Chapter 13

M.D. Roblyer's Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching offered special advice about integrating technology into art and music classrooms in Chapter 13. In grammar school and in high school I do not think I ever experienced using technology in an art class or a music class. I was pretty interested in the information that this chapter was going to give, just because I was not really sure what to expect about using technology for art and music.
The chapter first addressed integrating technology into music classrooms. I am not very familiar with music at all, and I never took a music class in high school or in college. However, it seemed like there were many ways that technology could help in a music classroom. I think it is very important for students to be able to create their own music, record, edit, and play it back as audio. New technologies make this much easier and more affordable for students. Another important technological innovation is the development of what I think is called notation software. It is definitely important for students to be able to word process sheet music. Also, I think that music tutorials are great ways to help students learn and practice. They could hear specific sounds, pick out instruments, identify musical notes along with sounds, etc. Technology has definitely transformed the recording word, and can also transform the music classroom.
The next part of the chapter described technology that can improve art education. The text mentioned that funding for art education is at an all-time low. I can definitely see how this can hurt art classrooms and especially their use of technology. However, the text still gave good ideas for technology in art classrooms. One idea that I liked a lot involved the students using the Internet or databases to search for certain images. This could take place in many ways. The teacher could teach about a specific type of art work, an artist, or a period, and then have the students look for specfic pieces of art that fit into that category. This way, the students will probably better learn the topic, if they are looking and sharing themselves. The text also mentioned using PowerPoint presentations to display artwork to a class. This is the only way that I have ever seen technology be used in any of my art classes, and this didn't happen until college. My art history class consisted of the teacher displayed different artworks on the PowerPoint screen and then discussing and asking questions about them. I enjoyed this form of teaching because we were not reading from a textbook, but instead viewing only the work we were studying, and then discussing it as we examined it ourselves.
A fairly new form of artwork that is definitely progressing and expanding rapidly, is that of digital imagery. The software that has been made so accessible to almost anyone can easily manipulate digital imges and even video. Using these types of manipulations in the classroom can allow students to use their creativity to change an image or video. Another way to use technology in the classroom, is to take the class on a virtual field trip to an art museum. I think that this is such a great idea since museums have so much to offer and there is little funding available. Lastly, technology can be used to create collections of works to be displayed. Students can create their on portfolios. Teachers could create websites or PowerPoints consisting of students' work. Technology offers so many ways to compile pieces of art to display for many to see. Though one may not normally think that technology could eso useful in art and music classrooms, it is very interesting to see how technology really does have a place here and can greatly benefit and advance children of all ages.