I Thought I Was Paranoid

I thought I was the only one paranoid to do this... have you ever "Googled" yourself?

It is a good idea according to Will Richardson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Richardson)

How well you Google can be important to your career, personal life and in ways I have never thought of before.  No, you can't make a mistake just go away.  But you can respond.

By the way, Will Richardson was our guest speaker at our school's opening professional development day. If you get a chance to hear him, do.  Will has some very well thought out ideas and presents them with grace and humor.  He said he was going to "push us."  But I didn't feel like I was being belittled or threatened.  He's worth a listen.

Kids today will need to think ahead in a big way.   Everything you do is a possible gaffe on YouTube, Facebook, MySpace... will your kids "Google" well?  This needs to be taught.

Augmented Reality in Education (Think I can link it to SmartMusic?)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmented_reality

http://www.wikitude.org/category/02_wikitude/world-browser (Wikitude)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2OfQdYrHRs (Word Lens)

The first time I saw the yellow "first down" line on a televised (American) football game, I was finding it a bit coincidental that the ref was spotting the ball so close to the yellow line that just happened to be there.  How could the grounds crew have know where to put it?  Was the ref being influenced by the coincidental yellow line?

That spot happened three times before I figured out that the broadcasters were putting that yellow line in with computers so they could show me where the first down was.  The ref didn't see the line, but TV watchers could.  Of course, my team was just short of the yellow line all three times.

This is also one of the first times I became aware of something that I now know is called Augmented Reality.

I think Augmented Reality has educational possibilities.

Check out the iOS app called Word Lens.  Point your iPod's or iPhone's camera at a piece of text in another language and it will change those words to your language.  It's a direct translation, not an interpretation, but pretty helpful.

Wikitude's World Browser does very much the same thing with your surroundings.  Point your camera (with GPS and compass on) at the world and it will tell you on screen what Wikitude knows about it.  I think this would enhance any field trip involving landmarks and buildings.

No, you probably won't want your students constantly using these tools instead of learning the material.  But, I would guess that most students would appreciate the support while they are studying.  Scaffolding works.

How can I connect Augmented Reality this with SmartMusic?  The cursor does a wonderful job of showing you where the beat is.  This is a wonderful way to help students with rhythm and tempo.  It isn't real time, but the red/green note report after a performance is very helpful if the student takes the time to study it.

The new tools aren't coming, they are here.

FileMaker Go and organizing my music room(s).

http://www.filemaker.com/

http://www.fmtouch.com/

I have one of THOSE assignments.  During the week, I have 270 students in five different classes and 10 sections of small group sectionals in 4 different rooms that I share with other teachers.  At the middle school level.

To say organization is important would be an understatement.  You could get run over pretty quick if you are not ready for class and fiddling with paperwork.   I am always looking for tools to help with that.  If those tools fit in my pocket, Great! because I have so many places to be.

I think I have found a versatile little gem called FileMaker Go.  It is an iOS version of FileMaker.  I am currently running it on my iPod Touch (Generation 4.)

FM Go works with your computer-based FileMaker data base.  You create the data base in FileMaker and share it to your iOS device.  The synch feature works with either the cord or over Wi-Fi.  I am using the cord and storing the info on my iPod.  Sometimes, you need the information where you can't get at a wireless connection.

You do need to do the design of the data base in FileMaker, but it is one of the easiest data bases to learn and pretty versatile too.

I now have my class lists, a parent contact phone number, picture of each student, and an advisor name in my pocket for whenever I need it.  Pretty cool.  I did very little data entry with this project as well as most of this information is available from the office on .csv and tab-delimited files, which FileMaker can import.

I have used FMTouch for very similar things.  You do need access to the more expensive FMPro Advanced to do this and it takes more set-up to make it work.  It is a solid solution if those items aren't a problem for you  and you don't have an iOS device that meets system requirements for FM Go.  I think that FM Go runs faster, but I can't be sure because I updated my iPod at the same time and I don't have a fair comparison.  FMTouch is worth a look if it works better with your gear.

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.

Just Back From The Mother Ship

I am just back from the Mother Ship. Apple HQ in Cupertino.

The folks over in the Apple Education Division helped our 21st Century Skills group get its head on straight about the role of technology in a modern education with an Apple Executive Briefing.

No, it wasn't all about tools (as you know, they do sell those.) I would say it is all about how students learn to be productive citizens in their near future and promoting student learning.

How do you get your information? How do you get current information? How do you collaborate? How do you find the next useful idea? How do you create your next big idea? How do you tell the world what you know? How are we going to promote higher levels of thinking? How are we going to promote deeper understanding? How do we do all of this and keep our kids safe?

Can you really say you are doing all of this without technology? Any of this?

Yes, they have solutions for these questions and I am sure they would be happy to take our request for a bid. Yes, they did have a principal talk to us about pulling off a one to one initiative. Don't worry about the hard sell. They really didn't push for a sale at this meeting.

This really is them providing you the opportunity to think about what we are doing. When was the last time anyone did that for you?

I would say that, if you are ever invited to an Apple Executive Briefing, accept.

Thanks Apple.

P.S. No, we didn't get to see the new iPad. I am sure they are really busy getting the launch ready to go. I know what did get to do was way more important. Thanks again Apple.

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?

Ustream

http://www.ustream.tv/

Need to send out a live video feed?

Sure YouTube will let you post a video... What do you do with a live event?

We have a dodgeball tournament at my school and the coach was wondering how to get video out to the school. Kids want to watch the finals and there really is no room in the gym for an audience. (Yeah, when we are not playing dodgeball, we watch it. Dodgeball fever! Crazy for dodgeball!)

She was right. The best way to turn this into a big event would be to televise it somehow. Looking at our resources and our budget was a problem. Whenever in this type of situation, I always say to myself, "Google is my friend." Free Internet Video Streaming turns up Ustream.

Turns out, it is not too hard to use. I was expecting a whole bunch of hoops, additional software, super-cryptic directions and hundreds of ads for services I wouldn't want. Not so. Plug in the camera, go to the web site, login, follow a couple of links and you have your TV station. Fun!

So, if you can think of a time you could use your own live TV channel, Ustream is worth a look. And the show wouldn't have to be about dodgeball...

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!

The iPad

I got lucky with my lunch break today... the time zones aligned and my lunch hour (actually, lunch 20 minutes) worked out to be the same time as the iPad roll-out. I think it is fun to read coverage of an event while it is happening. We live in amazing times.

Say good-bye to books on paper. I know others have done it first. I know that Amazon has its Kindle. But this seems like a very good fit for the other Apple on-line sales efforts. Is this the synergy that e-books need, or is Apple too late and the other earlier entries into this kind of book sales/publishing gotten to big lead? I don't think Apple is too late and the presentation is wonderful.

Putting my school teacher hat on:

(Warning! These are pretty random.)

If a teacher couldn't find a use for this in the classroom, they are not trying very hard. This could easily become the entry level learning tool for many learners. Will we be putting something like this in every student's hands anytime soon?

The price may seem to be a little high, but have your priced a text-book lately? Replace a back-pack load of books with this and get the internet and some computer power at the same time. I think the iPad may be close to a great deal.

The cost of books is a concern at school. Is there going to be a library app? Maybe there is already and I don't see it. There is a Kindle app from Amazon for the iPhone and Touch already. Free content? I don't know where to find that app.

The ports that don't seem to be there may be worry-some. We will have to see what developers can do with that dock connector.

I am hoping that there is some decent way to project what is on the teacher's (or student's) iPad to show the rest of the class. I suppose that a document camera could do this.

As a music teacher, it would be nice to be able to attach a high quality mic for one of those recording apps. I can do that pretty easily with Firewire or USB a computer now. I guess that a more powerful computer will always need to be there for a certain creative class of user. I didn't notice, Garageband? (I need a longer lunch break.)

No multi-tasking? Most kids I know don't work this way. It is good to be able to have a couple of programs open at the same time. Maybe that will come with generation 3 or so of these. In the mean time, think of it as focusing attention and working one step at a time...

I am looking forward to seeing one of these in the wild. It really gets the creative thoughts going. The iPad has some real possibilities as a school-changer. It is great to see a browser, a suite of office tools, access to a whole bunch of apps, choices on connectivity and disc size in a 10 hour portable for less than a $1000. Amazing.

Trouble? What Trouble?

http://wayspace.wayzata.k12.mn.us/blogs/digitaleyes/ Look for the Digital Coping Skills postings.

and

http://xkcd.com/627/

I think these topics are related. We as teachers need to toughen-up when it comes to our tech problems. No, new technology is not going to work great all the time. So figure it out, cupcake!

Start with xkcd.com/627/ flow chart. I think I have been doing this for years. A little curiosity and the knowledge that you probably aren't going to make things worse will make you a better computer user.

If you still don't have it working the way you think it should, you may have a million dollar idea for a software developer! Make a few calls or email someone!

I suppose that now the cat is out of the bag about my secret to success, I should retire and go on the lecture circuit....

SmartMusic 2010 for General Music

I am going to be doing some singing tests with my general music class. Normally, this would have been a huge time sink. Stand at the piano and do your test.

I'm not so sure that the kids were able to do their best. I know I was distracted managing the class AND listening to the tests. Can't imagine what it was like for the kids. The documentation piece was a little thin as well.

I will be trying SmartMusic this time. The series we are using doesn't have built-in SmartMusic support, but it does have audio files on CD. Those can be ripped and used with SmartMusic. That is probably good enough, but I think I will be spending a little time with Finale 2010 and writing it out. Set the kids up with SmartMusic Gradebook account and we are ready to use our files on the practice room computers.

Able to do their singing in private, I am expecting my middle schoolers to do a better job. I'll let you know here!

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...

I think kid internet access is improving. Helps with SmartMusic

We never order SmartMusic for every single student.

It makes no sense to order two subscriptions for a house that only has one computer. It makes no sense to order a subscription for a house that has no internet connection.

Send out the system requirements for SmartMusic and then do a survey. Ask how many will be able to do this at home. That will give you a better idea of how many to order than a straight-up head count.

I thought we could guess. We have a couple years of experience.

Nope. That doesn't work because kids are getting better access at home. Parents need a system to keep connected and pay the bills. My ratio of haves and have-nots was off by 20 kids. Nice problems to have in a down economy.

The Post Office loses out when parents get the home internet connected machine, but it helps our kids with better access.

Tablet Mac

Does a Mac netbook/tablet make sense? I am hoping that the Mac Tablet rumor comes true at a resonable price point.

I like the interface design that the Apple folks do. I like that Macs just work.

Why haven't I purchased an Air, if I want lightweight? I need Firewire for those projects. I have a Firewire mixer for audio. Firewire camera for video.

Why would I like a tablet? I would love a great place to back-up my photos and video on vacation without a lot of bulk. I would like an audio recording studio, without a lot of bulk. I know it can be done on an iPod, but a little more physical room to operate controls would be cool. I would also like to hook it up to a projector for the occasional presentation. I do think that a tablet sitting on a podium would work nicely as a presentation tool. Do I need a full time keyboard and a mouse? No. A touch screen would take care of most of my needs in the field.

Just make it connect to anything that I want or need. Firewire, USB, Bluetooth and Monitors. I know that thin is really in, but more than one connector, please.

Which platform? I would hope that it runs the full OS well. I really want to be able use more than one program at a time.

Here's hoping.

Blogging via E-mail

Did you know that you can blog by e-mail? It is one of the settings on Blogger. Cool. Get an idea, mail it to your blog.

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?

New iPod Touch feature.

I almost missed a big improvement when I upgraded the iPod Touch software to version 3.0.

Spotlight!

I was shuffling my apps around so the ones I use most often are on my Touch's front page. I couldn't help but notice that I must have created another page of apps. There was an extra dot at the bottom of the screen. When I scrolled over to see what app I had left there, a search screen popped up.

I immediately thought that the search was just for keeping those apps findable. I am starting to get a collection that takes up a couple of screens and don't keep my apps in any order, so I could see the usefulness of that.

So, I started typing in the name of an app and was immediately surprised by all the addresses, songs, videos, assorted programs and snippets started showing up. It really does behave like Spotlight on your Mac.

This is going to make my life with my iPod easier. If I can remember anything about what I want to find, Spotlight can help me on my way. What's on your iPod? Much easier to find it now!

Summer Practice Snag

If you use Impact to manage the summer practice program, you will need to deal with the July 1st turn-over.

Every year starts over with July 1. Normally not a big deal, but this time I have a project that will cross over that date. I guess kids will need to register for class again sometime this summer to play the game. Hmmm.

Summer Practice

We are trying a new way to keep students playing over the summer.

Yes, playing over the summer is important!  This summer is going to be (literally) a long one, because Minnesota schools don't typically start before Labor Day.  (I have a rant about that start policy almost ready to go.) 

I used to work with school data.  In this district, we give a fall test and a spring test to get a handle on how our kids are going to do on the state test (I have another rant almost ready to go on that as well.)  It was amazing how our students and teachers would make more than two years of progress in a single year in one fall to spring cycle.  Good job everyone!

But, if I took last springs results and compared them to the following fall, you could see the summer taking back the amazing progress.  Minus one year or even two years.  Breaks an vacations are good, summer vacation is too much time off to forget how to do things.  If you are music teacher you know this as well.  Have you heard your group in the fall?

We are going to do something different this year.  We are sending a "SmartMusic Unit" to the kids this summer.  To do this, open your method book in Impact and in the assignments section, click the button labeled "Create Unit." We picked 25-30 exercises that we knew we had covered well during the year to put in this unit.  We are sending them to our students via Impact.

Now, the motivation piece.  We are giving away to our "High Scorer" free tuition to our band camp.  We are expecting to have some perfect scores, so our tie breaker is first one to have them all turned-in.  All students completing 15 of the 30 will earn 10 extra credit points to start next summer.  Students are encouraged to practice with SmartMusic before turning in.  If they don't have SmartMusic at home, they are encouraged to go to a friend's house to work on this.

A couple of thoughts.  We aren't using SmartMusic to teach new concepts.  That should be done in lessons, sectionals or from the podium.  In this case, we are using SmartMusic as way for students to avoid ingraining wrong notes and rhythms on things they should know. Impact is also a very handy way to administer the contest features of our summer practice program.

Summer practice? We think we have a solution at our school and we will keep you posted on how well it works.

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.