Technology Tips and Helpful Links

Top 10 Tech Tips

It is very easy to get overwhelmed with the abundance of information and resources available. Here are some general tips and things to consider when beginning to incorporate technology into the classroom.

  1. Don’t do too much at once
    • Pick one unit or project and one resource to get yourself started. Spend plenty of time exploring that resource on your own and use it continuously until you and your students feel like experts! Then it’s on to the next…
  2. Come up with procedures
    • Just as you would practice behaviors such as coming in the music room, listening respectfully, and playing instruments appropriately, procedures for working with devices in the music room need to be in place, communicated, and continuously practiced with all students. This will save time and stress in the long run.
  3. Design, divide, and delegate
    • Be thoughtful and thorough during any group work on devices. Think about what groupings make sense, where they will each be located, and what each students’ role will be for each lesson. Assigning tasks such as taking out and putting away the device, starting first with the device and getting it to the correct application or website are helpful ways to keep them on task. Consider numbering your students, groups, and/or devices to help stay on track and keep things organized.
  4. Be a community of learners
    • Students will be learning these tools and tasks with you, though many are already experts on the devices themselves. Fostering a collaborative learning environment and opening up to students help, ideas, and suggestions can guide the learning as well as troubleshoot tech issues.
  5. Connect and collaborate
    • Band together with colleagues at your school. Participate in Twitter music education chats. Join professional communities on Facebook. It’s easier than ever to find answers to questions and chances are there is someone who has been in your situation and found a great solution to most any problem.
  6. When in doubt, use Google or YouTube to help out
    • Stuck on a tech issue? Google and YouTube are amazing places for tutorial videos and crowdsourcing information. Create a “Technology Tips” playlist on YouTube for videos you think you might need next time you’re creating that concert program and run into formatting issues.
  7. Have a back-up plan
    • Technology can fail at many steps during a lesson. Having a back up plan in place for failed internet, login issues, and other situations that may arise can keep you prepared and put your mind at ease.
  8. Keep charged and updated
    • Charging devices regularly and keeping up to date on the latest versions of apps and software will keep everything running smoothly and make sure everything is geared up and for all of your lessons.
  9. Check into your school’s technology plan
    • Do you know what your students are and are not permitted to do on school devices? Do you know what your school’s policy is for publicly posting about students or students’ work in your music classroom? Check with your school or district’s media specialist to make sure you and your students are abiding by the technology plan laid out by your district as well as copyright laws. Similarly, check for any age requirements for websites or applications you plan on using with your students. Some resources that make us of collaboration and sharing are only permitted for the use of those 13 and older.
  10. Don’t force technology
    • Not every lesson benefits from the addition of a technological tool! Music educators have the blessing of teaching a subject area that is full of joyful “doing” activities through singing, playing instruments, moving to music and much more. Taking a moment to let children be children and participate in playful music activities can be just as beneficial as a thoughtfully designed lesson incorporating technology. Trust your instincts and unplug every once in a while.

Tech Savvy Music Educators to Follow

  • Amy Burns [Website]
    • Amy has an extensive website full of lessons, webinars, links, and much more.
  • Katie Wardrobe [Website]
    • Former music educator-turned-tech expert in Australia, Katie’s website has many video tutorials as well as more in-depth paid online courses.

Additional Technology Resource Guides