Teaching with Technology

Many of music teachers today work with technology gadgets in their teaching studio. While they are using those tools such as electronic keyboard with MIDI, digital recording system and music software for teaching students in the classroom, they also search the Internet to look for teaching resources. Teachers are also discovering new ways to utilize the web as a platform to get connected with one another so they find blogs of like-minded colleagues from all around the world to share their teaching strategies as well as the latest educational technologies.

This article presents the author’s insights on using technology in teaching music and her claims are following:

• Technology can enhance students’ learning and make the learning process more engaging.
• Students can explore so many different ways of learning through use of technology.
• Giving students guidance with a computer and the Internet can be one of the most valuable and effective teaching strategies for today’s students.

Teachers strive to give the students a well-rounded, solid foundation, including music theory, history and the basic everyday technical skills of making music on whatever instrument being taught and they often turn to technology for help. They use recording device, electronic keyboard, and various software programs for different knowledge areas to help students improve and succeed. The author states that how well we, the teachers, incorporate the technology are more important than just bringing in the technology into the classroom. The author also claims that teachers should acknowledge the key point of using technology when it is applied and also be able to evaluate the outcomes whether it was used appropriately and successfully.

The article is not focused on music teachers in higher education, yet I thought that the following questions the author asks the readers are relevant to any music teachers in any level. The author left these questions unanswered as she wants the readers to answer themselves. 

1. Do music teachers actually have a duty to teach technology to our students as a part of music?
2. Are the technologies we use simply are the tools to make our teaching lives easier?
3. If we are not using any modern technology, are we depriving our students of something important?
4. Are we exploring the world of technology available to us so that we are choosing tools that actually enhance and enrich our personal teaching styles, as well as our students’ experiences?

 Shana Kirk (2006). Do music teachers have a responsibility to teach with technology?

                        American Music Teacher, August/September.