Technology-Mediated Activities

Source: https://star.moe.edu.sg/resources/research-repository/sounding-the-teaching-iii/ 

WHAT

There is much potential for music teachers to leverage the affordances of technology to enrich and strengthen teaching and learning processes in the music classroom. As an asynchronous learning environment, technology allows students to learn anytime, anywhere based on their specific areas of need and interest, at their own pace.

How this Strategy Links to Inventive Thinking

CAIT 5 (Explores possibilities and generates novel and useful ideas) and CAIT 6 (Evaluates and refines ideas to formulate novel and useful solutions) 

Dispositions and Values: 

• Being curious and inquisitive to notice, observe, ask questions and seek to address them; and 

• Being open-minded, creative and imaginative to consider different possibilities

Socio-emotional Skills: Self-motivation

• Technology provides an alternative platform for students to explore ideas, evaluate possibilities and refine their musical expression. These processes encourage students to be open to new ideas and think about different modes of music making in listening, creating and performing activities. 

Suggested Strategies for Using in the Music Classroom

• Use of Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) and other music creation tools. Students can make use of applications (e.g. GarageBand) and online platforms (e.g. BandLab) to compose, arrange and/or remix music. With easy access to pre-recorded loops, samples and effects, students can experiment with various possibilities and reflect on their work as part of the creative process. Students can also record their own sounds to include in their music projects.

• Use of virtual instruments to explore different sound possibilities. Easy access to virtual instruments online allow students to discover and explore these sounds without the need to own a physical instrument. With these virtual instruments, students can simulate the playing of rhythmic patterns on a virtual drum-kit, explore harmonic progressions on a virtual guitar, or compose a simple melody on any virtual pitched instrument.

• Use of interactive music apps. Teachers can make use of music learning apps (e.g. Chrome Music Lab) for students to explore and create their own musical ideas.

Lesson Ideas for Technology-Mediated Activities

References

Singapore Teachers’ Academy for the aRts. (2020). Sounding the Teaching V - Technology and Inclusion in Pedagogy. Singapore: Ministry of Education (Link to e-book: https://viewer.joomag.com/sounding-the-teaching-v/0760455001615447234/p6?short=)