PLN: What can be learned from babies' crying

This blog entry discusses a study that suggests newborns do not cry regularly.  Rather, they begin to imitate their native language from day one.  These results were inferred from audio signal data where one can differentiate between German crying babies and French crying.  The author of the blog interprets the study further to claim these sounds are evidence of early musical sensitivity.

Digital Video and Assistive Technology

I have worked with iMovie for most of my digital video, though my iMovie work often involves creating a slideshow from still photos.  For every Arts Night at my elementary school I put together a movie showing our students at work in art and music.  Now I realize my background tracks were breaking copyright and will have to brainstorm ways to work around the legal issue!  Upon arriving at Case, a professor suggested that I videotape my choir rehearsal and gave me a Flip camera to do so.  Although the video footage is not stellar, the simplicity of use with this camera cannot be beat.  Often our students record their teaching with mini-tapes and I am skeptical about their review of these tapes due to the extra steps needed to put the footage on their computers.  Flip cameras resolve the issue.  I hope to use these more in my future research, especially for transcription purposes.

The assistive technology article provided clear definitions of assistive technology and the rights students have to this technology.  Throughout the article, I found myself thinking "they receive this for all other classes besides 'specials'."  I worked with many students with disabilities that required the use of a Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and/or adaptive instruments.  However, I received no training on the technology or about the disabilities in general.  Paraeducators worked to include music words on their 'talkers', but the technology was inconsistent.  Also, if I wanted to purchase adaptive instruments, which I tried to do each year, it came from my general budget.  As in most areas of education, the use of materials comes down to available funds.  These adaptive instruments are often extremely expensive, taking at least one quarter of my funds for one purchase.  This was a difficult situation because (a) the ratio of funds did not equal the ratio of students using the instruments and (b) the price allowed me to buy one, allowing only the child with disabilities to use the instrument.  In the Universal Design Instruction approach, I would have prefered for many students to use the adaptation, rather than singling out the student with a disability.  A separate account from the administration should be set aside and used for these students, especially in schools with specialized programs. 

PLN: Twitter Discussion

This post relates to an earlier question about the educational use of Twitter.  It is an interesting debate...

Digital Photography, Digital Citizenship, GIMP, & Copyright

After reading the copyright article I am still rather confused about copyright law and its use in education.  What I was able to glean from it is when in doubt, cite.  However, while making my WebQuest I ran into difficulties in citing.  Images are being used all over the internet that do not have proper citation.  How then are we to find the origin of the image? 

The general areas of behavior in Digital Citizenship should be something that is taught to students and posted in classrooms.  Much of the behavior aligns with the Character Counts program or the philosophy of IB schools.  Regardless of specific programs, these nine areas of behavior can be applied across the curriculum.  In addition, faculties and other groups of both digital immigrants and digital natives should be taught these behaviors as manners are taught (or used to be!) - by those informed modeling appropriate behavior.

The GIMP tool is a great free resource, though it duplicates many of the tasks already available on my computer.  Digital Photography did not reveal any new information to me as I have used a digital camera since they first came out  almost ten years ago. 

PLN: Smithsonian Folkways Podcast

This podcast, Sounds to Grow On, features a wonderful collection of Folkways recordings narrated by Micheal Asch, the son of Moses Asch, founder of Folkways Records.  These podcasts are a great way to become familiar with the Folkways Records literature and could be use to introduce new music to students, as well as inform your own knowledge.

PLN: Evelyn Glennie

Our Music in Early Childhood class is currently using a book, Moses Goes to a Concert, that features a class of deaf students going to a concert.  I believe this artist was the inspiration for the story and on this posting she talks about the difference between hearing and listening.  Too advance for our students, but though-provoking for us!