Week 2

In my classroom there is not a lot of technology available. For a music classroom, it has the essential technology that can enhance a lesson: a CD player, a DVD player/VHS player and a TV, and a computer. My cooperating teacher and I both use all these objects within our lessons. However, there are three different CD players, one that does not work, one that does and then a small one to plug in an iPod or iPhone. The smaller one that uses a cord to play the iPhone/Pod is on its way out as well since when you plug it in you get mostly white noise instead of the piece you wanted to play.

It makes me think about school systems and their claim to the use of technology in their schools. Everyone wants to brag about how the school is using modern technology to keep up with the 21st Century and how their students are so lucky and have such an advantage. If there is so much to brag about, how come there are broken CD players in my classroom and the most advanced piece of technology looks like it was made about 10 years ago? Technology outdates itself every 6 or so months so a 10 year old piece of equipment does practically nothing for the school district and more importantly, the children.

If schools really wanted to brag about their technology then they would have a way of updating their technology every so many years. I know that this is an extremely optimistic idea since that would be extremely expensive but it would certainly keep the students ip to date on the technological world around them. If that can not be accomplished then at least every classroom should have the same level of technology. Having more technology in the music classroom will make things more exciting for students and they will be able to use skills learned in other classrooms and bring them into the music classroom and vice versa. Cross curricular lesson plan opportunities would expand and it might even improve relations between subjects and grade levels.