Here is a link to the activity I used:
Smart Board Features:
- Random Number Generator
- Linked Pages
- Pull-out tabs
- Hidden/appearing items
Changes Made to Activity:
- I changed the number of slides to correspond to the number of students in class.
- I adjusted all the background colors as well as some of the graphics colors and font size.
- I changed some of the questions/activities to make them more grade level appropriate.
- I added text to most of the pull-out tabs.
Student NETS
Creativity & Innovation:
-Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.
This activity essentially functions as a review game. They will be taking information they already know (such as the function of a quarter note) and creating rhythms or counting note values.
Communication and Collaboration:
-Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.
This activity provides students the opportunity to draw on the smart board for their benefit as well as their peer's benefit. Also, students will be counting and pulling tabs out on the board to communicate answers and bonus questions.
Research and Information Fluency:
-Process data and report results.This activity allows students to view rhythms and write note values as well as read questions and respond appropriately.
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making:
-Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation.
Each slide poses a problem to solve or a question to answer. These questions, while not impossibly difficult, provide a challenge which requires the student to stop and think before answering.
Digital Citizenship:
-Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity.
-Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship.
The students will need to be positive in order to participate in this activity and glean anything from it. They can help each other answer the questions, and will feel productive in the process. Also, each student will be asked to come to the board to tap on their number to answer their question, thus emphasizing leadership.
Technology Operations and Concepts:
-Understand and use technology systems.
In order to participate in this activity, students are required to have a basic understanding of how the Smart Board works. Some students may learn more about this technology through the activity.
Teacher NETS
Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity:
-Promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.
This activity challenges students to be creative by creating rhythms based on certain requirements. I can model these concepts to the students either prior to the activity or during, should the need arise.
Design and Develop Digital-age Learning Experiences and Assessments:
-Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching.
Although it's a fun activity, it can be used as a means of assessment. Students will be reading questions, then responding by creating rhythms, counting beats and identifying symbols. This gives the teacher an idea of how the students are progressing.
Model Digital-age Work and Learning:
-Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.
The activity is a straightforward application of the information learned in previous classes.
Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility:
-Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information.
By requiring students to draw a number, then take their turn based on the random number generator, the concept of taking turns and allowing each student equal opportunity with the Smart Board will be emphasized.
Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership:
-Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning.
This lesson was downloaded from Smart Exchange - an online community which shares information pertinent to learning for both the student and teacher.
How a Smart Board Might Improve Learning:
There are several pro's and con's to the use of a Smart Board. While the technology is cool and new, there's the risk of excluding kids. The list goes on. However, there are many possible benefits and overall improvements to student learning.
The primary benefit that comes to mind is the ease at which students will simultaneously be able to visually and aurally learn musical concepts. I might find an interactive piano keyboard and show them what the key looks like along with it's corresponding tone. I will be able to easily rearrange rhythms on the board to teach and test students on rhythmic understanding. Students can play with various interactive aspects of music via the Smart Board. All in all, the Smart Board could prove very useful in my future music classroom.
