This week has been spent focusing on an on line debate about whether or not Remix Culture should be used in education. Our Web 2.0 class was divided into two groups. A Pro and a Con Remix Culture and education. I was assigned to the Con group so our group was focusing on why we shouldn't use Remix in education. I spent about thirty to forty hours (that's right HOURS) researching different websites and on line papers in support of our "side's" opinion. It was very difficult because much of the "Fair Use" information had to do with using digital media in parody or commentary. Very little information focused on the details of negatives of using digital media in education. It was definitely the more difficult side to find myself assigned to....but luckily I had some very good people on my team. We used "GoogleDocs" to communicate and coordinate our approach and to organize our research. We also used Diigo a web based bookmarking site to coordinate the best websites among the team members.

As I look back at the last 8 weeks I am very pleased with the both the quality and quantity of tools we have learned to use. The change in education over the next few years is going to be truly significant. It reminds me of the song lyrics....."For the Times, They are a changing."

Exploring GD (Google Docs) and on-line collaboration

This week I've had the opportunity to explore Google Docs while working with other students in our Web 2.0 class. We have been using it to collaborate our side of the debate arguments and it has proven to be very useful. In many ways it is similar to using Facebook when using the format we are using. There is a "wall" where we can post notes or comments to communicate with each other. We also have a "chat" area where we can instant message with others who happen to be viewing at the same time. I really like the ease of use when using Google Docs.

We have only one week left to our class and I'm wondering where the time has gone! This has been a great class and I'm so glad I was able to take it this summer.

This has been another busy week with Technology. I have been learning all about wikis and working on developing a wiki which our music booster's club can use to coordinate fundraising efforts. I have also been doing a lot of research on public address systems for a local church in need of information on what to purchase to replace their failing system. This may not sound like "computer technology" but actually after discussing their current needs and future plans I realized they would need a system which could easily be used to incorporate a digital recording and then posting of their services on their church website. They also want to have a loop system which would use electro-magnetic induction loop technology to allow people with hearing aids to use the t-coil program on their hearing aids to process the amplified voices/sounds directly through their hearing aids. So I have been reviewing the many different options and combinations including mixers, amplifiers, cordless microphones and their transmitters and receivers and trying to make sure there are plenty of inputs and outputs to take care of the many options they currently have as well as the options they hope to have in the future. Of course all of this has to be balanced within a budget. Needless to say there is a lot of work still to be done. I hadn't looked closely at PA systems in about 8 years and I was absolutely amazed at how much had changed and how much had become computerized! Most mixers have frequency feedback and some had very complex systems that allowed for automated adjusting of microphone levels depending on when they were being used. Stay tuned to see what the final decision is for the PA system.

Flickr and Geotagging

This was a great week with Web 2.0. We set up an individual account with Flickr and downloaded pictures to both our individual account and the class group account. I really liked using geotagging and Flickr as an integrated lesson plan. I am really excited about some of the potential uses for Flickr and geotagged photos and media. It's great to see all the potential!

Today was one of those days when you want to pick up your printer and throw it out. It finally decided to print but no matter what I did I could not get it to scan. How annoying!!! But that's ok. I only spent about an hour trying to scan before I finally gave up. Aargh....technology.

Final "Finale"
Today was the last day of the notation software "Finale" graduate class in Milton, MA. I learned a lot of great ways to use this very powerful program. It is a program where you can notate music and create accompaniments, arrangements, send to SmartMusic to incorporate with the accompaniment and assessment benefits and in general use a ton of tools in creating music! It even has a way to use "Band In A Box" (another software program for music which will allow you to take a melody and create custom accompaniments or arrangements in many different styles) and then print out that music or save and send the digital file. I created worksheets, rhythm exercises, scales and an arrangement of "The Hanukah Song". I learned how to input notes using the mouse, keyboard shortcuts and a synthesizer keyboard.

Today was the third day of the "Finale" music notation software class. This is a very powerful software program which is absolutely amazing! I however, am not.....But I have learned a lot about how to enter notes, transpose, harmonize using Band-in-a-box and coordinating all of this with SmartMusic program (the music assessment software program we use with the band) which is made by MakeMusic. MakeMusic makes "Finale" and "SmartMusic" and this year they have taken the integration of these programs to a whole new level. My final assignment will be to merge some of the SmartMusic program benefits with the Finale benefits. A challenge, but one worth taking on. My back isn't liking the 8 hour days spent over a computer and a synthesizer but it will all be worth it next year in band. Stay tuned....(pun intended) :-)