Pictured above is my set-up with a borrowed electric keyboard from my late grandpa that will enable me to practice my learned piano music on this instrument. He used to play piano for me and was an extraordinary pianist. I am excited to start playing the notes this week now that I have a piano to practice on and a video lesson to help me get started.
Above is a YouTube video lesson on how to start learning piano that I really like the energy and vocabulary of and will help me in my musical learning journey.
The reason I picked this video instead of another one is because I like the person who is teaching me and they use examples with easy to understand explanations.
Photo by Hanne Deener
Pictured above in this photo are the two piano books that I found that contain two of the three songs I want to learn. I will be continuing my search for the last song that I need. The songs and their sheet music accompanying will be revealed in the next post so stay tuned to find out what they are! Can you guess which Beatles song I have chosen?
This is the first week of the inquiry submissions. I have several ideas and each have pros and cons accompanying them. Some require more money than others and some will involve the learning of new skills. Each will be challenging in their own ways.
-Have the reclaimed wood materials -Have the wall mounting materials -Shared knowledge and experience with my dad
-Will need to drive up island to work on the project -Will need to buy resin to finish the edges
Mentors Available: My dads
Role of Technology: electric saw, maybe handsaw, planer, drill, phone or computer for research, 360 camera!
Photo by Dana Yothers on Pinterest
The reclaimed wood plant shelf project will require some meticulous work and the process of learning to use new woodworking tools. It will also take time to progress with the project as each step will have to be completed before moving on to the next. There are likely very few to no shortcuts with this project.
Bench Press 1 Plate (135lbs)
Pros
Cons
-A goal I have really wanted for a long time -Will connect physical and mental health and well-being with academic expectations -I will need to be eating more protein and ensure I am getting proper rest each night for recovery -No to low cost
-Will require me to be more aware of my caloric intake -Potential for injury -Must stick to an expected timeline -Will have to endure the protein consumption ‘ick’
To bench press one 45lb plate on each side of a 45lb bar is a pretty heavy (pun) undertaking. I admit it may be more than I can handle but why not shoot for the moon.
Upgraded Stereo System
Pros
Cons
-Necessary* new skill developed (working on vehicle electronics and learning to wire in the system -Will require lots of research
-May be costly -Lead to frustration -Unpleasant weather to work in
Mentors Available: YouTube perhaps, Rich
Role of Technology: Research conducted online (computer/phone), vehicle wiring, 360 camera!
Upgrading the stereo system of my vehicle is an expensive feat. I trust it will require a tonne of research and likely an equivalent amount of money. I’d like to see what my options are and gauge the cost and work to the desire factor.
What if I told you we could engage our students and children more with their education and actually want to learn. Would this intrigue you? It certainly peeks my interest! This could be achieved through creating a multimedia approach at teaching and through a Flipped Classroom technique. Let’s explore these further.
Multimedia Approach
So what is a multimedia approach anyway? This short video outlines some of the keys to creating a multimedia presentation that will grasp the viewers attention:
The video and audio editing could be easily taught and utilized at a grade 6 level for children to create their own projects and potentially inspire a passion for developing online content. Assignments would become more engaging for children and it could be applicable for any subject. The skills developed in the younger grades have the potential to increase in improvements and complexity for further education and job requirements or opportunities.
As discussed by Orana Velarde on the website Visme in How to Create a Multimedia Presentation (& Tools to Use), multimedia presentations exceed just text and images; they may include “animation, video, audio, or interactive features like forms, popups and more [to] help enrich [a] presentation both visually and content-wise.”
Picture by Visme on YouTube
With math, the prompts on the screen could include some practice questions for a concept that was previously explained in the video. With Social Studies, a video could be created to explore a civilization through an interactive video with a quiz feature during the video and another quiz at the end. This would be a helpful tool for students to absorb the content while engaging short-term recall. Furthermore, children would be better equipped to complete the in-class tests or discussions while exercising long-term recall.
One caveat to consider with a multimedia approach is the potential affects on attention disorders and whether the layers of stimulation could be a factor of increasing attention deficits or presenting new challenges for learners. With the shorter social media interactions and over-stimulation in a fast-paced world, the adverse affects of leaning into a multimedia approach may need to be calculated.
Barring the concerns of multimedia stimulation factors, the use of audio and video editing could be better for students with learning disabilities who need to take breaks from the video, require slowed or accelerated information, and for those that use closed captioning or bluetooth audio to connect directly to hearing aids. Additionally, an interactive video is far more engaging than a non-interactive video.
From demonstrating the use of a coding language such as Python, to the most effective way to organize a bookshelf, the amount of time a child spends listening to adults is profoundly more than how much time we spend listening to them. The skills children would develop and improve upon with the Flipped Classroom method include, but are not limited to, public speaking, presenting research (provided this is part of the communicated expectations and with respect to the differing age groups), learning how to develop an argument and potentially comprehending an opposing perspective, answering questions, reflecting upon the learning, and progressing a concept further if necessary. There are certainly many benefits to implementing a Flipped Classroom, especially if the child starts learning with a topic they are comfortable with and will gain the ability to present upon a concept about which they are still learning.
Although it’s a new concept to explore a Flipped Classroom, I would more than endorse it. Learning must be collaborative and routine. When I teach, I would ensure each child gets to present on a topic they are passionate about and at which they excel. This would incorporate the interest with the curriculum in a manner that supplements their learning. Nearly every child has an interest that they know more about than some adults realize… sometimes they are not provided the environment in which to share their knowledge.
There exist more than a handful of challenges and concerns when asking if we need to reimagine education. In theory, the answer is simple: Yes! We can always make the education our children receive better. But who decides this and how do we ensure all students receive the education that is right for them?
The video below depicts a school that does just that: reimagines education in a way that supports students in the exploration of their niche interests.
Video: Most Likely to Succeed (2015) on University of Victoria Libraries
Within the parameters of improvement bring novice obstacles to overcome. A progression as such will always present opposition and barriers. Often the most essential advancements are sure to generate both. These effects are necessary for significant success. To experience struggle is one of the most important determinants of success.
In the case of reimagining education, the obstacles may manifest as parental pushback, student uncertainty, funding concerns, and fair governmental involvement. As a future teacher, my personal apprehensions involve educator skill availability and willingness to be uncertain of the outcomes with success rates. We will need individuals willing to take the risk to challenge the status quo of our current educational perspective.
Despite troubled, at the very least, we do know the positive and negative outcomes with standardized schooling using the rigid, set curriculum established. Although as previously stated, the extent of creativity and exploration for students and teachers alike is managed by a sturdy glass ceiling. It is, however, slowly deteriorating. How can we prepare to catch the pieces when it falls?
