National and State technology standards incorporated in band class

The NETS*S standards, taken as a whole have been designed to provide educators with the tools to ensure students today achieve a minimum level of technological literacy. By fostering the use of modern technology in the class room Oregon is showing that it is committed to helping students develop a broad set of skills in utilizing technology of all sorts. The requirements cover creativity, problem solving, communication, learning, research, and critical thinking, which are great attributes to be fostered in students regardless of the context.

In my high school band class I would develop a project requiring students to write music that must be done with some sort of music notation software. This can be in the form of an off the shelf program like Finale, or Sibelius, or with various cloud based free notation programs. I even have one for the ipad which is surprisingly powerful and easy to use. This kind of exercise would cover the creativity portion of the OETS.

To help develop my students' musical abilities I could arrange a series of master classes with former professors from Sacramento State, as well as from Portland State using Skype. It might be a bit awkward at first but I think this could be a valid use for video communication on the web.

With my band I will have students acting in leadership roles as band officers and will encourage them to use cloud based tools like Google Docs to collaborate and publish guidance for the rest of the band. I would also have my students update and keep current the class blog. These actions will help satisfy the Critical thinking, problem solving and Decision making criteria.

Here are some of the challenges educators may face in implementing these standards:

1. Quantity and Quality of equipment
2. Network access to certain websites
3. Lack of support for integrated lesson plans from the administration
4. Teachers themselves must evaluate their own abilities and have a high level of facility with technology if the standards are to be met.


Quantity and Quality of Equipment
With regards to point number one, as long as there is at least one computer in the classroom that has access to the internet then you can design projects that utilize the power of technology. Also, not having 30 computers in the classroom is a poor excuse for not requiring assignments be done on a computer, or in then cloud. Students have access to the library both in the school, and the public library, and Teachers can let students use their classroom computer when warranted.

Network Access to Certain Websites
Network access can be challenging, but the Teacher must not shy away from making the request to use a currently blocked website, if it truly enhances their lesson plan.

Lack of Upper Echelon Support
Sometimes the administration just needs to be given a demonstration of how you will be using the technology before they can fully buy in and support it.

Self Evaluation and Tech Education
Teachers need to be willing to ask for help if they feel they have hit a creative wall with regards to using technology in the classroom. A Teacher's disinterest in using technology should not be tolerated if we truly believe we are acting as guides for our students in the modern age. Therefore Teachers need to be able to rely on each other, and not be afraid to steal ideas that are working from other Teachers.