New Tools for Kids!

Our students now have Google Apps available to them!

This news was shared with our staff in a short sentence in a lengthy Monday morning newsletter.  Way at the bottom.  I really think that news should have been shouted from the mountain top, with way bigger type and about a dozen exclamation points!

Can you tell that I am pretty excited?  Those of you who have had Apps for a while are probably yawning right now.

Why would a band director be so excited about kids having access to Google Apps?  When you use SmartMusic like we do (everywhere and everybody) kids frequently ended up sharing accounts with other members of the family.  Now each kid can get his/her assignments without having to dig through big sister's/brother's assignments to get there.  Sure, I could have set them up with an account myself, but I am pressed for time as it is.  Now, someone else has done all the set-up.

Other reasons to get excited include all the other tools that go with an Apps account.  Writing, spreadsheet, forms, presentations, web pages can all be authored with these tools.

The cross-disciplinary assignments that I didn't get to may be possible now.

How about a serious tuning unit with a spreadsheet to track your tendencies over several practice sessions?  Wouldn't be cool if kids new where they typically were on the tuner with a little scientific study?

Report on a composer?  Or should that be a presentation?  AND it gets stored on the "Cloud," so no more "the dog ate my homework."

Nothing like a new tool to get the excitement going!

SmartMusic Everywhere To The Next Level!

www.smartmusic.com

The next level of SmartMusic convenience has arrived.  Teachers with Android and iOS devices (iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad) can now get the convenience of listening and reviewing to student assignments anywhere those devices can get connected to the internet.  (I spent most of my time trying out the iOS version on my iPod.)

Think about this.  Waiting for your kids to get done at practice?  Got a long commute? Knock off a few reviews.  Please don't do the commute one if you are driving!  Passenger seat is ok.

Of course, you will want to have a life, so don't over do this work-anywhere-all-the-time plan, but this is a way to keep from getting run over by the work that can pile up while you wait to get to it on your computer.  I went on a long field trip last spring and I could stay caught-up with the kids back at school with this tool.

The "SmartMusic In Box" is an excellent description of how it works.  You log in with your teacher e-mail, password and security code and the program gives you what you haven't evaluated yet.  You can sort the in-bound work by class or look at all of the work that has come in, much like messages in your e-mail in box.

If you go in by class, your class roster is available there as well.  From there you can look at the student's grade, review work he or she has turned in the past or send an e-mail to the individual.

The class roster on your iPod could be pretty handy in non-music situations.  Ever have to take attendance away from your computer or forgotten your class list for the fire drill?

The layouts are well thought out for the iPod version.  I haven't tried it on an iPad or iPhone yet.  The iPad idea may be interesting, because of the keyboard size.  I still haven't mastered keyboarding on the iPod and I do leave comments for all work turned in.  I don't think I am too far out on a limb saying the iPhone and iPod Touch versions should have similar keyboard sizes and issues.

I was surprised by how quickly this version of SmartMusic works.  It compares favorably with the computer version and may be the faster way to get your reviews of student work done.  This is exactly the task you need to do and there is no rewrite/reload of the full grade book page slowing you down.  I haven't done a head to head (SM vs SM In Box) race yet and your actual mileage may vary depending on your network.

Overall, I think this is a great addition to the SmartMusic tools.  I plan on using this a lot this fall.

Evernote

http://www.evernote.com/

Do you find yourself "clipping" ideas you find on the internet?

I used to spend a lot of time clipping photos I liked out of magazines and newspapers to study.  It is surprising how that helped my photography.  You figure out how a successful photo was made and when you get into a similar situation, you have a place to start.

You can't do that with scissors anymore.  At least not the ideas you find on your computer...that would make a mess of your monitor!

Evernote is my new scissors.  If I find a webpage I think may be important later for a project, I send it to Evernote.  I can organize it and look back on it later.  Pretty handy, especially for teachers working on their next lecture with up-to-the-minute information.  Worth a look and there is a free level of service.

The iPad came for a visit yesterday...

The iPad came to our district for a visit yesterday.

We got to take a look.  Corey from Apple actually let me try a few things on his personal iPad
(the show and tell ones were getting put away.)

First impression was "wow this thing is pretty snappy."  I was expecting gen 1 iPod speeds.  Things loaded quickly and switched pretty quickly.

The second thing to notice was the very nice display.  I am a photographer and when I saw the cute kitten pictures I had to do that little pinch move on the screen to enlarge them to ridiculous size... pencil sized hairs... I think people will need to sharpen their camera skills if they are going to display them on one of these.  Tack sharp or edit it out.

I hear the battery life is way up there.  Close to 12 hours?  Wow.  A guy could forget to charge it and still get a lot done on his next work day.

Bento.  So this may be the reason to learn Bento for a FileMaker Pro guy.  I see it syncs wirelessly.

I also saw that Citrix was installed!  Whoa, so if there isn't an "App for that," you could potentially run the program on your desktop and interact with it on your iPad via Citrix!?

What it won't do:
No printing yet.  But aren't we supposed to be paperless soon?

No Finale or SmartMusic yet.  I am guessing those will be a ways off.

No Flash.  Start learning HTML 5.

I love "white lists" in Safari for my kids at home.  Yes, my kids can surf the internet, but only on parent approved sites.  Here Safari is either on or off.  Be ready to watch students closely when they are surfing the net.

Where would this be a good fit?

This could be a great desk tool for kids.  Especially in the lower grades.  If most of what you do is consume media, read email, read books, do some flash cards, look stuff up (does this sound like early elementary?) this is your tool.  If you are looking to create, especially audio and video productions, the laptop or desktop is the way to go.

Go iPad and have a lab available for the creation-type projects?

You know what your budget is, you will have to make some choices.  If I could swing a laptop for everyone, that would be great and probably preferable.  If I couldn't, an iPad 1:1 project can make sense.  Though the price break doesn't seem that big when comparing the iPad to a low end laptop....

This would also be a GREAT present for someone you love.  Father's Day would be a great time to test this theory at my house.  (Hint, Hint..)

Free Collaboration Tools

http://www.accreditedonlinecolleges.com/blog/2010/50-free-collaboration-tools/

A major 21st century skill is collaboration. The link will take you to a site that has 50 free tools for students to use to collaborate.  It is a great place to start looking for ways to do collaborative work.

Schools should be providing opportunities to do collaborative work because work places require those skills.  I once heard a comedian riff on the "I like to work with people" answer in a job interview.  His response was something along the line of we ALL work with people.  It's true.

Now back in my early school days, they used to call working together "cheating."  Minnesota also had an education commissioner, Cheri Pierson Yecke, who was concerned about students doing social loafing instead of work.  (Her book.)

To say there may need to be some controls on a group project is an understatement.  People will be concerned about the learning and how we are monitoring the projects.

Some of the collaboration tools mentioned in the link let you play back and review the work as it happens.  You can tell who is the worker and who may be the loafer.  Everyone's contribution is documented.

School should look a little more like work in the collaborative sense.  Where else are kids going to get those skills?  I would suggest you take a look at this list.  Do you have a few to add?

Grading

http://dougbutchy.edublogs.org/2010/03/19/elementary-band-grading/

Doug Butchy has a conversation going about grading elementary band on his blog. Worth a read.

I wonder about grades as well. Letters rarely line up with growth, effort or progress. I haven't had to struggle in school, so I couldn't personally say if they were really a motivator. I hope that kids take my class for more than just the grade.

I have the usual daily rubric and the required concert performances. I also use SmartMusic assignments to be sure that practicing is happening and to document what students are accomplishing. I'm covered for grade justification.

I think SmartMusic helps with more than just grades. I was really worried about this year's 7th graders. They were the first class hit with no sectionals after 5th grade. They were also our first group we really pushed to use SmartMusic. Next year's registration for 8th grade band will be as big as it ever was. I think that is because these students know what they can do and are confident about their success. I wish they knew more as they go to the next building, but I am really glad they are sticking with it!

If I had to pick sectionals or SmartMusic, I think I would pick sectionals. I miss the ability to have conversations with my students in a small group setting. It is much easier to tell kids what they need to know in those settings.

But if sectionals came back, I think I would still be using SmartMusic as much as we are now. It is a tremendous practice guide. If you beat the machine, you have a really good start on the music and are ready for rehearsal. Why would you give that up?

SmartMusic as an audience.

http://www.smartmusic.com/Community/Default.aspx

I am surprised by how much better an assignment sounds after the SmartMusic has been turned in. Significantly better. As in I-wish-there-were-a way-to-count-the-right-and-wrong-notes-in-an-ensemble-so-I-could-seriously-measure this effect.

I suppose I could round up a bunch of laptops and SmartMusic the whole ensemble, but try to get everyone to start at the same time...

I believe the effect is there and it is there even when I don't use the notes on screen assessment features.

I think it has something to do with kids using the playback to self evaluate. Yes, he was talking to me about diction/articulation/breath support. Time for take two. SmartMusic is very much like a mirror for my kids.

If kids still don't seem motivated, put the SmartMusic assignment in this frame: we are going to send this recording to someone.

Our writing teachers always talk about considering the audience when you write (It is good advice.) This can be the music analogy to that advice. SmartMusic provides the chance to perform for an audience as an individual, so, do a good job, kids!

Wireless at school

http://www.startribune.com/local/south/64186172.html

Interesting article in the Star-Tribune. (Yes, I still read the newspaper on paper.)

This article is about how high schools are moving to wireless access for their students. I'm inclined to say it is about time that this is happening. I'm glad it is. It is happening in my district too.

Think about it. The biggest collection of thought, ideas and concepts ever created by man is available wirelessly. Anywhere in the building. Is there any reason that kids shouldn't have easy access to ALL of that information and answers to their questions? That is the amazing thing about the times we live in, that collection of information. Talk about a learning opportunity! ISN'T THAT THE KIND OF WORK WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING AT SCHOOL?

I can understand why it hasn't happened sooner. How do you protect the network and provide access to kids. The Child Internet Protection Act makes administrators nervous as well. But because kids might create problems doesn't mean we cut all kids off completely. We have kids write evil notes all the time; we don't take their pencils. Kids may run into an idea that their parents aren't comfortable with; We don't close the library. Instead, we discuss/teach/learn/argue our way through.

As far as how much is the going to cost, I bet it is cheaper than pulling more wires. Kids bring their own devices to connect. That part sounds pretty cheap. Yes, there will be the very poorest we should help out, but with a little creativity...

Time's Top Ten Apps for Back to School. Another List!

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1919378_1919377,00.html

I AM a sucker for lists. Here's one from Time Magazine!

Time has put together a nice list of iPhone Apps for back to school. I would personally make it a top 11 and add "Things" or maybe substitute that app for the homework organizer. Why are these lists always 10 items? Do we blame Letterman?

This list makes the Touch/iPhone look like a powerful and adaptive tool for learning. No surprise, it really is.

Got to wonder though, would a kid be allowed to take out his iPhone (iPod Touch) without risking confiscation? How many schools allow these tools to be used? Can they be connected to the school wireless network? Is there a school wireless network?

Hey Time! Need a writing prompt for an article?

SmartMusic 2010!

http://www.smartmusic.com/smartmusic/New.aspx

SmartMusic 2010 went out the door of MakeMusic yesterday! Maybe you go the e-mail.

The timing of this event was perfect for me. I like to get this rolling with my students early in the fall and it looks new enough to make my old handouts out-of-date. I will need to update my demos for the students. I have had a look at 2010 and it was a big upgrade this time around. MakeMusic has spent a lot of time and effort at making this product more useful and easier to use.

My biggest beginning-of-the-year headache is getting SmartMusic installed and the users into the GradeBook. Remember, we use SmartMusic at home and at school pervasively, so I am not talking about the installations you personally do. I am looking forward to this fall and seeing if activation and registration goes better for the kids and parents. These processes have gained clarity with better design.

I have a theory that people don't normally install their own software, so the needed skills to do this are starting to disappear. The installation, activation and enrolling for class processes for SmartMusic are no harder than any other software that I have installed, but there have been a few calls to me about just those things over the past few years. I hope the new look helps.

They seem to have dropped the name Impact for GradeBook. I think that is a good move... everyone knows what a grade book is for.

The SmartMusic GradeBook has had a redesign. I think this new look will help the teachers get around a bit easier. I am looking forward to that as well. The big improvement in the GradeBook is that SmartMusic now works more seamless with its internet resources to create and get the assignments. Things happen from within SmartMusic instead of your browser launching. You are hardly aware that you are going to the web to get the information.

I think the really big feature for teachers and other users this year will be the search features. There are about a bazillion (ok, maybe only eleventy-billion) accompaniments for this program. That number keeps growing. It was time to make finding what you need easier.

SmartMusic works on an annual subscription basis, so you will be using this version if you use SmartMusic. If you teach, I think you will be pleased with 2010. Get it early and figure out where everything is.

Searches, better integration with the web, a few under-the-hood improvements and a new look. What's not to love?

Interesting Lists

http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/

http://mustech.net/

Every now and then I get a minute to read.  I love that time.  And I do mean minute.

If I only have a minute, I like to find lists on the internet.  You know the format, Top Ten Ways to...  I think what works for me is the brevity and the interesting connections these lists can make.  

If you are looking for music ed and teaching lists, I suggest you take a look at "So You Want To Teach?"  His top ten posts (a list!) are mostly thought-provoking lists.

I also like poking around in Dr. Pisano's MusTech.net site.  He also has an interesting list of 100 music ed blogs.  I haven't be able to get to all those sites, but I am working on it.

Got a minute? Read a list.

New to me iPod VNC app Jaadu

My teacher iPod tip for you today is Jaadu.

Jaadu is a VNC (Virtual Network Computer) app that allows you to see what is running on your computer's desktop as well as control the computer.  VNC has been around for a while now and there are other computer programs that use it .  So what is the big deal with Jaadu?  It runs on your iPod Touch or iPhone.

There are some obvious uses for Jaadu that jumped to my mind right away.  

Do you know what your kids are really doing on their computer?  Here is an unobtrusive way to peek over their shoulder.

Trouble shooting from a distance?  Much easier.  No more trying to figure out what people are looking at.

Can't play something in Flash?  Let your computer translate for your iPod.

Can't get your ten year old off the computer?  Take over and shut it down.  (Ok, that one is a little  harsh, but who wants to do all their blogging late at night?)

Want to use your iPod as a controller for your next slideshow?  There is a built-in interface for that.

There is also software (on the computer side) that will allow you to do all this from anywhere you can connect your iPod to the internet.  I haven't tried that yet.  All my uses have been on local networks.  I know kids have to attend class...maybe, my next lecture will be delivered with me at the local coffee house.    

Connecting your computer with your iPod is pretty straight-forward with easy to follow directions on their website.  Look for Jaadu at the App Store.  I think you will find it useful!

 

Tom Sextro is helping me out a lot with my Wiimote Cheap Whiteboard Project and he doesn't even know it!  

The original cheap whiteboard concept was a Johnny Chung Lee.

Tom's YouTube videos have been very helpful.  Tom's first video on this project is here, be sure to look at his other YouTube/Whiteboard postings to see how it works in the wild!

My principal was apologizing that she couldn't get a whiteboard for everyone, but she could get a projector for me.  I'm thinking a little extra research on the internet is going to get me the rest of the way.  I am thinking $50 and a little improvising and I am golden.

Big Science in the Wilderness

There are amazing things happening in the Soudan Mine State Park.  

You can tour the "Cadillac of Iron Mines."  After the mine  tour, I can see why that might be considered a good (luxurious?) place to work for a miner, but it still would be back-breaking, dirty, dark and noisy work.  

If you happen to be there at the right time, you can catch the second tour of the Soudan High Energy Physics Lab.  This is a surprising place to find near the end of the road.  BIG SCIENCE and high tech experiments are happening here.

They are hunting for dark matter.  (There is a NOVA podcast here about dark matter.)  In another experiment, they are beaming neutrinos at a big detector (pictured) from the Fermi Lab to measure the neutrinos' mass and learn more about their oscillation. Pretty interesting stuff.

If you go, I hope you get a tour guide as enthusiastic and knowledgeable as the guide that showed my group around.  Chris really knew his stuff and I enjoyed his talk.  He is part of the intern program there.  I hope when he gets a "real" job in his future, there is teaching in some part of it.  I think he would be a good one.

Vacationeer returns

I have been out of town for a week on vacation.  Very relaxing.  

We spent some of the time in Ely, Minnesota.  The local radio station there, WELY, promotes itself as "End of the Road Radio."

We like to go there for the BWCAW canoeing experience.  The few motorboats you see there are piloted by people that actually do yield to non-motorized traffic.  Paddle on Lake Minnetonka on a weekend and you will know why that is important!

Ely may think of itself as the end of the road, but I think it has many 21st century things happening there.  I will be writing about them as I can get my thoughts organized.