Tai
Kimmerly
CEP-812
- Apply Educational Technology to Practice
07/15/11
PART A -
Description of Need or opportunity
My wicked problem is assessments in
the music classroom. It is not focused on the actual assessments, but the
recording and management of the assessment results. Up until now, I have been
using a paper based system. Paper is my enemy. It is easy to lose, misfile, or
misplace. My idea for solving this problem is the implementation of a tablet
pc.
Most of my seating charts and plans
are created on the computer, but I don’t have quick access to them from where I
teach, or access to students where I would like to record assessments. The most
helpful thing would be to carry my computer and take quick notes on it
throughout the day. For instance, if I notice that Johnny is having trouble
keeping a steady beat, I could simply write that in my file for that class and
it would be saved in one spot. Then, when grading and planning, I can refer to
that file for more accurate grades and more effective lessons. To implement
this plan, I will need to shop around for a tablet pc. Several things must be
kept in mind. First, I must be able to afford it. Second, it has to be able to
take hand written notes. Third, it must be either very durable, or be
supplemented with a very durable casing. While this system is much more costly
than a simple paper and pencil system that I have been using, the
organizational possibilities far outweigh the cost. By having one place where I
keep seating charts, assessments and lesson plans, it eliminates the need for countless
binders and sheets of paper which inevitably overcome my organizational
capabilities.
This will be used in the music
classroom, mainly during assessments, both formal and informal, depending on
the situation. It will also be used for seating charts and to store lesson
plans for quick reference. I can simply pull up my lesson plans for the day and
have them waiting in case I need to refer to them. I will be the only one using
this object since it will be a storage place for grades and notes regarding
student assessments.
Having chosen this topic before
researching it, I did not expect to find many resources. However, after typing
“tablet pc for assessments and seating charts” into Google, the first hit was “Using
Tablet PC's in Music Education.” While that seems to
be the only one so far regarding music education, it offers ideas on how
tablets can be used in every level. To my surprise, this article was written in
2005. I am still looking for cases where tablets may have actually been used
for similar purposes to mine, but have not yet found any.
Regarding planning, I can use the
class lists I currently have access to, to create a grade book in excel that my
seating charts will link to. Though I can practice this ahead of time, the
linking system will have to be created after the seating charts, since I
generally let students choose their own seats. I am hoping to create a system
of links that will automatically transfer the grades I enter into an excel
grade book type file so I can have quick access to a class or individuals
grades and get a better overall picture of how they are doing.
I
will probably have to train myself. The files I would need can probably be created
on any computer, so I can start that now. However, I would like to borrow a
tablet before purchasing one to be sure the files will work. This may be
difficult, since no one I know owns one. I will also need to write out a lesson
I already have, but including this piece of technology to test how it will work.
For the most part, I need to tackle this project during this course so that
when school starts I can begin testing it immediately. After this course is
over, I will have to add names of last minute additions to classes, create
seating charts with the students, and finalize the linking system so that the
grades actually transfer on their own.
This project will be successful if
I can get the seating charts and their corresponding grades to link to a grade
book file. If that does not work, I will have to manually transfer them which
could defeat the purpose of the whole project.
Great idea incorporating a tablet as a portable grading devise. I know nothing about music but can see using it for my writing conferences. I too always loose and misfile my notes.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of cost, would you have to purchase the technology yourself or would your school help with the cost?
I really like your idea. Good luck.
Karen
Hey Karen!
ReplyDeleteGreat question. I bought it myself and do not expect to be reimbursed. However, I will also be able to use it as an extension of my personal computer as well, which is in need of being replaced. I may try to write a grant for a larger model in the near future if this works.
Tai
Tai,
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of using a tablet computer for record keeping and syncing with your school computer. My question is: if you are absent, will it be accessible to a substitute teacher? I understand the necessity to get rid of papers. They seem to accumulate. Even the most organized person loses them. Last year I seemed to have growing and growing piles stacked on the counter. It is not my favorite thing to see. The ability to take notes while teaching and have them saved in a central location would be so helpful. At the end of the day you could reflect back on your classes and you may find your notes and recall an event that you had forgotten. I see great potential with this project.
Tai, the problem of recording/management/organization is truly a wicked problem! I love this idea! I can see how much it would minimize your frustrations of keeping track of notes, grades, etc. All of these are essential to keeping up with and assessing the large volume of students that you deal with.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing the rest of your steps!
Julie
Tai,
ReplyDeleteWhen thinking about my own wicked problem, it never occurred to me to tackle organization. What a great problem to conquer! It is also interesting to me that you have chosen a tablet PC to solve this problem. I am envisioning an iPad? Is this what you are using? Do you have a computer in your music classroom? When I was teaching in Florida last year, each teacher had his or her own laptop provided by the school. I never thought to record notes on my laptop, although that would have been a smart idea! My laptop was awesome because it was not grounded to a certain area of the classroom. I could hook it up to my Smartboard, and take it to my small group table to do mini lessons with 4-5 students. If the school provided you with a laptop, would you use it in a similar way as your portable PC or iPad? What do you see as the advantages of having a portable PC over a laptop? Great project idea!