Interactive Whiteboards in Music Online Course

About this course

Interactive whiteboards (IWBs) have become a permanent fixture in many music classrooms, and can be a great tool for making music literacy and performance fun and engaging. They are part-regular whiteboard, part-projector screen and part-multimedia tool all rolled into one.

This course will explore ways in which you can enhance your delivery of music content to students by integrating audio, notation, and video. Learn how to adapt and rethink your current activities without having to re-write your curriculum. Discover why it’s not about finding a one-size-fits-all software program and why IWBs are not just for showing Youtube videos (!).

For more information about the course content, see the full Course Outline below.

Who is this course for?

• teachers who would like to create adaptable and reusable resources
• teachers who want to incorporate multimedia into their classes
• teachers who would like to go beyond using the IWB as an expensive data projector!

Pre-requisites

No previous interactive whiteboard experience required. This course is designed for complete beginners

Course length and delivery

• 4 x 75 minute sessions
• This is a live, online course. (read more about how online courses work)
• There will be Q & A opportunities in each session
• “Homework” tasks in between sessions which will help you get the most out of the course (nothing too heavy!)

Course dates

Course dates are as follows:

Note: all times are Australian Eastern Daylight Time (UTC+11). Check your local time by visiting this time zone converter (scroll down to see the time in your city).

• Thursday 7 Feb 2013, 8pm-9.15pm
• Thursday 14 Feb 2013, 8pm-9.15pm
• Thursday 21 Feb 2013, 8pm-9.15pm
• Thursday 28 Feb 2013, 8pm-9.15pm

What you will need

A computer with internet access

Headphones (optional)

A copy of your IWB software. eg. Notebook software for the Smartboard, ActiveInspire for Promethean, or Easiteach. If you don’t have any IWB software installed on your laptop (check with your school IT person), please install the Notebook software demo from the Smartboard website before the workshop.

Provided materials

• Step-by-step course notes
• Cheat Sheet (Quick reference guide) for your IWB software
• Files required for homework tasks
• Full 6-month access to video recordings of each session. Watch them at your own pace, whenever you like
• Professional development certificate of attendance provided

Cost and Payment Terms

Cost: AUD$200. Payment options as follows:

• EFT (Electronic funds transfer) [Australian residents only]
• Credit card (via the Paypal website. No Paypal account necessary. Will incur a transaction fee of $6)
• Paypal
• Invoice option available for schools and businesses [Australian residents only]

NB: course participants outside Australia must pay via Paypal or credit card (credit card transaction takes place via the Paypal website)

Payment must be received before the first course date. Please also note the course cancellation policy.

If you wish to sign up for the course, but do not yet have approval from your school, please email me.

Places

Limited to 20 places only.

The Interactive Whiteboards in the Music Classroom course will cover a range of skills, including the following:

Session 1: Ways to use the IWB and Free IWB Software Resources

Different ways you can use your IWB:

• How to incorporate your IWB into your teaching
• Replacing your regular whiteboard tasks with an IWB
• Types of software programs that work well on the board
• Finding specially designed software

Free IWB Software Resources and How To Use Them:

• The Music Interactive: note reading, rhythmic dictation, ear-training, boomwhackers
• Triptico: easy adaptable text-based activities and games
• Smartboard Music: animated ear-training games

Tips for using software you already own:

• Sibelius
• GarageBand/Acid/Mixcraft
• Auralia and Musition
• And more

Session 2: Resource Creation Part 1

Learn about the possibilities for your IWB software:

• What can the software do and why should you use it?
• It’s Powerpoint on steroids
• Draw with pens
• Convert handwriting into typed words and shapes
• Draw shapes and lines
• Incorporate images, links and audio

Creating a lasting unit of work that you can use over and over again:

• Importing an image
• Changing background colour
• Including text information about the composer and work
• Linking to a website with further information
• Incorporating notation
• Attaching audio files so you never have to search for a CD again

The skills learnt can be adapted for any unit of work you might be doing with your students: 12 Bar Blues, Instruments of the Orchestra, Carnival of the Animals and more.

Session 3: Resource Creation part 2

Creating everyday resources that will replace your regular whiteboard use:

• Music literacy activities
• Rhythmic and melodic dictation
• Custom-made stave lines
• Using images as noteheads and creating an infinite supply
• Stick notation activities
• Exciting ways to present word definitions
• Making soundscapes
• Presenting score analysis and annotation
• Creating and using class ensemble resources
• Teaching song lyrics in new ways
• Places to find ready-made IWB resource files

Session 4: Discovering Interactive Websites and Music Software Designed for IWB

Interactive websites that work well on IWBs:

• NY Phil Kidzone music games
• Dallas Symphony Orchestra music games
• Tone Matrix
• Aviary’s Roc
• Incredibox
• Virtual instruments (keyboard, gamelan, drums)

Overview of software designed for IWB:

• O-Generator
• Jellybeans 3
• Bushfire
• Fun Music Company

*Midnight Music reserves the right to alter course content when necessary.

Presenter

All sessions will be presented by Katie Wardrobe. You can read more about Katie here.

Bookings

Registrations are now open for the February 2013 course.

What happens once I’ve paid?

Once your course registration and payment have been received, you can sit back and wait for the first scheduled session.

A reminder email will be sent ahead of session 1 which will include login details and a link which allows you to access the online course.

Questions about this course?

Contact Katie.