Comments for http://urbanmusiceducation.org Musings from an urban music educator and technoholic... Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:57:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Creating Standardized Assessments in Music…A Journey into the Unknown by urbanmusiceducation.org http://urbanmusiceducation.org/archives/925/comment-page-1#comment-36425 urbanmusiceducation.org Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:57:20 +0000 http://urbanmusiceducation.org/?p=925#comment-36425 Heather, I totally agree, but when you are called to be on district teams and get paid at the curriculum rate of $33/HOUR, it's hard to turn down on principle alone. I try to seek ways to compromise until, as you say, the nation gets its act together and actually see the arts for what they truly are, creative avenues instead of one-way streets that everyone must take to get to where they want to go. Heather, I totally agree, but when you are called to be on district teams and get paid at the curriculum rate of $33/HOUR, it’s hard to turn down on principle alone. I try to seek ways to compromise until, as you say, the nation gets its act together and actually see the arts for what they truly are, creative avenues instead of one-way streets that everyone must take to get to where they want to go.

]]> Comment on Creating Standardized Assessments in Music…A Journey into the Unknown by Heather http://urbanmusiceducation.org/archives/925/comment-page-1#comment-36416 Heather Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:31:54 +0000 http://urbanmusiceducation.org/?p=925#comment-36416 What do I think about standardized testing in music? I think all forms of standardized testing are an inaccurate method of determining the knowledge and abilities of individuals. When faced with taking a test, we spend more time learning how to take the test versus learning the subject matter. I remember using computer programs to prep for the SAT... The programs taught me methods for deciphering the test questions and formulas, not how to demonstrate my knowledge and abilities. I hope that your district "pilots" these programs long enough for the national education system to realize standardized tests are not an accurate method for determining the breadth of an individuals knowledge and abilities. What do I think about standardized testing in music? I think all forms of standardized testing are an inaccurate method of determining the knowledge and abilities of individuals. When faced with taking a test, we spend more time learning how to take the test versus learning the subject matter. I remember using computer programs to prep for the SAT… The programs taught me methods for deciphering the test questions and formulas, not how to demonstrate my knowledge and abilities.

I hope that your district “pilots” these programs long enough for the national education system to realize standardized tests are not an accurate method for determining the breadth of an individuals knowledge and abilities.

]]> Comment on Creating Standardized Assessments in Music…A Journey into the Unknown by Barb Freedman http://urbanmusiceducation.org/archives/925/comment-page-1#comment-36403 Barb Freedman Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:28:05 +0000 http://urbanmusiceducation.org/?p=925#comment-36403 What a bind! I am sure everyone wants to do a good assessment. Remember, your jobs are tied to this. You performance evaluation will only be as good as your "worst" students. Read the state mandate carefully and also read IDEA & NCLB. You'll need enough wiggle space to accommodate everyone. Will you have a alternative means for students to demonstrate their knowledge/skill/growth? Why wouldn't the alternatives become the standard? Assessing music in a standard format, save music theory, is a square peg in a round hole. Be careful not to set yourselves & your students up for failure. An A for one kid doesn't look the same for another. In my music classes, if they show up & apply themselves as best as they can, everyone gets an A. How can your assessment reflect that? What a bind! I am sure everyone wants to do a good assessment. Remember, your jobs are tied to this. You performance evaluation will only be as good as your “worst” students. Read the state mandate carefully and also read IDEA & NCLB. You’ll need enough wiggle space to accommodate everyone. Will you have a alternative means for students to demonstrate their knowledge/skill/growth? Why wouldn’t the alternatives become the standard? Assessing music in a standard format, save music theory, is a square peg in a round hole. Be careful not to set yourselves & your students up for failure. An A for one kid doesn’t look the same for another. In my music classes, if they show up & apply themselves as best as they can, everyone gets an A. How can your assessment reflect that?

]]> Comment on Creating Standardized Assessments in Music…A Journey into the Unknown by Brandt http://urbanmusiceducation.org/archives/925/comment-page-1#comment-36402 Brandt Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:01:44 +0000 http://urbanmusiceducation.org/?p=925#comment-36402 Check out the Connecticut arts assessments. Check out the Connecticut arts assessments.

]]> Comment on Documents by Lisa March http://urbanmusiceducation.org/documents/comment-page-1#comment-32759 Lisa March Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:26:46 +0000 http://urbanmusiceducation.org/?page_id=52#comment-32759 Thank you for sharing...your docs, your faith. God Bless. Thank you for sharing…your docs, your faith. God Bless.

]]> Comment on Brick Movies for use in GarageBand Film Scoring Projects by urbanmusiceducation.org http://urbanmusiceducation.org/garage-band-projects/brick-movies-for-use-in-garageband-film-scoring-projects/comment-page-1#comment-32138 urbanmusiceducation.org Sat, 15 Oct 2011 01:29:18 +0000 http://urbanmusiceducation.org/?page_id=630#comment-32138 We did not make the brick movies. I downloaded some appropriate ones from www.archive.org. They have tons of free movies. Not sure about creative commons, but it's for educational, non-commercial use, and so qualifies under fair-use. Thanks for taking a look! We did not make the brick movies. I downloaded some appropriate ones from http://www.archive.org. They have tons of free movies. Not sure about creative commons, but it’s for educational, non-commercial use, and so qualifies under fair-use. Thanks for taking a look!

]]> Comment on Brick Movies for use in GarageBand Film Scoring Projects by lcmstechteacher http://urbanmusiceducation.org/garage-band-projects/brick-movies-for-use-in-garageband-film-scoring-projects/comment-page-1#comment-32136 lcmstechteacher Sat, 15 Oct 2011 01:13:31 +0000 http://urbanmusiceducation.org/?page_id=630#comment-32136 Hi, Did you make the brick movies? If not, where did you get them? Are they creative commons? Hi,
Did you make the brick movies? If not, where did you get them? Are they creative commons?

]]> Comment on Designing Backwards using UbD by urbanmusiceducation.org http://urbanmusiceducation.org/archives/502/comment-page-1#comment-30629 urbanmusiceducation.org Wed, 24 Aug 2011 04:27:11 +0000 http://urbanmusiceducation.org/?p=502#comment-30629 You're Welcome! Glad to know I can help. Sarah You’re Welcome! Glad to know I can help. Sarah

]]> Comment on Designing Backwards using UbD by John P. http://urbanmusiceducation.org/archives/502/comment-page-1#comment-30622 John P. Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:53:11 +0000 http://urbanmusiceducation.org/?p=502#comment-30622 What a wonderful compilation of resources! Thank you so much. Our district is transitioning to UbD lesson planning, and it's a challenge for me after 20 years of more traditional planning. Thanks for helping me make the jump! What a wonderful compilation of resources! Thank you so much. Our district is transitioning to UbD lesson planning, and it’s a challenge for me after 20 years of more traditional planning. Thanks for helping me make the jump!

]]> Comment on All Things Wiimote Whiteboard by » UrbanMusicEducation.org Blog Archive » Awesome Website Tool for Teachers! http://urbanmusiceducation.org/all-things-wiimote-whiteboard/comment-page-1#comment-21471 » UrbanMusicEducation.org Blog Archive » Awesome Website Tool for Teachers! Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:40:03 +0000 http://urbanmusiceducation.org#comment-21471 [...] All Things Wiimote Whiteboard [...] [...] All Things Wiimote Whiteboard [...]

]]>