Blog Post 10

What Can We Learn From Ms. Cassidy's Blog?

Ms. Cassidy, an elementary teacher in Canada, posted one video entitled, Little Kids, Big Potential, on her account that focused on her students' opinions concerning various aspects within technology and what they enjoyed about it. The students were able to practice literacy skills with blogging and even constructive criticism of their peers. With technology, the students were able to interact with individuals that specialized in certain fields they were learning in the classroom.

The next required videos were interviews 1, 2, and 3 with Ms. Cassidy. An obstacle that she encountered with administration was the privacy of the students which was counteracted with permission from parents. Several family members actually enjoyed reviewing their child's blog and gladly participated. In the second interview, Ms. Cassidy made a wonderful point regarding how one could begin integrating technology into the classroom. She stated that the instructor should pursue a venue that they enjoy, whether it is blogging, video logs, etc. Twitter was also advocated due to multiple ways of communicating with various individuals who are teachers (from beginners to veterans) in the field you are studying. 

In the final segment, former EDM 310 students asked numerous questions concerning how one can use blogging in specific classes. As a music educator, I never considered using a form of technology (besides email) to communicate with students and parents. With a blog or even Twitter, one can update information concerning a schedule change or an updated repertoire list to ensure that the students will stay inform. Another topic Ms. Cassidy mentioned was fraudulent work within the use of technology. She stated that it is not an issue, but a benefit among teachers who embrace collaborative sharing. There are numerous music education blogs that I have reviewed and taken note of some of the projects/ideas these veteran teachers have developed. They are fabulous sources of materials I can use within my classroom.