Summative Blog Post... FTW!!!

This term of ICT has been an especially important learning experience in my education.  I simply thought, to be honest, that this class would be strictly about how to use only computers in the classroom and only PC style computers and computer lab work.   WAS I EVER WRONG!

There are so many different ways that technology can benefit us as the teachers, as well as our future phi students.  Heck, it's actually benefitting us (students) a lot also.  It's helping us create ePortfolios for our future careers, as well as help us better understand the advancement in technology and how it will play a huge role in our classrooms.

I have learned so much about different apps and products out there for technology, like 'Be Funky', Prezi, Weebly, Wordle, all of these things help to better ourselves as educators and make life easier for our students.

So, my feelings of his course in a nut shell; I absolutely loved it.  Who knew that you could learn so much about technology in a short time?  It clearly shows that there is a lot out there, and if we don't know everything, then what can our students know and what should they be knowing?  It is our job as educators to embrace technology and what comes with it, we really don't have any other choice.

I am not always going to be pro technology, especially when it comes to Facebook, and some social networking sites, but I will always try my best to embrace it and always be encouraging when it comes to technology and my students.  More importantly, I want to establish independence among my students, not have them be strictly dependent on technology, and I hope I can keep that within my philosophy.


BeeLAMS

Fotobabble ... what fun!!!

Everyone is choosing their Digital Story telling website to discuss in their blogs for our class assignment this week.  For this assignment, I decided to choose Fotobabble, simply by random selection and that it has a hilarious name.  So, at first I was a little overwhelmed by the site and its content.  There was so much information as to what it was and how it can be used.  So, before I try my own, I wanted to see what others had done as a result.  Here is a blog as to how someone used it in their French Classroom (Educaiton).  http://www.fotobabble.net/?p=157.

After viewing this example, it was much easier to understand and get a grasp of what it actually is and can be used for!  WOO!!  I have come up with a view ideas for the music classroom:
-It can be a great way for students to do some fast rhythm sight reading.
-It can be a great tool for some echo patterns, also to alleviate some extra work such as marking, attendance, etc...
-It can be a great way to teach the kids sounds to instruments and prepare them for testing.

This app is especially great because it adapts to a variety of learners.  Instead of having to accommodate different students with different assignments, this particular way of learning can be used for a variety of learners at the same time!  Aural and visual learners, or Aural vs. visual learners.

It seems like a fun app that can be used by teachers as well as the students.

I especially like it because it comes with a free mobile app for the iPhone, which is nice.

Hope you all try it out!  I'm working on mine as we speak and will hopefully have it up later.

BeeLAMS

Animoto

Last week during ICT our class worked on a movie/picture project using Animoto.  It was a great and fun way to create picture/movie slide shows.  This can be a great tool for your classroom as well as extra curricular events: Weddings, business, etc...

Also, my mother loved it too!!


BeeLAMS

Website:   http://animoto.com/

Single iPad use in the classroom ... and a brief vent.

It has been a long time since I have last blogged.  It is that time of the year ... Crunch time.  AKA, have no life, eat junk food/convenient food, get all the homework you can done as well as you can AND STILL HAVE CLASSES!  Yes, yes, a lot of you might be thinking, "Well, how busy can you be?".  WELL, busy enough!  I do not have to justify myself!  If I cannot sleep at night because of my anxieties about assignments, then I think I am pretty busy.  Anyhow, back to my blog (sorry, needed a brief venting moment), while working on my ICT project with my fellow classmates I came across this article about having one iPad for the classroom.

"Only one iPad?" you might be thinking?  In a classroom no less??  How can that be enough?  Well, I hate to break it to you, but a lot of schools do not have the budget to afford more than that.  Although, one iPad can do plenty of good for a classroom:
-There is less hands on distractions with the children.
-There a lot of fun filled education apps that the teacher can benefit from AS WELL AS THE STUDENTS!  (Its not JUST about the teachers you know...)
-The iPad can be plugged into a SMART board for presentaitons/slideshows

This list goes on and on.  Of course, you all might be thinking of cons as well.  Hmm, except cons does not help the teacher that only has one iPad.  SO .... BE POSITIVE!

Can you think of any other uses for a single iPad in the classroom?

Google "single iPad in classroom use" and you will find plenty of articles covering this topic.

YAY!! Technology!  Innovation!

BeeLAMS

iPad Adventure

Throughout the week, I have thoroughly enjoyed playing around with my *temporary* iPad (which I really want one of my own now!!).  I have read a few blogs that talk about the music apps available to the iPad and their true music educational value.  The truth is, there will not be ONE app that will give you everything that you need.  If there was, we would have it.  I have played through a lot of these apps, and there is a lot of pure entertainment value in these apps, but, I  have been able to find little things that students can gain from using these apps.

There is one app in particular called Rhythm Rep.  It is basically an app involving "Simon Says" and music.  To some level, it is not the most logical choice for a education tool, but after playing around with it a lot, I came to the conclusion that it would be a great ear training rhythm app.  Sure, it would not be for marks, but why not improve that for fun?  You could learn whether your kids are struggling with rhythms and what you should do to make it easier.

Games, apps, to some degree have educational value.  I'm not saying teaching is a game, and by no means am I suggesting that students educational experience be turned into a game, but if we are to embrace technology, why not make it enjoyable for the students, and like I have mentioned previously, why not make it effortless to learn?  Why would we not want to make it easier?

A lot of these apps can help to simply inspire students musical creativity.  Again, maybe not the most practical pedagogical approach, but simple things can go a long way.  Do not forget that not all students learn the same way.  Not one student is the same.

BeeLAMS

iPad!!!

So, like Erin's post, I too am super excited about using the iPad!!!

There are so many different apps for it, educational, recreational, etc...  What ever floats your boat!  I'm very interested in trying out new apps, music related and not.   There will be more focus on the educational aspect, but if something else comes up, I'll try that too.

So far, the iPad is relatively easy to use.  The screen is bright, apps are easy to see and touch, and it is relatively easy to type.  Although, it's very different from a Laptop keyboard.  That would be something for kids to get used to, the actual physical feel of the iPad.

I have downloaded a couple music theory apps (free of course) and they are relatively decent so far.  I absolutely love bebot.  He's so cute!!!   Oops, a little off topic!

Anywho, I shall keep you all posted about this new iPad adventure.

BeeLAMS

Reliving my childhood.

-Last night I watched three Disney movies that I had not seen in a long time.  The Rescuers, The Rescuers Down Under, and Beauty and the Beast.  I would have watched more, but I do not have them all on DVD/Blu-ray!!  Anyway, when I was looking up the cast in The Rescuers, I could not believe how old that move was... 1977!!!  Holy crap!!  I thought Disney revolved around my generation... apparently not!  My mom informed me when she was little, my grandpa (her dad) took her and her brothers to see 101 Dalmations in the theatre when it first came out... wow...  I had no idea how old and updated Disney has stayed.

It is also amazing that children, no matter what age, love the stories and cartoons and would not be able to tell when it was made, simply because it is so good.  SO GOOD!!

Re-live your childhood, watch some Disney, or anything you remember from your childhood.  It is also good to remember where AND what you came from...

My goal,
To watch Peter Pan, We're Back!, The Lion King, and Pocahontas.

BRUTUS AND NERO!!  AND EVINRUDE!!!  Excellent characters.  Random and funny!!

Photo Source From: --https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pfZjtSYAvqkCN0RNFAciFJtTGqnJxo2MVkDvXJuaANgYEftwvnDpMkbxsAUvk_TypMMmdtu3gc27eYqhyphenhyphenJXJ1MQVKMNztVQ9M1dGgiDrZ-QJvfoVI_7jPbb5AdSgfoLPgyNcJTtPXmwR/s1600/rescuers04.jpg
http://images.wikia.com/villains/images/archive/b/bb/20110826175550!The-Rescuers-the-rescuers-5010678-1024-576.jpg

BeeLAMS

Technology as a motivator

I was lying in bed this morning thinking about what I would need to do in these up coming weeks of craziness and homework when a thought came into my head, "How can I simply just motivate myself?" and "What would motivate students?".  While thinking about all the positives and negatives of having technology in the classroom, technology can become a great motivator for students to complete course work, and become motivated about exterior things in general.

When I was student teaching last spring, a teacher had come up with some software that worked similar to facebook, but was strictly for teachers, students, and their homework.  What student would not want to do that?  It is easily disguised homework assignments through the interest of technology and the internet.  I think the problem with lack of motivation is that we think too much about the homework at hand, become anxious, and avoid doing it.  If we can make homework, especially through technology, less complicated and more at hand, then I believe students will better enjoy doing this homework.

BeeLAMS

Inegrating Music into Music Therapy... Sweet!!

I came across an article in the IIMP database (International Index of Music Periodicals) about using technology in music therapy.  Here is the title: 'Implications of Technology in Music Therapy Practice and Research for Music Therapy Education: A Review of Literature'.  Type this into the search engine at IIMP and have at er'!!!!!

Let me know what you think!!!


BeeLAMS

Procrastination- It seriously sucks...

Hello all,

So ... I'm actually supposed to be reading a book for my book review.  I'm definitely not doing that.  I find it so difficult to motivate myself to do work sometimes.  I know a lot of people are better motivated closer to a due date ... but why not get it done early?  Why not NOT have to worry about it?  Well ... when you find out, let me know, because I am FAILING miserably.  I'm trying to get it done and not be so stressed, but there are so many distractions! (Watch as I change my topic to how technology can be distracting!)

TECHNOLOGY CAN BE SO DISTRACTING!

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....
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Honestly I was just distracted by the t.v.  PLUS... I am sleepy.  Not good.

I'm going to be experimenting with different ways to motivate myself and better myself as a student.  Any ideas?  Please, please, PLEASE give me some tips and ideas.  SERIOUSLY!

I'll keep y'all posted.

BeeLAMS

Arts Integration - How ICT can be involved.

In a video that professor Nantais recently put up on the NING, educators discuss the importance of integrating arts into the classrooms.  Well, a lot of you might be thinking "isn't art a class?  Don't they have music for that?"  It is so interesting because they want to integrate the use of the arts into ALL of the classrooms.  That's right.  Math, Science, History, English, etc...  What a great idea.  This is another branch of learning for the students.  One of the ideas shown in the video was a teacher showing a piece of art and asking the children to use it as the beginning or the end of a story.  Now, this idea is great, along with many others.

How can we also integrate ICT into this concept?  Or technology in general?

You can use a smart board to simply show the image, or video you want to use as art.  You can use cameras for a photography project which can EASILY be used in any subject area.  Perhaps in your math class you are working on the concept of shapes.  Have your students take pictures of things that represent these shapes!  Maybe you want your students in your band class to take pictures of what they think represents the piece you are currently working on.  Some restrictions will apply to this idea, but it can easily work.

Using iPhones, iPads, smartphones etc... to create art of their own.  Do not want the mess of paint?  Then use those pieces of technology instead!  Create a slideshow with the art and share this with the rest of the school!  In another example in the video, the teacher decided to use dance to help interpret rotation vs. revolution!  You can use dance to also help feel the pulse of a song, or to help interpret a lot of other things!!

Integrating the arts is not just about "advocating" arts programs; It's about allowing students to be able to learn in a way that may better suit them.  One of the students in the video said this way of learning helped learn better AND made it more interesting.  Not all students learn the same way.  Shame on ANY OF US who think that they do.  It is our job as educators to give our students every opportunity to not only learn, but understand what they are learning.  Understanding.

Why can't learning be fun?  Why can't we involve technology and arts?  The question should not be "why can't we?" rather, it should be "why haven't we already?"

That's all for now!

BeeLAMS

The Pumpkin Patch? The PUMPKIN PATCH!

Hello everyone,

So, today a couple friends of mine wanted to go to this pumpkin patch located about 30 minutes outside of Brandon.  I decided to tag along, and I'm not going to lie, I was not sure about how much you could possibly do at this pumpkin patch.  SO MUCH FUN!  One of the best ways I can think of to spend a Sunday afternoon with your friends and your family!

The location is not too far out of Brandon, so it is definitely do able for children, parents, and grandparents.  The location is also close to Brandon and the Saskatchewan border, so there are a lot of people from Saskatchewan as well!  There are so many different activities to do for kids and adults!  There were giant (and I mean GIANT) bails of hay that you could climb on!  I mean, who does not like to climb things?  There was also a corn maze, a little zip line (Only for children), little tractor rides and BIG tractor rides, as well as duck races (no real ducks were used in these races) a little zoo and a PETTING ZOO!!  On top of all the activities, there is food you can buy (hot dogs, hamburgers, pumpkin treats) and, of course, you can buy PUMPKINS!!!  You can get white ones, Big, medium and small ones, squash, turk pumpkins ... SO MUCH STUFF!!

It was so great seeing all the children and families there enjoying themselves and having a great time.  It is a place where kids can actually run around and be kids.  You have probably read some of my posts involving technology (more focus on computers).  Well, sometimes technology, especially computers, can take away from this outdoor activity.  Parents playing with their kids, kids breathing in fresh air, kids being able to be KIDS!  Heck, I was able to be a kid again!  I am serious!  Too often we are too stressed out and too focused on our studies, when we don't give ourselves enough focus.  It was nice to do something today where I was not being judged, criticized, or being an adult.  I had a day for me, which I do not do nearly enough.

In the end, I managed to get two medium sized pumpkins, and three tiny little pumpkins for the fall season!  Some to decorate and some to eat!  I encourage everyone to have a day to themselves, whether it be at the pumpkin patch with a couple of friends, grabbing an ice cream at DQ, or just napping all day.  Do YOURSELF a favor.  You owe it to yourself to be happy.  :) :) :)

That is all for now!

BeeLAMS

Your Digital Footprint-Helpful? Or Terrifying?

This past week in ICT class we have been working on how to make a good website to promote ourselves as educators, especially music educators.  Having a professional, well laid out website, is crucial in this generation of technology and employers.  This website that you make, can very well make or break you getting a job as an educator.  You have to be careful what you put on there.  You want to express yourself and define who you are, but you also have to filter what is and is not appropriate in the workplace.  Not everything you do is important to your future employer.  What does this sound like?  YES!  A RESUME!  That is what our digital footprints have become in this generation; A part of our resumes; A gateway into our job.

This leads into my next discussion, which is when I tried looking up my own digital footprint.  How do you do so?  Easy.  Too easy, in fact.  Just google your name.  What can possibly come up when you google your name?  TOO MUCH!  That's what!!  Do you have any idea how many 'Brittany Lamontagne's' are out there in the world?  And, ironically enough, how many of them are also educators in some way!?  It actually made my jaw drop ... and giggle a little bit.  Who knew?  One of the things I learned by doing this was that I am not that known of a person in google search because I do not have many social networks (ie: Twitter, Facebook, etc..).  The names that came up were some how related to one of the social networking sites.  From articles I have been reading, this appears to be not an overly positive thing.

Like I had mentioned earlier, employers and work places are using the internet to learn more about their future employers.  Some almost rely on it completely.  This is not something I approve of completely.  I do not believe that you should be judged based on how many social networking sites you have.  I do agree, however, with the fact that your content should be filtered, and if you do not care enough to clean your content on these social networking sites, then that might reflect on how you might handle your job.  Another issue I have encountered with the use of our digital footprint as a form of resume is the fact that there are so many people with the same name, how do they know 100% if they have the right person?  Unfortunately, I do know of an individual who was "googled" and they looked at the wrong person and cost her a position.

I do believe that social networking can help promote yourself and make finding/getting a job easier and less stressful, but I do not believe that that should be the only aspect of who you are.  I have my reasons and beliefs for not being on Facebook and Twitter, so I do not feel I should be judged based on the fact that my social networking is limited.  This is why creating a website can be a great way to put your name out there into the world, expand your digital footprint, while still keeping your beliefs about social networking intact.  Our digital footprint can be helpful if we nurture it properly.  If not, then it can seriously damage our future professional career and, unfortunately, whether we agree with it or not, a lot of professionals and employers do rely on it as a source of valuable information.

So, google your name.  Research your digital footprint.  You never know what might be out there.

Be careful, be cautious.

BeeLAMS

Canoeing in Whistler

Another quick blog to add to my last post:

While in my Vancouver, my brother managed to get an awesome canoeing-for-two deal on Groupon.  The deal was for a canoe/kayak place in Whistler.  We have done kayaking before at Deep Cove in North Van, which was a lot of fun!  When we got there, the kayaks were out of commission due to the shallow waters this year.  So, we thought we would do a two person canoe adventure.  SO MUCH FUN!  Do it, do it, do it!  I believe it was called 'River of Golden Dreams'.  It was so fun because my brother and I have never really done a team work activity.  There was so much co-ordination required!  He often liked to "accidentally" steer me into the trees.  Not fun.  But, none the less, it was fun!  There were many times where the water was so shallow our canoe would scrape the rocky bottom.  Oh, you know what else was fun?  Stepping in glacier water up to your thighs!  You would not believe how many beaver dams we encountered.  They are also nearly impossible to avoid without getting wet.

The scenery we were able to witness was incredible.  It was the most beautiful thing I have been able to experience.  Even the feeling of the ice cold glacier water against your skin was magnificent.  We saw quite a bit of wildlife, as well as lots of plants and foliage.  More fun was being able to have some brother sister time with my eldest brother ( There are two. :)).  Next time we will be bringing my other brother.  The journey was about 2 hours, but time went by so fast.  I almost did not want it to end.

Another fun fact, the guides fail to inform you about how wet you might actually get.  SO, if you are planning on trying this out, bring water shows and wicking clothes!  But I guarantee you will enjoy it!

Try it out.  Get cozy with mother nature!  This is the way to do it!

On another note, is there anything like this in Brandon?  I'll have to do some research on that.

Another blog, another day,

BeeLAMS

PS- Link to the River of Golden Dreams page.  (http://www.backroadswhistler.com/rogd.asp)

My Physical Fitness Kick!

Lately I have been trying to be more physically healthy and fit while being at school this year.  This summer I went to Vancouver, BC with my boyfriend, and every time I go there I climb (usually with my brother) Grouse Mountain.  It is an amazing journey, but holy crap, if you're not physically fit at all, you could possibly die.  I've done it before, and every time I go back to Vancouver I tell myself, "Hey, I've done this before... it wasn't that bad.  I CAN DO IT AGAIN!!".  Bad idea Brittany.  Bad idea.

Okay, so I climb this mountain with my boyfriend and my brother.  They are both super fit, and I thought ( THOUGHT) I was relatively fit.  Well, after about five steps I thought my heart was going to explode.  KABOOM!  And these are not just ordinary steps.  Lunges are required to climb these steps.  AND ... just when you think you've gotta be half way ... you climb up a few more steps and find out that you're only 1/4 the way there.  SERIOUSLY!?  I always tell myself that I will never do it again ... but man ... when you get to the top of the mountain, it just feels so good.  You climbed that mountain.  You went through pain and suffering, to the point where you tasted blood, to climb that magnificent piece of beauty.  

I would definitely recommend this climb to anyone who seeks a challenge.  I have often watched personal trainers take clients up there.  A good example would be Tommy Europe from 'Bulging Brides' and 'Last Ten Pounds Boot camp'.  You can also ski there AND they have a grizzly bear habitat.  So cool.  Here is the link to Grouse Mountain Website (http://www.grousemountain.com/).

So because of Grouse Grinds awesome-ness and it showing me how unfit I was, it was my biggest motivator to get in better shape and be a healthier individual.

Let me know if you check it out and what YOU think of it!!!

BeeLams

Thinking about ICT

Hi all,

This past week in ICT class we looked at a lot of ways that we (educators) can better organize our technological lives, as well as discussing how we, the students, feel about technology in our classrooms.  Well, in schools in general!

First off, I want to discuss the different organizational tools we discussed in class.  There were many different sites that helped organize your bookmarks, sites that you can find creative ideas and posts on.  Something that struck me while learning about these sites was that I do not utilize the internet and technology on my computer as much as I had thought I did.  I have a macbook from 2008 AND I STILL DON'T KNOW HALF THE STUFF IT CAN DO!!  Bookmarks?  I know what those are ... but I definitely do not use them.  Bad?  Am I trying too hard to do everything on my own?  Is there a simple answer staring me in the face, as we speak, RIGHT NOW?!  Yes.  I am a terrible person when it comes to trying something new, especially when it involves technology.  I think that is the procrastinator in me. *sigh*

On a similar note, if I am not as in tune with this technology, how do we know if our students are/will be?  A lot of kids do not know how to properly utilize the internet to help themselves.  Okay, for example, I worked in a Sports store this summer and I worked a lot with shoes.  My boss always encourages us to try on the shoes.  Why?  So we can tell our customers what we thought of the product and we can determine what will better benefit the customer based on personal experience.  Experience proceeds theory?  In this case, I believe so.  How can we sell them a product without having tried it for ourselves?  Why should I tell me students to buy this app, if I have not tried it for myself?  It is very important to learn about these resources and try to use them, or else how can we advocate technology in the classrooms if we are inexperienced in using it?

I am going to think really hard on that last sentence.  How can I, as a music educator, advocate for technology in the classrooms?  Suggestions?  Thoughts?  Do not be afraid to let me know.  All comments are welcome!

That was my ICT Blab for the weekend.

BeeLAMS











 

First Blog Ever!

Hi everyone,

Today I am entering, for the first time, into the blog world.  A little terrified and a little unsure of what to talk about!  I'm really looking forward to exploring this blogging world and seeing how it can help myself as an educator use technology in the classroom and how I can gain ideas and bring them INTO the classroom.  Also excited to talk about other things as well of course!!!  I'm also looking forward to discovering what I like, or rather, love, to talk about most.  I have observed lots of other bloggers and blogs; I am amazed with how well a lot of people in the world can talk about what they love EVERYDAY!  I envy these people, whether they are teachers and educators sharing ideas, girls talking about beauty products, shopping and other things they love, or men discussing video games, sports, or colognes.  What do most of them have in common?  They are willing to share the things the learned with other people.  Some even share with the world!  I hope I can live up to those blog expectations!

I think this will be all for me today.  I hope to come up with some good topics to talk about in upcoming days.

Talk again soon!

BeeLAMS