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!

...
....
.....
......

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