We think of technology and some things come to mind. Ipods, IPhones, IPads, expensive, constantly changing and upgrading, confusing, distracting, educational, stimulating, mind-dulling, video games, apps, facebook, and the list goes on indefinitely. Technology in the classroom, like anything, can be beneficial if controlled, supervised, and offered only when appropriate.
My high school was fortunate enough to have multiple keyboards, which resulted in a keyboard class. Students had to bring in their own headphones, so we could practice without distracting others. Most classes are not as fortunate to 1. have the space for all those keyboards and 2. have the money for them. I mean, how do you get an administrator to make room in the budget for all those keyboards for one class?
This is where the use of technology can swing the conversation around to benefit the music educator (as well as the students). IPads are one of many technological tools that educators use. In regards to a music classroom IPads can offer a plethora of possibilities. IPads have more applications than you can think of, some of which are electronic keyboards, tuners, metronomes, interval recognition exercises, composition apps, guitar fret boards, and beyond. If music classrooms can gain access to these tools, then they'll gain in various regards. One of which being the amount of space that will be saved. Try having a safe place to store keyboards, guitars, music stands, along with all the other instruments. Some students have access to physical instruments at home, but most do not. Maybe a guitar here and there, or a poorly out of tune piano at grandmas, most students will only get the opportunity to create and play music in the classroom.
As an educator it may be difficulty to stay ahead of the technology, since it's ever changing. Our students are growing up in a tech savvy world, and it's been the ability to navigate through technology seems to have been inbred-ed in them. Personally I feel I have a decent amount of skills that assist me in this 'tech-y' world we live in, but I'm behind a bit myself. My heart is still stuck in those days of chalkboards (not white boards), and real instruments that don't sound like a midi-symphony of button-smashing. This is my downfall, not my students. The other day I used a smart board for the first time, and it was really interesting. It offers a new way to teach students that can be stimulating in all the right ways, informative, engaging, and can help to provide differentiated instruction (if like anything else, it is used right and not as a 'baby-sitting' tool, like T.V can be).
Problems to technology in the classroom are pretty basic, technology is expensive! A lot of apps for some of these technologies are $0.99 or $1.00, but they add up quick. Try fighting for a smart board in your school, but you're just the specialist. It could be an uphill battle if you don't come to those meetings prepared with your knowledge of the technology, the benefits it can offer to the education of your students, and how you would ensure it would happen. Even then, you can't squeeze blood from a stone, most school aren't at this level of technology... yet. That day is coming though.
Some say there's a simple solution. BYOD! )(Bring your own device). We're always rep remanding students for using their smart phones in class, or playing with their IPads, Kindles, etc. Why not have the students use their own devices, it only makes sense, since the students are comfortable with them and do not need to learn the technology, plus the school would save money. Eeeerrrr! It sounds all good, unless you've met a student. In an ideal world students would do as instructed, not get distracted by games and social media websites, and actually follow the instructors direction. But we all know there will be the student listening to Keisha on their headphones, or playing Fruit Ninja, or going on Face Time, making fun of how dumb the teacher is for not noticing that they're goofing off, or how cool it is that they get to play games. Then you have the student who's parents who 1. can't afford the fancy technology or 2. are the winning parents who stuck to "why does an 13 year old need an IPod 5?"
Some school districts that have more money in their budget are probably further along in jumping on the technology train, but I do believe that many schools are still a few years behind. I mean it took the University of Bridgeport how long to leave the Blackboard program? Technology is pricey, and normally when you talk money with an administrator, it's an uphill battle. The key is to know your facts about the benefits of technology, work with what you have at that moment, don't dwell or complain that 'you could do your job better if....', because an administrator is going to retaliate with 'do your job'. There are no if's about it. In the years to come, some classes may be strictly on-line, or strictly in a classroom or a combination of the two. How cool would it be to let your band/chorus go on a webcam and witness peers in another school district (even overseas) rehearsing? Students could compare and contrast, it could reinforce what their teacher is teaching them, it would open up a world of possibilities.
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