iPods
my students select their own music during lab time. Tastes and preferences vary and I would not want to subject my students to music that they don't care for while they are trying to work.
Greetings Lisa!
This seems to be a technique that works really well during lab. Do you have suggestions for the regular classroom setting?
Keep up the good work!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
Hey Lisa, I on the other hand really enjoy torturing my students with my music. What I have mostly found is that the longer they listen to some of the music I bring in, I get responses like, "cool tunes Jay, who is this?"
Lately, I have been playing movies during open studio times. My students typically work the entire class time, but I notice they will take short "minnie breaks" to watch the movie, then resume work. Instead of long unproductive breaks.
I like the reaction I am getting from my students when I play movies. I try to keep movie choices to low energy themes; also, I keep in mind that movies with a lot of swearing is distracting as well. Over all, I find that they work more diligently with a movie in the back ground, with fewer breaks verses music.
The movies really make sense. they are probably in the habit of watching TV while they work assembling projects at home so it recreates the kind of productive environment that they are likely accustomed to. Good idea.
I won't mind my students playing music while they are doing quiz in groups. I would make suggestion that they should play instumental music.
I think that music may have a limited role in the 'lecture' class where I like to encourage students to be part of discussion and to participate in lecture (when surveyed they claim to learn characteristics of materials better from lecture than from reading on their own). Their favorite activity is the field trip and here too I think that music has a limited role to play; it's a little rude to have your ear buds in when someone from industry is taking time out of their business day to share information with you. Doesn't hearing music takes up 'processing' power in you brain? Is it perhaps a distraction in some instances?
I use an ipod that is a class ipod that has jazz instrumental music and when someone does something special in class like assisting another student, getting involved with discussion or showing leadership then they are allowed to choose the music for the next session. The first day there might be a complaint about the music selection but pretty soon they all look forward to being selected as the DJ.
The learner's choice is important so that you do not alienate the learner. To allow the learner to sellect allows them to express their own individuality. This makes for a superior learning environement.
no iPods are allowed at our school, our students need to learn to work in groups. Having an iPod would be counter productive in our environment.
i find that it helps keep motivated while working to have music thet they enjoy, i know it worked for me.
I agree that iPods are not appropriate for the learning environment. To be plugged in during a lecture is disrespectful and does not not provide a positive learning atmosphere.
I wonder if a lot of the problems that we experience related to student attentiveness stem from not holding students accountable for their own learning. Learning is not a passive activity and education is not something that anyone can deliver to them.
The current education model model implies that the right configuration of exercises causes learning and there is a missing part to that equation and that is: the student actively learns inside the exercises. I am beginning to favor a model that mimics a game. One that sets a standard for completion and allows the student to continue to participate until they have mastered that level and only then do they progress. Pay an entry fee and play as long as you need to.
Lisa,
I agree there is absolutely a time and place for music in the classroom. During lecture when focus should be on the speaker is not the time. I do like using music when begining and ending class. It creates a low preasure maybe exciting enviroment. It may give the group something to relate to when in unfamiliar surroundings.
But you are correct a time and place for everything.
When students are working individually on projects, or parts of projects in a group setting, I find that iPods are helpful. They let the student focus, and they tend to play music that helps them work.
During a lecture or discussion iPods would not be appropriate.
iPods should not be allowed at any school!
Hi Clifton!
Would you please share why you feel this way?
I haven't completed decided to what extent technology should be used in the classroom. I do recognize that more and more advanced technology is going to be used and we should evaluate how it can best support student learning.
Good work!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
iPods are not allowed in my school because the headphones/earbuds might get caught in something moving and cause harm to the students. It would be nice to have music in our lab to enhance the learning experience or create a feel good feeling.I know I like working with music in the backround. With all the different taste's in music though, some would like it and some would not.
Where I am at is an (allegdely) Adult trade school and under normal situations iPods and it's cousins have no place in a clssroom. Calculators and hearing aids are the only electronics allowed. We were lenient on telephones or anything else until one student had to retake a final test the proctor saw his earphnes and thought he was listening to music but we later found he paid a classmate $20 to sit in the parking lot and give him the answers. Students were texting test answers to themselves. Student done early with their final test have been texting answers to those still working. The ringing disrupts the class. The first day of each class they are informed of the rules. We have caught students taking pictures of tests. I have given assignments where the answer was found on google. I do use computers and an overhead projector extensively.
