Homepage

I've kept my homepage updated and now that I spotted that as "one of my 6 things" I can blog and reflect. I've added the RPC, an excellent music citation reference, a dictionary of folk music, several other music sites. Pretty cool stuff. As I look through the internet I do add to it. I feel more comfortable with my school webpage and I consider it my homepage. I know my studnets have linked to it so when I add a resource they have instant access. It will be noice when they come up with a way to allow us to have the right passwords to allow our students access to United Streaming. I know they would love to see all the resources there. But then they have YouTube with lots of other great stuff. Hmmm. We need a little of both.

YouTube

Just re-read my blog and realized I hadn't reflected on my experience with YouTube. I was able to find two of the coolest videos. One is an interview with John Cage about his ideas on music and the use of sound and silence. One of his most controversial compositions is also performed on another YouTube clip. In that piece the performer sits at the piano and the piece begins when s/he closs the keyboard lid. The audience sounds and sound occurring in the hall are the "composition." There are three movements and each movement begins with the closing of the lid and ends with the opening. The piece ends after 4'33" when the performer opens the lid to the piano. Kind of strange watching a video of it but there it was!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HypmW4Yd7SY Here's the link to watch for yourself. Now my problem is how can I use it when I can't access it at school? I've searched teachertube but it's not there. Where do I look and what should I do now?

Streaming Videos

Had a chance to use a video from the Annenburg Media site. How great!!! It was so slick and easy to use the LCD projector and one click and the screen was filled. Also signed up for United Streaming. Wow what a great resource!!! Almost too much to look through. But the kids really seem to enjoy the change from standard videos and naturally from lectures. The best thing about this video was the opportunity for my students to view live performances of world music instruments and performances.

As you sow, so shall you reap

Good seeds are the most important element!! After that is the soil, now one might imagine that it is necessary to have fertile soil but it's amazing when you use "plain ol' dirt." My classes using the RPC have now begun turning in their projects. Across the board I have NEVER had such good results. Of course I will not claim that they have understood everything I've tried to teach, but the improvement in the end result is so wonderful to see!!!

Now it's important to follow through and be sure that the rest of the lessons imbedded in the RPC can be adequately taught. In class we have started the fine tune search words and search engines. It's exciting but daunting to see all the information and all the possibilities and yet to know that there is still such a limited time we have with our students.

Research and the typical High School student

We're headed full blast into Winter break but a few of my students have taken advantage of the dribbling lessons that we worked on and have really started to understand the value and pitfalls of internet research. Especially useful were the Primary Source bookmark, the Online Search Techniques lesson and the evaluating sources and sites lessons. I hope they remember and apply what we worked on. Guess I'll check in with them in January and see what has "stood the test of time!!!"

Databases

Tonight's class was fun. We learned about online research tools available through the district website. There were many different levels of databases available. Even the most rudimentary was fun to look at and useful even for high school students. I will link the district list to my list so my students can use the databases more easily.

FUN!!!

Kathy and I taught the RPC and other things to the IB class that is the focus of most of the activities for this class. Wow!! What fun. There were OOOOOs and Ahhhhs, yes most of them saw the relevance and the usefulness of this tool. FUN!!! Here's some pics:

Amazing the value of extra credit. One more day in the lab and they've already done everything that I asked and are looking for more.