These were words of advice instilled in me while studying music. Surprisingly though, I never really knew what this meant until well into graduate school. I had already experienced many teachers who alluded to this idea, but they never took the time to explain, and often times their advice was contradictory. "If you want to be good, you need to put in at least 5 hours of practice a day. But don't over do it. Take breaks!" they would say. This conflicting advice left me feeling as if I were grasping at straws. Does ear training count towards the time? Wait...what if I have chamber music that day? Does that count? Finally, after realizing I didn't know the answers, I decided that the easy answer was this: when in doubt, do more.
Wrong!
Just how does one practice smarter? As teachers, it is our obligation to teach our students how to practice and study. This requires not only passing along the knowledge or skill we are attempting to teach, but it also requires that we provide them with the proper tools and techniques that encourage and support independent learning. Technology, coordinated with other effective teaching methods, can be one of these tools. It can compliment other methods while also raising their effectiveness.
If our memories are short, we may believe that the technological "should we or shouldn't we" conundrum is a recent question. Yet, if we look back far enough, it is actually a question that has been with us for a long time. And, thankfully, many times we did choose to integrate the latest technology with astounding results. This integration of technology was employed with intent and purpose. It was not entertainment or a substitute for great teaching.
Integrating technology into the classroom, or education for that matter, is not about technology taking precedence. It is about linking technology with all the other tools and methods at our disposal. Integrating, at its fundamental core, concerns unification. It is based upon need, what has come before, and takes all details into consideration. Integrating technology into the classroom provides the opportunity to link lessons and subjects like never before. In fact, it can allow us to travel the world. Through technology we hear the sounds, see the vibrant colors, speaking with its citizens, all from the seat of our chair.
When I was a child, pre-internet, hearing these sounds would have required travel, either down to my local record store (which probably wouldn't have had what I was looking for) or traveling half-way around the world. So, most of us relied upon our fossilized textbooks, out of date and horribly expensive (thus the reason for it being out of date). Fortunately, we now have the opportunity to learn and teach with technology. Through tools like Kahn Academy and Story Corps, what was once a one dimensional subject takes on a three dimensional life with versatility and practicality.
So, how does one use technology to promote independent learning and not simply entertain? According to Caitlin R. Tucker, we should think big but start small. Use of technology should be purposeful and woven into the tapestry of educational tools. There is still a time and place for lecture, reading aloud, and written tests. However, we now have the opportunity to compliment these tools with technology.
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Now, let's fast forward ten years. These days my music practice consists of solo practice, ear training with my Ear for Life app, a lesson on skype, and recording myself with my iphone. And this is just for today. Tomorrow can be a different combination. Interestingly, I no longer need those five hours. I practice intelligently and with purpose. I no longer play through things without a plan. I isolate problems and brainstorm solutions. Best of all, I have a full toolbox of methods at my disposal.
I love the Caitlin Tucker quote near the end. purposefully weaving the most important parts of technology into education today.
ReplyDeleteHi Charlotte,
ReplyDeleteI really liked the way you put an emphasis on how technology "can compliment other methods of teaching while raising their effectiveness", and then you reiterated it further down by saying that integration does not mean that technology is taking precedence but unifying or linking together other tools at a teacher's disposal( lectures, hands on labs, written tests). I think that it is important to remember this idea, when openly discussing tech. integration with a teacher or administrator that may be hesitant about bringing more technology into the classroom. Thanks for the great post!
"So, how does one use technology to promote independent learning and not simply entertain? According to Caitlin R. Tucker, we should think big but start small. Use of technology should be purposeful and woven into the tapestry of educational tools. There is still a time and place for lecture, reading aloud, and written tests. However, we now have the opportunity to compliment these tools with technology" I do agree. With technology today we have the world at our fingertips. A field trip is now free and we can see all over the world. We can participate with other schools and learn about their cultures with their students in an instant through skype or google hangouts. The possibilities are endless. It is not about just the technology though. There is certainly a place for books, papers, pencils as you mention. It is about working smarter and not harder. I love that you use technology for your practice. That is a wonderful idea and can be translated into a student practicing reading. They can record themselves and listen. So many possibilities exist.
ReplyDeleteNice comments about the role of technology in the classroom. Technology shouldn't just be implemented in the classroom in order to fulfill a requirement but has to serve some educational purpose. Tools such as Skype and google docs give students the opportunity to work in groups while not being physically close to each other, something inconceivable about twenty years ago. Students also become more independent by utilizing these tools, as they are given the opportunity to do more things on their own.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your blog post. The video link to the "History of Technology" was interesting to watch; in a previous blog post of mine I referenced the use of overhead projectors as a staple of my own education in the 1990s and modern day, only to find that in the timeline it was introduced in the audiovisual age of the 1940s. Most classrooms seem to be 10 years or more behind in technology integration, which allows for the "think big but start small" philosophy to fit well as teachers find purposeful ways to weave technology into lessons.
Derek H.