign, giving their permission and then mailing or faxing the forms to them. A lot of my students and their families have limited or no internet access
• Only 2 choices on fonts (serif and non-serif).

flickrCC

This site finds Creative Commons pictures on Flickr, gives you the attribution information (you can even add it as part of the photo), and gives you the options of editing it onsite or on Picnik (a nifty, free online photo editing site).To save the photo that you have chosen, right click and save. You have numerous options to upload if you use Picnik, not to mention lots of options for eye candy.This is what I used to find my bassoon photo in my Nota above.

Pros:

• no registration
• provides all attribution information without needing to go to the original
• options for editing

Cons:

• may need to play around with what tags to search for in order to get the best selection of photos

Honorable mention: Compfight

Will also look for Creative Commons photos on Flickr, but only links to the original picture and doesn't give attribution information. Also no editing.