TIMETOAST! Timetoast is a timeline graphic that allow you to fill in dates and information that are compiled into an interactive timeline. Photos can be uploaded directly into Timetoast, and links to websites or videos can be included.
Timelines are great interdisciplinary tools. Timelines can function as excellent graphic organizers and study aids. But they are also a worthy end-product in and of themselves. Timelines can integrate music history, literature, writing, the visual arts, and geography—making them an ideal tool for interdepartmental collaboration.
Timetoast could be useful in a music appreciation/music history class to put composers on a timeline. This would serve as a visual representation for which composers came before/after other composers, etc.
Like in the example below I will ask my students to graphic a specific timeline in Music history or to graphic the life of a specific composer or important music figure.
What do you need to know to use this tool?: Basic computer skills are needed in order to operate the tool. And since this tool allows you to upload images into your timeline you need a basic knowledge of how to upload those images from your computers hard drive, digital camera, or mobile device.
What resources do you need?: The site requires an email address in order to sign up for the free tool, as well as for log in purposes. The site also states that you need Adobe Flash in order to create and view the timelines.
Podcasting is a contraction of the words iPod and broadcasting. Podcasts, audio recordings published on the Internet and played on computers and portable devices, are becoming popular among all types of audiences, including K-12 teachers and students. Classrooms are both consumers and producers of this technology. As consumers, you’ll find a growing amount of high-quality free educational content for you and your students in podcasts.
Creating a podcast in the classroom can be a great way to incorporate writing across the curriculum. Narratives like personal stories, drama, history, and music all lend themselves well to audio presentations. Plus, students can be more motivated to create a podcast that could be heard across the world, rather than just within the classroom. Classroom podcasts will take some time. Start small. Consider divisions of labor for student-created podcasts (writer, editor, voice actor). You will likely have to do the final production of the podcast and help with the equipment. Your students should use stage names and never give any personal information about themselves. Podcasts on web sites are publicly available.
You can find many examples of elementary class podcasts on the Education Podcast Network. You can find information about using and creating podcasts in the videos below.
Briefly, here are the main steps in recording and broadcasting a podcast:
Record the audio using recording software such as Audacity (free!) or Apple Computer’s GarageBand for a Mac. Students can also record via telephone for free at Gcast.com and Gabcast.com.
Edit using the recording software (Audacity or Garageband) to cut out anything you don’t want.
Add music and sound effects, make volume fades, and so forth. Free sound effects and samples are available at FindSounds and Sounddogs.
Compress the audio to an MP3 file. This makes your audio file smaller
Upload your file to a class web site or other host sites.
When using sound effects and music in your podcasts, it is important to consider copyright and terms of use. Most podsafe music is licensed under Creative Commons, which allows educators and others to use music as long as they give attribution.
Curricular Integration Strategies So now that you now what podcasts are and how to create them, how can you use them in your music classroom. I have already mentioned one use – the J.S. Bach podcast. My suggestion would be to think of all of the assessments you already do with your students and think of ways to adapt them. Here are some quick ideas: Composer Podcasts: Have students do a research on a composer. Let them find important facts about the life's composer, works and events in history.
Students can download MIDI files of any composer's works legally from websites such as the Classical Music Archives (www.classicalarchives.com). After they have carefully planned out their podcast, its time to record it.
Music Theory Podcasts: Have students create podcasts about a certain aspect of music theory. Let them create a short podcast on the major scale. They can write a script that describes the structure of the scale, import images and videos that illustrate the structure, and they can sing the major scale as an audio example. Folk Song Podcasts: Have the students research a given folk song. They can then write a script that describes the history of the song. Have them locate a MIDI file online (www.contemplator.com), import it into GarageBand, add a vocal track and have them sing the lyrics along with the accompaniment. Young Composer Podcasts Podcasting is a great way to provide your students with a free form of getting their music on the iTunes Music Store. They can create and record their music using any notation or sequencing software. Simply convert their work to an MP3 and post it to the iTunes Music Store. ProfCasting:
ProfCast is an affordable utility that allows you to record your lectures, along with a PowerPoint or Keynote presentation. ProfCast creates a vodcast of the presentation that can then be posted as a podcast that all of your students can download. This can be very beneficial to students who have difficulty taking notes during class. Many universities are now using this application to make their lectures available to their students. Visit www.profcast.com to find out more about this great utility.
Timetoast is a timeline graphic that allow you to fill in dates and information that are compiled into an interactive timeline. Photos can be uploaded directly into Timetoast, and links to websites or videos can be included.
Timelines are great interdisciplinary tools. Timelines can function as excellent graphic organizers and study aids. But they are also a worthy end-product in and of themselves. Timelines can integrate music history, literature, writing, the visual arts, and geography—making them an ideal tool for interdepartmental collaboration.
Timetoast could be useful in a music appreciation/music history class to put composers on a timeline. This would serve as a visual representation for which composers came before/after other composers, etc.
Like in the example below I will ask my students to graphic a specific timeline in Music history or to graphic the life of a specific composer or important music figure.
What do you need to know to use this tool?: Basic computer skills are needed in order to operate the tool. And since this tool allows you to upload images into your timeline you need a basic knowledge of how to upload those images from your computers hard drive, digital camera, or mobile device.
What resources do you need?: The site requires an email address in order to sign up for the free tool, as well as for log in purposes. The site also states that you need Adobe Flash in order to create and view the timelines.
http://www.timetoast.com
PODCASTING!
Podcasting is a contraction of the words iPod and broadcasting.
Podcasts, audio recordings published on the Internet and played on computers and portable devices, are becoming popular among all types of audiences, including K-12 teachers and students. Classrooms are both consumers and producers of this technology. As consumers, you’ll find a growing amount of high-quality free educational content for you and your students in podcasts.
Creating a podcast in the classroom can be a great way to incorporate writing across the curriculum. Narratives like personal stories, drama, history, and music all lend themselves well to audio presentations. Plus, students can be more motivated to create a podcast that could be heard across the world, rather than just within the classroom.
Classroom podcasts will take some time. Start small. Consider divisions of labor for student-created podcasts (writer, editor, voice actor). You will likely have to do the final production of the podcast and help with the equipment. Your students should use stage names and never give any personal information about themselves. Podcasts on web sites are publicly available.
You can find many examples of elementary class podcasts on the Education Podcast Network. You can find information about using and creating podcasts in the videos below.
Briefly, here are the main steps in recording and broadcasting a podcast:
When using sound effects and music in your podcasts, it is important to consider copyright and terms of use. Most podsafe music is licensed under Creative Commons, which allows educators and others to use music as long as they give attribution.
Curricular Integration Strategies
So now that you now what podcasts are and how to create them, how can you use them in your music classroom. I have already mentioned one use – the J.S. Bach podcast. My suggestion would be to think of all of the assessments you already do with your students and think of ways to adapt them. Here are some quick ideas:
Composer Podcasts:
Have students do a research on a composer. Let them find important facts about the life's composer, works and events in history.
Students can download MIDI files of any composer's works legally from websites such as the Classical Music Archives (www.classicalarchives.com). After they have carefully planned out their podcast, its time to record it.
Music Theory Podcasts:
Have students create podcasts about a certain aspect of music theory. Let them create a short podcast on the major scale. They can write a script that describes the structure of the scale, import images and videos that illustrate the structure, and they can sing the major scale as an audio example.
Folk Song Podcasts:
Have the students research a given folk song. They can then write a script that describes the history of the song. Have them locate a MIDI file online (www.contemplator.com), import it into GarageBand, add a vocal track and have them sing the lyrics along with the accompaniment.
Young Composer Podcasts
Podcasting is a great way to provide your students with a free form of getting their music on the iTunes Music Store. They can create and record their music using any notation or sequencing software. Simply convert their work to an MP3 and post it to the iTunes Music Store.
ProfCasting:
ProfCast is an affordable utility that allows you to record your lectures, along with a PowerPoint or Keynote presentation. ProfCast creates a vodcast of the presentation that can then be posted as a podcast that all of your students can download. This can be very beneficial to students who have difficulty taking notes during class. Many universities are now using this application to make their lectures available to their students. Visit www.profcast.com to find out more about this great utility.
http://www.poducateme.com/
http://orffsite.podomatic.com/
RESOURCES ABOUT PODCASTING
KidCastA community of educators who are podcasting in K-12 schools. Books and workshops are available.
Education Podcast Network
Directory of podcasts produced by educators.
Listening to Themselves: Podcasting Takes Lessons Beyond the Classroom
An article from Edutopia.org describes podcasting in a fifth-grade classroom.
Tips for Podcast Fans
Apple’s iTunes site gives helpful tips on creating and subscribing to podcasts.
Podcast for Teachers
Professional development podcasts for teachers.
PodSafe Audio
PodSafe Music Network
PodSafe Music Network