Music Technology

http://www.edutopia.org/beyond-band

This article that I read was about using technology for music programs in schools. When I first saw this article I wondered how technology could be used with something like music, but after reading it I think their ideas are really interesting. The article was based on a particular school district called Bay Shore. In the middle and high schools they use something called musical instrument digital interface which is a computer that is hooked up to a keyboard. The students can play different notes and different intrument sounds on the keyboard and the computer will copy what they have played and create pieces of music for the students. This to me sounds like something that I wished I could of had when I was in high school. Music is something that students should have in their education and this tool would make lots of people interested in playing music or at least trying their luck in creating a fantastic compositon.

I have an Idea

Ok. So while I have been looking at all these different articles about how technology can be helpful in learning and all that, I thought of an idea. I'm sure that this idea has already been used or is in the process of being created but if not well here my chance to tell the world of a great technological idea I guess. Well, I think that classrooms should put cameras into thier classrooms and have like a podcast type of deal so that kids that are home sick or unable to make it to class that day won't be missing out on anything. The student could be there through the computer on a messaging program if they had any questions or wanted to contribute to the discussion. I think in fact that it should be required that if you are home from school and are not unconcioius or something, you should have to at least do some work with the class that day. That maybe a little extreme I suppose but I still think that it would be nice to be able to be sick from school and still be able to do your work and not have to worry about making up assignments or anything like that. Just a thought...I think it would be neat.

Mobile Learning Institute

Today I read an article about a foundation called the Mobile Learning Institute. The MLI teaches students and teachers how to use digital media to use in presentations and other classroom activities. This article struck me because it pretty much talked about how they were going around and educating teachers to be more computer and technology saavy. I guess that I am saying that it is comforting that I will be going out in to the education world with some knowledge about this subject already. These ideas about creating lessons and objectives with media probably seem really foreign to many teachers out there today. It's also interesting to me that there are companies out there that are trying to teach people how to use these resources. I'm sure that has alot to do with selling thier products to create these media projects, however, these people are encouraging teachers to start using these applications in everyday lesson planning. I like the idea of this to some extent. As long as an application or a lesson is executed properly with technology I think that it is a good idea, but learning the good old fashioned way to me will not ever be ruled out in my book. http://www.mobilelearninginstitute.org/

OLPC

OLPC stands for One Laptop Per Child. The OLPC is a non profit organization that is trying to create a really low cost laptop that children all over the world can use for education purposes. These computers will soon be mass produced for children all over the world. The laptops will be sold for around 100 dollars a piece. I think that this is a really interesting and exciting idea, because if children from all over the world are able to recieve one of these laptops, children will be able to communicate with eachother and be able to learn and explore subject areas that were never thought possible. To learn more about this idea and the organization that has started this revolution, visit http://www.olpc.com/.