https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Apw3zxbJNbnmdF9jMmhNd3M3LVhfY3phUVc5d3AzdlE
I feel this lesson plan was a bit of a change from what goes on in the everyday classroom. The no talking aspect brings in a real chance to focus on the content. If I walked into a classroom where music was playing, pictures set up and the teacher wasn't talking I would be more intrigued. I enjoyed that at the end of the lesson plan its creator, Susie, gave several options of how to continue with this type of lesson. When I saw Susie had already thought ahead for me, I was sold. However, there were some parts of this lesson that I thought wouldn't work that well, so I made some of my own tweaks. Even though I don't think the teacher should be talking, I would put some questions up on the projector for the students to discuss in small groups. These discussions would be kept to a low volume so the music can still be heard, and they would only be conducted after the students had time to think about the questions individually. This adds more teaching strategies that let the student get even more engaged without the help of a teacher. Some other changes that I chose were in the technologies. Instead of posters and a CD player, I would use Pandora Radio so more than one piece by the same composer could be heard in one lesson, and I would use a computer with PowerPoint shown with a projector. These changes make the teacher's preparation easier and take away the potential of losing class time. The technologies used in the original lesson plan were where it was lacking, but I chose it knowing this because I knew it would help me realize how technology can greatly improve the chances of learning.
I like the idea of not talking and the representations of information but I can't help but think how boring this may be! Imagine walking into a classroom knowing nothing about a new form of music trying to absorb the context without being able to discuss! Definitely an interesting way to use technology though. Would you foster a discussion after the music has played?
ReplyDeleteI like and agree with your change to use pandora radio so the students can hear different works by the same composer. This is a great idea and gives the students a chance to recognize specific "calling cards" of certain composers. This idea could also branch off into a lesson of its own in recognizing certain aspects of specific composers.
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