Connected Educator... ...Chapter 3: The Connected Classroom

Connected Educator... ...Chapter 3

There is no doubt that the future of classrooms in America are "connected classrooms."  Technology continues to become more affordable and online tools more accessible.  These two factors bring numerous learning opportunities that change the face of education and connect students and teachers inside and outside of the classroom.  There are two primary questions I will answer in this post.  The first is to define what it means to be a connected classroom.  The second is to outline the value in the creation and implementation.  It often seems limitless in reference to the tools available.  We start with particular tools and how those tools are used in a "connected classroom."

#Education - You Tube

As a music educator I have found that You Tube is an important part of the fabric in my "connected classroom."  The continuous goal is to make You Tube a regular part of our learning.  You Tube has taken an active role in our playing evaluations.  Instead of doing live playing assessments with the teacher, students now have the option to submit their playing evaluation via You Tube.  Students post the recorded video via their You Tube channel and share the link with me through our online Moodle class page.  I also have the desire for students to use You Tube to share their musical experiences with people outside of the classroom.  This could be through a performance or through a particular musical narrative.  Other students from all over the world could share and exchange their musical experiences as well.  Students also could use self-recorded You Tube videos as teaching tools for younger students.  Currently I am working towards giving older students leadership opportunities to provide in-depth video examples of particular musical passages that younger students are working on.  The connection is a win-win for both groups, providing additional instruction for younger students and leadership opportunities for the older.  I continue to come up with ideas with the help of other educators on more ways for students to use You Tube in the classroom.  Not only are students using You Tube, I am also using my You Tube channel to provide students with additional learning tools and resources.

I have now begun to introduce online lessons via You Tube in particular areas of fundamental music study.  I also provide supplemental video recordings for students as they prepare musical pieces for performance.  Students are able to access the videos through Moodle and repeat the short online lessons again and again to increase learning potential.  I also can provide direct video feedback to students giving them specific evaluation information about particular videos they submit to me through You Tube.

Using You Tube in my connected classroom provides constant feedback on how students are progressing throughout their musical tenure.  This is useful for parents, students, and the teacher to continue to increase individualized learning potential.  While You Tube has become the most prominent app I use in my classroom, there are others which continue to help me discover the meaning of a "connected classroom."

Google Edu

Google has many different opportunities to increase student learning in a connected classroom.  One in particular that I have used is Google Drive.  We as a music department naturally archive all of our performances.  In our "connected classroom," we now upload our videos into a Google Drive, forward, and share the link for students, parents, and the community members to view.  This increases the visibility of the students to the world outside of our walls.  Students also take pride in the performances and products that they produce knowing that their network just got a lot bigger.

Smart Music

Smart Music has become a staple of our connected music education classroom.  Many of our lessons are taught using Smart Music.  Students also have the opportunity to use the same product at home for better practice and a more consistent presentation of the content.  Through the use of Smart Music I have found that school rehearsals have been more focused and home practice for students that have Smart Music has become more productive.  Using the connected tool Smart Music has also increased opportunity for more individualized instruction, providing students with specific tools geared for a students specific learning stage.  These tools have helped with rhythmic and note understanding.  Smart Music has increased the connection between what students are doing in the classroom and what they are doing at home.

Skype

Skype is a way that I look forward to using to connect with other educators, conductors, musicians, clinicians, and experts in the field.  In a "connected classroom" I envision that my students will be able to connect with students from all over the world.  I also envision that we will play a particular piece of music and network with the composer via Skype to give us feedback and thoughts on his composition.  Skype is also an excellent way to allow students from afar to sit in on our rehearsals and performances.  While this is a new tool for me, Skype is bound to become a staple in my "connected classroom."

Moodle

There is one method I have used and foresee using to bring together the many tools and resources of my "connected classroom;"  Moodle.  While the actual apps don't always apply directly to what I do as a music educator, using Moodle as a hub has been a wonderful way to keep a safe, simple and accessible online learning environment for my students.  Moodle makes the gateway to the "connected classroom" easily attainable.


The Value of a Connected Classroom

A "connected classroom" is valuable to a learning environment in the 21st century.  It has the potential to leave a positive impact on students, teachers, parents, the educational institution, and the community at large.

There are several different areas of value that pertain to students.  Being connected means being global.  This provides students with the opportunity to realistically make a worldwide impact.  The comprehension and understanding that students achieve through being connected is deeper and more collaborative.  Students have direct access to experts and other students who share ideas and interact live.  The learning is enhanced because being connected means being authentic.  With this authenticity students are naturally prone to leadership opportunities.  Many of these opportunities are evaluative in which students learn the success that comes from daring to fail.

www.quotesvalley.com

They build responsibility in having to navigate not only the face-to-face classroom environment, but now the world stage as well.  Some might think this may be a downfall due to the potential risks of negative reactions and feedback, but I see this more as an opportunity.  Whether we admit it to ourselves or not, students are already familiar with this type of medium outside of the school walls in their social and family life.  We are just bringing them the school environment medium they already know.  In the connected environment students discover more about themselves and redefine their roles in learning.  This brings them to reach beyond their potential with endless resources and support tools.

The "connected classroom" brings value to all stakeholders involved including parents and the community.  Transparency is prominent in being connected.  Parents and the community are able to be active members of the learning environment.  The community takes pride in the learning accomplishments and becomes more apt to support the educational institution.  This is great for students because the community is a natural part of their growth.

The face of education is changing and growing outside of the classroom.  We as educators must embrace this change and use everything in our power to fulfill the very reason we became teachers... ...to engage students in learning.