Several Ways We Can Help Students Develop Their Creativity
Following are two excepts from the article that are excellent food for thought...
The researchers summarize their sad data: "Judgments for the
favorite student were negatively correlated with creativity; judgments
for the least favorite student were positively correlated with
creativity." Of course, there's a very good reason for this: nobody wants a
classroom full of little Pablo Picassos. That's a recipe for chaos,
which is why we also need to teach our kids how to focus and exert
self-control. But we shouldn't be so determined to enhance these mental
skills that we discourage the mental strategies that make creativity
possible.
Students need to learn how to pay attention, of course. But they also need to learn how to productively daydream.And this is why arts education is so important. Like most skills, creativity is best learned by doing.
I am a music teacher and, given my content area, should be one of the teachers that encourages creativity the most, however the logistics of my choral classroom (one to as many as eighty three,) makes encouraging creativity very challenging. Some describe the role of band director or choral director as one of a dictator due to the numbers and the need to maintain behavioral control.
45 minutes, 83 fifth graders, standards to meet, concerts to prepare for... Where does individual creativity find its home in this classroom? Technology is an obvious tool that can be used by students to share their creative vocal talents. I wonder if it is possible to develop a private HMS Chorus/Vocal youtube account that students can submit work to that they are willing to share with other students at HMS?
Monday, August 5, 2013
10 Ways Technology Supports 21st Century Learners in Being Self-Directed
10 Ways Technology Supports 21st Century Learners in Being Self-Directed
I chose to look at this lesson through the lens of "me" being the learner, and used a portion of this list as a checklist of sorts to see if I am "current" in using technology to improve and enhance my teaching.
2. Tweet to Connect with Experts
I created an account during our June classes, and will look for opportunities this fall to find some music educator "tweeters" worth following.
3. Skype an Expert
I have just created a music classroom lesson account. I am in the process of trying to find reviews of fellow music education skypers.
4. Free Online Educational Resources
I have enjoyed becoming more familiar with the Music Education Association and American Choral Directors Association websites and the tools, reviews, and resources they offer. ChoralForum.net has been extremely helpful as a "chorus everything" resource.
5. Online Learning
USM has started to offer a few online graduate music courses. I have been very reluctant to give these a try. I appreciate and believe I learn best from direct in-person instruction. (I don't even like to sit in the back row of the classroom, let alone on the other side of a screen.) Given the increasing number of courses offered online, this will be a road I will go down, but will avoid for as long as possible.
6. Authentic Publishing
I'm not sure if this would be "authentic" publishing or not, but I would like to explore a private hms music performance youtube account. This would be a place for students to post vocal and instrumental performances. These performances would give students an opportunity to creatively express and share their musical selves.
7. Use YouTube and iTunes to Learn Anything
It seems Youtube and iTunes University are vehicles that can be used by students to empower and design their own learning. Some professors are doing the following according to the article,
Facebook Find: YouTube University – An Interesting Opportunity for Innovative Students and Teachers, "posting lectures online and providing select innovative high school students the opportunity to watch the lectures, do the course work, and…get college credit-for FREE!" "...What I love about this option, is once the video is posted, it provides students with a forum to interact via commenting on and rating the videos." This sounds very exciting. Again, I don't see type of online university working for me in terms of graduate courses, however I can definitely see how this would create educational opportunities for people who live in remote areas and are unable to access appropriate quality "in-person"instruction.
9. Develop Authentic Learning Portfolios
This year I hope to join in the ePortfolios students have already created with their classroom teachers. My hope is this can be a place that can store student's garageband video and audio class and individual projects.
I chose to look at this lesson through the lens of "me" being the learner, and used a portion of this list as a checklist of sorts to see if I am "current" in using technology to improve and enhance my teaching.
2. Tweet to Connect with Experts
I created an account during our June classes, and will look for opportunities this fall to find some music educator "tweeters" worth following.
3. Skype an Expert
I have just created a music classroom lesson account. I am in the process of trying to find reviews of fellow music education skypers.
4. Free Online Educational Resources
I have enjoyed becoming more familiar with the Music Education Association and American Choral Directors Association websites and the tools, reviews, and resources they offer. ChoralForum.net has been extremely helpful as a "chorus everything" resource.
5. Online Learning
USM has started to offer a few online graduate music courses. I have been very reluctant to give these a try. I appreciate and believe I learn best from direct in-person instruction. (I don't even like to sit in the back row of the classroom, let alone on the other side of a screen.) Given the increasing number of courses offered online, this will be a road I will go down, but will avoid for as long as possible.
6. Authentic Publishing
I'm not sure if this would be "authentic" publishing or not, but I would like to explore a private hms music performance youtube account. This would be a place for students to post vocal and instrumental performances. These performances would give students an opportunity to creatively express and share their musical selves.
7. Use YouTube and iTunes to Learn Anything
It seems Youtube and iTunes University are vehicles that can be used by students to empower and design their own learning. Some professors are doing the following according to the article,
Facebook Find: YouTube University – An Interesting Opportunity for Innovative Students and Teachers, "posting lectures online and providing select innovative high school students the opportunity to watch the lectures, do the course work, and…get college credit-for FREE!" "...What I love about this option, is once the video is posted, it provides students with a forum to interact via commenting on and rating the videos." This sounds very exciting. Again, I don't see type of online university working for me in terms of graduate courses, however I can definitely see how this would create educational opportunities for people who live in remote areas and are unable to access appropriate quality "in-person"instruction.
9. Develop Authentic Learning Portfolios
This year I hope to join in the ePortfolios students have already created with their classroom teachers. My hope is this can be a place that can store student's garageband video and audio class and individual projects.
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