So, I'm about 55 pages into Grown Up Digital and I must say that it makes a ton of sense. I am seeing it all around me. Net Gen-ers - members of the "Net generation" (ages 10-30) - really expect to learn, communicate, socialize, and live in a different way than us old guys. For my part, I feel like I am really dedicated to making education fit into this paradigm.
Today, it was in my Recording Technology class. I needed to give a quiz on Effects and dynamics processing. So, I made a Moodle Quiz. It included several sort answer questions that could be answered and the student would receive immediate feedback on their answer. I decided that I would give the students until midnight tonight to correct their wrong answers for full credit. After all - I want them to learn the material. This way, they are motivated to go out and find the correct answers. I also posted, as part of the quiz, 6 audio samples that the students had to listen to, then identify the effect that was used in the sample. They included stereo chorus, flanging, phase shifting, reverb, delay, and compression. Again, any incorrect answers could be corrected by midnight tonight. Within a few hours, they will have the correct answers and know exactly what their grade was on the exam.
As Disrupting Class surmised, the assessment of the future may not include a percentage as a determiner of grading, but the time that it takes to master the material.
I asked the kids if the quiz today was a learning experience and all agreed that it worked. So, I think these ideas are working. I am excited about the future!
Peace.
Scott
Thoughts of a String Educator
Showing posts with label Disrupting Class. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disrupting Class. Show all posts
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Disrupting Class, Clayton Christiansen
I just finished reading "Disrupting Class" by Clayton Christian. I have to say that it has me thinking a great deal about how we are teaching and how I might be able to incorporate disruptive technology into my classroom. It is interesting, because as I read the book, I thought a great deal about broad "macro" ideas as they relate to my institution and also about the "micro" ideas and how the book relates to my classroom and daily teaching. Interestingly, it also provided a great deal of food for thought regarding my children and their education.
The most specific ideas that I can relate tonight are in relation to my classroom and the way information is gained by students today. Basically, I am thinking a great deal about how I, as a teacher, deliver content. How will content be delivered in the future? How do students actually learn today? Are they really learning from a teacher in a classroom? Or are they really picking up content in different ways through the use of disruptive technology? We live in a world where students learn at the touch of a button - really a click of a mouse. When they want content - information - they go an get it instantly. The other day, I was teaching a recording class and asked a student where he learned how to use compression. His reply: YouTube! We teachers and schools have to keep up. Kids aren't getting content from us exclusively any more. It is our job to assess, facilitate, encourage, relate, tutor, encourage, redirect, and a myriad of other tasks. but, I am not convinced that delivering content will be at the top of our list for much longer.
On the short term, here is my plan. My Classical Piano and Guitar Class is largely self paced and can really lend itself to the use of disruptive technology for distribution of content. Today, I spent several hours videotaping short lessons for each song that my beginner guitar students learn. They will be streamed and available to my students via our Moodle site. That way, students will not have to wait for me to demonstrate each song as they are ready to learn it. They can simply check out the video lesson and learn the song. My role will be to assess their work and to tutor them in getting the technique just right. I don't need to be a content deliverer in class. I can be more of a teacher!
My next move is to videotape my brief theory lectures and stream them as well. This will also facilitate more time with students working on music.
I have some ideas for my orchestra class as well. I will share them later.
I know that this may be a bit tough to sort out in this format. So, here is my recommendation: read Disrupting Class. It is a good read with solid research and it is really thought provoking. I believe that it will change the way that I approach my classes. Really, it already has.
My next book is "Grown Up Digital," by Don Tapscott
I am already gripped by it!
Peace.
Scott
The most specific ideas that I can relate tonight are in relation to my classroom and the way information is gained by students today. Basically, I am thinking a great deal about how I, as a teacher, deliver content. How will content be delivered in the future? How do students actually learn today? Are they really learning from a teacher in a classroom? Or are they really picking up content in different ways through the use of disruptive technology? We live in a world where students learn at the touch of a button - really a click of a mouse. When they want content - information - they go an get it instantly. The other day, I was teaching a recording class and asked a student where he learned how to use compression. His reply: YouTube! We teachers and schools have to keep up. Kids aren't getting content from us exclusively any more. It is our job to assess, facilitate, encourage, relate, tutor, encourage, redirect, and a myriad of other tasks. but, I am not convinced that delivering content will be at the top of our list for much longer.
On the short term, here is my plan. My Classical Piano and Guitar Class is largely self paced and can really lend itself to the use of disruptive technology for distribution of content. Today, I spent several hours videotaping short lessons for each song that my beginner guitar students learn. They will be streamed and available to my students via our Moodle site. That way, students will not have to wait for me to demonstrate each song as they are ready to learn it. They can simply check out the video lesson and learn the song. My role will be to assess their work and to tutor them in getting the technique just right. I don't need to be a content deliverer in class. I can be more of a teacher!
My next move is to videotape my brief theory lectures and stream them as well. This will also facilitate more time with students working on music.
I have some ideas for my orchestra class as well. I will share them later.
I know that this may be a bit tough to sort out in this format. So, here is my recommendation: read Disrupting Class. It is a good read with solid research and it is really thought provoking. I believe that it will change the way that I approach my classes. Really, it already has.
My next book is "Grown Up Digital," by Don Tapscott
I am already gripped by it!
Peace.
Scott
Friday, January 2, 2009
Technology and Arts Education
I have been thinking a great deal lately about technology and education.
How can an arts/orchestra teacher incorporate technology effectively into my curriculum? Can it be done with assessment? Can it be done with content and delivery? Of course the answer is yes to both of these. How are students today tuned into technology in ways that I can't even imagine as a 40-something guy - and how can I meet their expectations for their education? What can I do with Skype? What can I do with Wikis? What have I not thought of yet?
This is all on my mind right now. I am excited to be diving into several new books that will hopefully clarify some of my ideas. Look for these topics to be addressed in the near future here.
Some of the books include:
Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns by Clayton Christensen, Curtis W. Johnson, and Michael B. Horn
Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation is Changing Your World, by Don Tapscott
Digital Game-Based Learning, by Marc Prensky
Outliers: The Story of Success, by Malcolm Gladwell
The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century, by Thomas L. Friedman
Groundswell, by Charlene Li
Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything by Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams
So much to read - so little time!!
There will be much to come on this issue. It is looming large for me.
To my students: Look for digital assessment coming up in January and February. Also, look for web-video content delivery and something called a Google-Blast during class.
Oh yes - this is going to be fun!!
Peace.
Scott
How can an arts/orchestra teacher incorporate technology effectively into my curriculum? Can it be done with assessment? Can it be done with content and delivery? Of course the answer is yes to both of these. How are students today tuned into technology in ways that I can't even imagine as a 40-something guy - and how can I meet their expectations for their education? What can I do with Skype? What can I do with Wikis? What have I not thought of yet?
This is all on my mind right now. I am excited to be diving into several new books that will hopefully clarify some of my ideas. Look for these topics to be addressed in the near future here.
Some of the books include:
Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns by Clayton Christensen, Curtis W. Johnson, and Michael B. Horn
Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation is Changing Your World, by Don Tapscott
Digital Game-Based Learning, by Marc Prensky
Outliers: The Story of Success, by Malcolm Gladwell
The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century, by Thomas L. Friedman
Groundswell, by Charlene Li
Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything by Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams
So much to read - so little time!!
There will be much to come on this issue. It is looming large for me.
To my students: Look for digital assessment coming up in January and February. Also, look for web-video content delivery and something called a Google-Blast during class.
Oh yes - this is going to be fun!!
Peace.
Scott
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