# data[].attributes.headline
#10 - Google Docs - Blended Learning and Collaboration

# data[].attributes.subject
#10 - Google Docs - Blended Learning and Collaboration

# data[].attributes.body
Google Docs provides my students with a way to take notes, answer questions, and collaborate with each other. We use it especially for listening labs, daily work, and critical thinking journals.

The documents are shared with me so I can quickly check on their progress. They can easily be shared with others for collaboration. They are also easy for students to attach to a Google Classroom assignment for grading.

# data[].attributes.headline
#9 - Quaver Music - Mobile Learning and Blended Learning

# data[].attributes.subject
#9 - Quaver Music - Mobile Learning and Blended Learning

# data[].attributes.body
Quaver Music is our district's elementary music curriculum. While we are not required to utilize it at the intermediate level, I still love the resource for all of its lessons, tools, and activities.

Not only does Quaver have an online curriculum, but students also have an account where they can explore, create music, and participate in other music-related learning activities. I can assign lessons and activities for the students to complete as homework or in class.

Click HERE for a Quaver Music demonstration.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We love the way the material addresses the students' likes and attention spans. It's very interactive, especially the online components that help teachers construct lesson plans that are in line with the National Standards."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Quaver's Marvelous World of Music | QuaverMusic.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We love the way the material addresses the students' likes and attention spans. It's very interactive, especially the online components that help teachers construct lesson plans that are in line with the National Standards."

# data[].attributes.body
I love incorporating Kahoot into my lessons. I have had wonderful success with student engagement. They always ask if we can play again or play another.

I love that I can create an interactive lesson that encourages them to pay attention and participate. Kahoot allows me to implement concepts we have already learned and new concepts.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
E/SE Asian Instruments Maze Chase - Click the link to play the game. Beware! It's challenging. 🙂

# data[].attributes.body
One of my students favorite things is WordWall activities. The website has multiple activities and games you can create, including matching, quizzes, diagrams, missing words, and game show quizzes. These activities allow my students to practice a concept they are learning. The games give my students an incentive to learn, especially when they run out of lives if they miss too many questions!

I will often post games on Google Classroom for students to play when they finish their work. This keeps them participating in something productive and minimizes disruptions to the learning environment.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Wordwall - Create better lessons quicker

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Maze chase - Run to the correct answer zone, whilst avoiding the enemies.

# data[].attributes.headline
#6 - YouTube - Blended Learning and Mobile Learning

# data[].attributes.subject
#6 - YouTube - Blended Learning and Mobile Learning

# data[].attributes.body
I love incorporating YouTube videos into my lessons as much as possible. With music being a performance-based class, it is nice being able to show videos of performances, world music and instruments demonstrations, and technique videos. This helps us learn virtually in ways we could not otherwise.

In addition, I love making videos for my students. The video above is one I made while we were remote learning due to COVID. The video was made with iMovie and then shared via YouTube. My students loved seeing me making Pumpkin Bean which was a soup mentioned in their favorite Quaver song, Pumpkin Bones.

This video is one I made to practice half note rhythms in class. The students can even follow the video by themself in a centers activity or at home any time.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Pumpkin Bean: Vintage Cooking with Ms. Wangberg

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Music & Dance of E/SE Asia assignment example

# data[].attributes.headline
#5 - Google Slides - Blended Learning, Mobile Learning, and Collaboration

# data[].attributes.subject
#5 - Google Slides - Blended Learning, Mobile Learning, and Collaboration

# data[].attributes.body
Google Slides is how I present lessons to my students. We have two music teachers at my school, and we often share lessons, so Google Slides allows us to collaborate.

In addition, I often create assignments with Google Slides. The posted example is a recent assignment. This is another example where the students had to research instruments, take notes, and then answer questions based on their top choices. Then they submitted their Slide into the assignment I created in Google Classroom.

# data[].attributes.headline
#4 - Screencastify - Blended Learning and Mobile Learning

# data[].attributes.subject
#4 - Screencastify - Blended Learning and Mobile Learning

# data[].attributes.body
I use Screencastify quite frequently. I record tutorials, lessons, and helpful information to easily share with my students.

Since the other music teacher and I share classes, we often record our screen to share with each other. This is also a great tool for when I need to have a substitute. The students can still learn what I would like them to learn.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Please sign in with your Google account to continue.

# data[].attributes.headline
#3 - Google Sites - Blended Learning and Mobile Learning

# data[].attributes.subject
#3 - Google Sites - Blended Learning and Mobile Learning

# data[].attributes.body
I use Google Sites to share information with my students. It's also how I post lessons for absent students. It is a great tool for embedding so many different things. I love web design, so I love that I am able to use some of the skills I learned to make my website what I want and need.

# data[].attributes.headline
#2 - Boom Learning - Mobile Learning and Blended Learning

# data[].attributes.subject
#2 - Boom Learning - Mobile Learning and Blended Learning

# data[].attributes.body
BoomCards are a great way for students to practice concepts they are learning. I love creating my own cards with the exact things I need them to know or practice. I love that I can input videos, sound, and text. They are super easy to assign and even show progress reports.

# data[].attributes.headline
#1 - Google Classroom - Mobile Learning, Blended Learning, and Collaboration

# data[].attributes.subject
#1 - Google Classroom - Mobile Learning, Blended Learning, and Collaboration

# data[].attributes.body
Google Classroom has been a game-changer since I started using it more this year. I previously had a Google Classroom but only for how it linked to other tools and resources. Now it has become an invaluable tool for my to share anything and everything with my students.

I have a Google Classroom for each music class I see. This allows me to better track assignments, grades, and keep up with ever-changing enrollment.

# data[].attributes.body
Since so much of today’s society revolves around technology, society must learn how to properly and appropriately use it.  How we use technology is important, especially considering how it affects education.  Technology is a tool and a resource; it is a means to enhance learning that is already taking place.  Without a system in place to understand, evaluate, adapt, and apply technology in educational settings (ISTE, 3.2.c., 2018), technology becomes an irrelevant use of machinery (Beschorner, et al., 2019).  As educators, it is important to continually seek new information on technological advancements and share them with coworkers and students (ISTE, 2.4.a-d., 2017).  Doing this will set the foundation for societal improvements in digital citizenship and further technological applications.

When looking at the job of an educator, a plethora of requirements and responsibilities are included.  Due to diversity in cultures, growing mental and behavioral issues, and even the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the need for teachers to adapt and be flexible is increasingly high and growing.  An educator needs to be able to reason, problem-solve, diversify, and think outside the box to accommodate issues that arise (ISTE, 2.5, 2017).  Teachers must make decisions regarding curriculum flow, behavior management, grading, collaboration, and more.  The technology for a piece of equipment to be able to do this is not currently advanced enough.  Even amid the pandemic when schools were closed, technology could not replace a teacher, but when accessible (ISTE, 2.1.b., 2017), could aid and complement student learning (Wright, 2021).  We should focus on how to make technology accessible and beneficial to all students.

# data[].attributes.body
Today, over half of students ages 8-18 often have a cellular device (Kamenetz, 2019), and a lot of students also have a music player, a gaming system (or several), and a computer.  Students have become purveyors of technological device usage. Trends, especially the last two years, show that technology has become an even more important tool in not only business and personal interactions but education as well.

Teachers should be mindful of media and technology usage in their classrooms since technology and media usage has increased over the last decade, even though it has stayed fairly consistent over the last couple years (Rideout, et. al, 2019).  Teachers must make sure the technology and media they include is beneficial to enhance learning as well as relevant to the content and not just entertaining fluff.  Teachers need to be “empowered to use technology in innovative ways to enrich teaching and learning,” as stated in the Empowering Leader standards (ISTE, 3.3.a-d, 2018).  By finding technology and media that enhances a student’s learning, it will help students understand the benefits.