An ABC of Technology

In the MOOC, Music in the Twenty-First Century Classroom, we have been set a challenge to share our thoughts about the place of media in the music classroom. I think that I would have been happier presenting a list of pros and cons but we have been asked to be creative. I thought of writing a song or a rap but somehow a line such as, "When it comes to synthesizers, midi and technology, I am the very model of modern music pedagogue" is possibly too embarrassing on many levels. Anyway, I hope that the following contains some of my thoughts about technology in an entertaining and creative way. As well as my own thoughts, I've included some comments from speakers featured in the MOOC videos and some other reading that I've done. I've updated this since the original posting.

The ABC of Technology in Education

A is for app., appealing and accurate.
No matter how appealing an app may be, if the content is not accurate it is of no educational value.

B is for brain, baby and behaviour.
Ban all screen time for children under the age of two to prevent poor brain development and disrupted learning behaviour.

C is for creativity, collaboration and critical thinking.
These are three essential twenty-first century skills that are supported by using technology in the music classroom.

D is for digital natives.
Digital natives live in an instant world where technology is the status quo (Prensky, 2001). However, sometimes they forget that they are also explorers and will stare forlornly at the screen wondering where to go next.Cue teacher.

E is for encouragement, enquiry and epistemic games.
Encouragement and enquiry (“Wow, how did you do that?”) are grandmotherly methods that promote perseverance and understanding in digital learners. Epistemic games immerse children in real-life situations and ask them to solve real-world problems.

F is for Flipped Learning
Flipped Learning is no guarantee that homework won’t be boring.

G is for GarageBand.
GarageBand turns bedrooms into studios and classrooms into hit factories. However this is not a guaranteed formula. The real equation is: musician+GarageBand≠guaranteed instant hit. The secret for success remains as mysterious as ever.

H is for Hybrid Learning.
Hybrid or blended learning combines, or blends, classroom and online learning. This is a familiar practice in many schools. It provides for balance.

I is for individualised, informal and idiosyncratic.
Three important pedagogical approaches supported by technology in the music classroom.

J is for JITT (just-in-time technology).
To make better use of limited devices, schools have adapted the industry just-in-time model, preferring to manage limited resources rather than overstock with technology that may not meet their needs (McKenzie, 2003).

K is for know, knowledge and know-how.
Is knowledge obsolete? We no longer need to know, we just need to have the know-how to locate, evaluate and apply the knowledge available online. However, knowledge comes in handy for a dad to beat his daughters in online trivia games.

L is for loops.
Loops are counter-intuitive. Despite the potential to create monotony and homogeny, musical loops seem to be the wellspring for endless variety.

M is for Mobile learning.
Mobile learning means learning where you want and when you want using technology. However, learning in the physical presence of others and hearing an effective speaker live are still powerful modes of learning.

N is network.
Technology allows students and teachers alike to create their own network of peers, mentors and instructors.

O is for Open Source Software
Offering an alternative to proprietary software, Open Source Software builds equity into digital access ahead of equity on the NASDAQ.For the music classroom, these include Soundtrap and Noteflight.

P is for personalised.
Personalised learning offers the opportunity for differentiation and tailoring learning to individual needs. But education is more than an individual pursuit. Emphasising a personalised approach can lose sight of the benefit the community or society also receives.

Q is for questions.
Learning should be about the big questions.

R is for remote
“In nine months, a group of children left alone with a computer in any language, even in a remote Indian village, will reach the same standard as an office secretary in the West.” – Sugata Mitra.

S is for SOLE
Self-organised learning environments combine Broadband, collaboration and encouragement.

T is for teacher.
Technology is no substitute for the relationship between teacher and pupil. What technology does mean is that these roles are continually interchangeable.

U is for unknown.
Much is unknown about the future but technology will have a major role to play in jobs of the future.

V is for virtual.
Virtual manipulation allow learners to play around with ideas, adjust small variables and view or hear the effect.

W is for wonder.
“We need to design a future of learning by supporting children to tap into their wonder and their ability to work together.” – Sugata Mitra

X is for Xavier.
Francis Xavier, Sydney based DJ/Producer/Engineer/Musician/Party promoter/Label owner/Synth hoarder, is testament to the fact that there is more than one way to get into music.

Y is for YouTube.
Forget Wikipedia, YouTube is the “go to” information site for twenty-first century learners in Australia,

Z is for zero.
Technology promises zero boredom in classrooms but there is no guarantee.

References not mentioned in the MOOC

McKenzie, J.(2003, January). Just in time technology. In From Now On: The Educational Technology Journal 12(5), January Retrieved 21/01/2017 from http://fno.org/jan03/jitt.html

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On the horizon, 9(5)October. NCB University Press. Retrieved 20/01/2017 from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf