Final+Report

=** ﻿ Assignment 3, Task #3: Final Report **=

__**Project title**__

 * Using Web 2.0 technologies and multimedia to enhance instruction in a Music classroom.

__**Brief introduction of the overall project and project team**__

 * Technologies are rarely used in elementary school general music classroom. Our project is designed to facilitate music instructors to integrate varied forms of technologies, such as PowerPoint, Smart Board, or YouTube videos into their lessons in order to strengthen instructional outcomes and promote student curiosity, interest, and engagement.


 * The members in our team are: April Rando, Yufei “Vivi” Wu, Bruce Williams Jr, Ajajielle "Aja" Brown and an external client Jody Sweet, from LeMoyne Elementary School.

**__Needs assessment__: justification of the importance of this project, what was the context? how did you know there was a need for this project?**
//__Importance Justification __//


 * According to the Analysis Survey we did, General Music teachers barely use technologies in their teaching. However, 55% of the teachers believed that incorporating technology in the music lessons was very important; 41% believed that using technology could be useful. The data we collected shows us that General Music teachers have great passion and desire to integrate varied technologies into their lessons. After we visited the LeMoye Elementary School, and did the videotaping of the music lesson which incorporated the use of a Smart Board, we found that students were actively participatied so well because they all wish their ideas to be written on the Smart Board.
 * Second, we noted that Ms. Sweet was able assess the class learning process that much easier, due to the students' highly engaged and active class participation and prompt return responses.

//__Project Context __//


 * This project seeks to help elementary music teachers integrate technology into their class lessons. Collectively, a survey was created to assess the technology needs for music teachers in the Syracuse City School District. In addition, a blog site was created where music teachers can go to find general information about PowerPoint use and alternative presentation styles as well as incorporating Smart Board use into class lesson planning. Project members will also research the use of Assistive Technology in the music classroom as well as look beyond the Syracuse school district to investigate what other music teachers are doing to facilitate the learning process in the classroom. This specific research information will be included in the final report due in December 2010.

__//Knowledge of Project Need //__
 * The results of the of the assessment survey highlighted that there was a need for this type of project. More than half of the music teachers in the Syracuse City School District felt that it was important to have technology integrated into their music lessons and classroom instruction.


 * __Survey results__: A little over half of all general music teachers (55%) believed that incorporating technology in the music lessons was very important; 41% believed that using technology could be useful, but it was not necessary for achieving objectives; and 4% did not believe that it was necessary to include technology in the music classroom. The final response could be based on the fact that general music is a performance-based class with students singing or performing on instruments. Most teachers, however, incorporate some aspect of technology in their lessons, but 18% responded that they have never used technology in the classroom.
 * Another result of the survey indicated that, in theory, all teachers have access to technology to enhance their teaching and make learning more engaging for their students, the reality is that each school determines who has access. Many schools have computer labs and SMART Boards, but access is either restricted or denied to music teachers. The computer labs do not have the appropriate music programs installed in them to be entirely useful. As stated earlier, music teachers would like to have access to a wide range of technology, as well as receive additional training and support, and they recognize that technology can be a powerful tool to make music classes more meaningful for their students.

__**Pre-Survey**__
This will come from the survey instrument that will be disseminated to music instructors district-wide. In addition, the expected lessons will align with the New York state standards for Music.

**Standard 1 - Creating, performing and Participating in the Arts ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Students will actively engage in the processes that constitute creation and performance in the arts (dance, music, theatre, and visual arts) and participate in various roles in the arts

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Standard 2 - Knowing and Using Arts Materials and Resources ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Students will be knowledgeable about and make use of the materials and resources available for participation in arts in various roles.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">**Standard 3 - Responding To and Analyzing Works of Art** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Students will respond critically to a variety of works in the arts, connecting the individual work to other works and to other aspects of human endeavor and thought.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">**Standard 4 - Understanding The Cultural Dimensions and Contributions of The Arts** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Students will develop an understanding of the personal and cultural forces that shape artistic communication and how the arts in turn shape the diverse cultures of past and present society.

__**Goals and objectives of the project**__

// __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Goals __ // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">There are six main goals to this project:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">First, this project allows student to work on a **__real world,__** __**authentic** **project**__ which promotes active learning and student engagement.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Second, this project enables students to **__work collaboratively__** with one another as well as with an external client from LeMoyne Elementary School.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Third, this project will provides students with an opportunity to **__use web 2.0 technologies__**, such as a blog and wiki, for the dissemination of information and training materials.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Fourth, this project will lead to students **__designing, creating, and posting training materials and videos__** to project blog site and Youtube.com website.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Fifth, this project will offer **__recommendations to Syracuse City School District__** music teachers for integrating technology into their lessons plans.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Sixth, music teachers will have a **__familiarity with Web 2.0 technologies__**, specifically, Smartboards, Blogs, and Wikis.

// __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Learning Objectives/Outcomes __ // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">A student completing this project will be able to:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Conduct a needs assessment for initial research and investigation.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Create an instrumental survey using the online service, "Survey Monkey."
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Design, write, and post "How To" training materials to blog site.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Construct a series of lesson plans with integrated technology use.

__**Target audience**__
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Music teachers at LeMoyne Elementary School.

__**Technology or technologies used (what, how, why use)**__

 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In order to finish our needs assessment, we are going to use Survey Monkey which is a tool for us to gather and summarize ideas of how important and necessary general music teachers consider using technologies in classroom. Also, we are going to use a blog to disseminate information and teach the teachers how to use Powerpoint more effectively in the classroom and to incorporate the Smart Board in lesson planning and class instruction.


 * Challenges faced (organizational, attitudinal, physical plant, technical, etc.)**

(1). Initial proposed challenges at the start of the project.

 * ====__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Cost/Purchasing Constraints __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">: Since a Smart Board may need to be purchased, our project may face an economic stumbling block due purchasing capapbilities not being a reality during this current economic downturn and the finanical crisis facing the Syracuse City School District. ====
 * ====__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Time & Availability Constraints __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">: In addition, some teachers may not access the constructed Blog for our posted information about technology integration recommendations and online study. ====
 * ====__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Participation __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">: Because teachers in LeMoyne Elementary are busy, some may not fillout and return the needs assessment survey. (The survey was distributed on the Syracuse City School District music teacher list serve- not just to the LeMoyne teachers. All the quadrants were represented K-12.) ====

(2). Actual challeges encountered during the project.

 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">__Time & availability constraint__: As expected, due to time and availability constraints, none of the Syracuse City School District music teachers accessed the blogsite.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">__Skill-Set & Access/Training Limitations__: From the needs assessment survey, we were able to get an extensive list of some of the technological needs of the music teachers; however, some of the requests were either beyond the technical and skills set level of collaborative team members or not feasible due to team members not having student or textbook access as well as training capabilities. Please see some of the requests below:


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Create a listening center
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Create a music website
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Coordinate technology with recently updated music textbooks
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Create a radio station
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Train students on how to set up a sound system
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Use the internet to inform students about the music industry


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">__Coordinating meeting schedules__: Due to additional job responsibilities, not all team members were able to attend all of the external meeting sessions and/or attend the video taping session.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lesson Plans __: After team members reviewed the results of the needs assessment survey, it was determined that the Ms. Sweet would need only __one lesson plan__ with integrated technology use. The vast majority of music teachers had specific technology topics that they wanted to be addressed. It was decided that the blogsite would expand its orignal framework and post the additional informational requests.

(1). What were the outcomes?

 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">__Survey Assessment__: Constuction of an assessment survey that outlined the technological needs of clssroom music teachers.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">__Video__: Production of a video that documented the effective use of of technology (Smartboard) in a music class lesson.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">__Blog__: Creation and maintenance of a blogsite that posted information about using Powerpoint as well as alternate forms of presentation methods: Lawrence Lessig, Dick Hardt, and Guy Kawaski. Blogs not only helped the teachers to get more information of technology, but also helped us, members in this project, to learn a lot about the technology we introduced.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">__Wiki__: Active use of the IDE 611 Collaborative project wiki by team members to work on their select project component

(2). What went well?

 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">__Disseminating Survey__: April Rando had access to the Syracuse City School District music teachers listserv and was able to disseminate the needs assessment survey in an efficient and effective manner. An excellent return response occurred with listserv members. Later, the survey analysis allowed team members to revise and/or fine tune their project activities and objectives. For example, Aja Brown who was one of the two project team members charged with maintaining the blogsite, noted that music teachers wanted information about topics not addresses in the initial project proposal and thus made additional blog postings on such items:


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Composing, arranging, and editing music using Finale and Sibelius
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Video and movie making with music
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Podcasting
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Multimedia power point presentations


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">__Securing video equipment & creation of hardcopy DVD__: Aja was able to secure access to all video equipment needed for the taping of the music classroom technology lesson. Later, she submitted the raw footage to the Video Production Unit at Syracuse University for creation of the hard copy DVD needed for submission with the final project report.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">__Creating a vimeo.com account__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">: Aja learned that the website, vimeo.com allowed long length videos to be posted on the internet. With the assistance of team members, April and Vivi, an online account and video link was created of the LeMoyne Elementary School classroom technology video.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">__Creation and utilization of Wiki Collaborative Project Account__: All project team memebers utilized the wiki for working on ther respective responsibilities for the collaborative project as well as for calling for meeting sessions and providing status updates to fellow team members.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">__Providing "How To" PowerPoint Tips__: Aja was able to locate a succinct "How To" document for using PowerPoint via the internet.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">__Group Meetings__: One of the instructional goals of this project was that strudents would work collaboratively with one one another as well as with an external client from LeMoyne Elementary School. Our group met five times during the working process of this project. We accomplished a lot through the meeting sessions.

(3). What would you have done differently?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">__Online Learning Services__ (OLS) - Web: [|http://ols.syr.edu]: We would have drawn on the talent and resources of OLS. Syracuse University (SU) has an outstanding instructional unit within the Information Technology Services division that "provides leadership ansd support in the appropriate use of technology for teaching, learning, and research." OLS would have been able to provide professsional support to our collaborative project in terms of knowledge, resources, and expertise. In addition, team members could have acted as liaisons between OLS and the LeMoyne Elementary School contact, Ms. Sweet with the hopes of promoting professional development initiatives between the two parties. Such action would have been in alignment with SU Chancellor, Nancy Cantor's call for "Scholarship-in-Action."
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">__Qualitative Methodology__: We would have included in the project timetable schedule, room for the data analysis and research evaluation of the taped music classroom technology lesson﻿. Specifically, through coding and tagging the narrative transcript, we would have liked to have provided a more in-depth analysis and commentary as to why the integrated technology lesson went so well.

__**Reflection on the Experience**__ (e.g., challenges you've encountered, what you have learned through this project, how your future work/study can benefit from this experience, etc.); and <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">The IDE 611 Collaboartive Project was a positive learning experience for all team members. We learned the importance of working together collectively on a project; to be self - motivated and self- directed when fulfilling one's project responsibilities; the need to stay on task, but flexible to change as required via the client's needs.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">The way in which our future work/study can benefit from this process is by adhering to the **organizational framework and due date outline** laid out by Professor Lei. For instance, Professor Lei required that an intial proposal had to be submitted in **early October**. That was a good submission date because it gave students time to get to know their fellow IDE 611 classmates and evaluate who would possible make good project team members as well as allowed time for research and discussion about possible project ideas. Next, by **mid-November**, an intial progress report had to be submitted. This was also an excellent due date because it allowed for team members who might have fallen off task due to other academic or job responsibilitties to get back on track to meet this 2nd important assignment date.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Another realization we had was that drawing upon all the resources that Syracuse University has to offer, can contribute significantly to the smooth operation of a collaborative project and help team members meet a possible project goal. For example, even though we were were not VPA or Newhouse students, we were able to secure video equipment for taping of the music technology lesson. Furthermore, we were able to get a hard copy DVD made via utilizing a SU resource. SU also has faculty experts in a variety of fields that students should look upon as an added resource they can draw upon when working on any type of individual or collaborative project.

You must include how your approach to collaboration and project implementation assisted educators and/or students to learn and to use technology for learning.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our team used a quantitative methodological approach via a survey assessment to determine the technological needs of the music teachers.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">The team's project implementation was very organized and systematic. Each team member had specific responsibilities that he or she had to fulfill in order to satisfy the outlined project goals. Individual team members would provide periodic status updates to fellow team members via the Discussion page of the IDE 611 Project wiki.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Through this survey, we learned directly about the topics and issues music teachers wanted us to address. Specifically, the teachers were not interested in receiving a lesson plan packet that had classroom lessons featuring technology integration. Instead, the music teachers wanted information about specific technological topics, issues, and concerns such as the following:


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Composing, arranging, and editing music using Finale and Sibelius
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Interactive music theory and history lessons using a SmartBoard and websites; create a music scavenger hunt using the internet
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Video and movie making with music
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Podcasting
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Multimedia power point presentations
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Recording performances and improvisation activities, creating music loops using Garage Band, recording music using multiple tracks, critique student performances
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Use the internet for research
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Create a listening center
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Create a music website
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Coordinate technology with recently updated music textbooks
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Create a radio station
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Train students on how to set up a sound system
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Use the internet to inform students about the music industry


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">This information was vitally important because it resulted in us revising and fine tuning our collaborative project. Thus, April expanded on her list of interactive websites and Aja posted additional information on the blogsite about some of the topics requested by the music teachers.

Attach your **completed project product** as an __appendix__ to your final report, or provide a __link__ to it if your completed project product is online.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Please see resources and references below for provided links.

__**Resources and references**__.
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">"How To" Tips for using Microsoft PowerPoint: http://ide611project.wikispaces.com/Aja+-+Power+Point+1 (Aja) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">IDE611 Collaborative Project: <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">@http://ide611cp.blogspot.com/ (Aja and Vivi) McCannon, M. (2000). Assessing the technology needs of elementary school teachers. //Journal o//f //Technology and Teacher Education//. //8//(2). 111-121. Music Survey Analysis: http://ide611project.wikispaces.com/survey+analysis (April) Neo, M. (2007). Learning with multimedia: Engaging students in constructivist learning. //International Journal of Instructional Media//. //34//(2). 149-158. School Visit to LeMoyne Elementary School - Video Link: [] (Project team members)