ElEd Practicum Experience

Using Garage Band Recording Technology

Leah White

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Utah Language Arts Core Standard 2, Objective 1, Indicator a. Print carries a message and what is the message of "Our First Grade Song" and Standard 1, Objective 1, Indicator a. Language can be learned through listening and being entertained.

TPACK -Technological Pedagogical And Content Knowledge. What I used was Garage Band Digital Technology to record the children singing. It was important for the children to learn to listen to themselves recorded upon the computer over the speakers in the classroom overhead. This technology completed the experience and the pedagogical tool from this technology meets the the indicator for a way to learn language by listening and being entertained. Although this wasn't a look it me and how cool I am I am being recorded! We are singing! We can hear ourselves! It was more so understanding and reflecting on the experience we had while preparing for the recording and reflective listening of the music to know what our message is. The content knowledge was that what we wrote carries a message in our case carried a message which connected with the first graders personal background knowledge and experience and allowing each first grade as a group to feel like literally their voice matters and that is why they were being recorded and that their voice is so important, that their thoughts and ideas need to be heard and that is why we listened to them over the speakers. Each child was able to take part in the technology experience by having their voice recorded. They mattered and and so did their message. Without this recording device I believe that this experience would have been incomplete but with being able to use this recording device only solidified the importance of what they were learning.

The events that went well. The technology worked in the classroom. Not only did it motivate the children to sing their best it was a way to reinforce that their message that they wrote was important enough to record and reflect upon. The recording was so clear that I was initially nervous that we might have to record again to make a good copy, but the recording was fantastic and picked up all the children's voices. This first grade class would be able to pick out their own voice. And when my mentor teacher burns it on a CD they will have it for ready use all the time with their voices clearly singing their first grade message.

What I would improve upon would be realizing that I needed the mic for the computer so that we could hear our song over the overhead speakers. But that was fine that I didn't think about that. That was easy to change for next time which I did a couple days later. And my mentor teacher was able to make it happen when I needed it.

"Our First Grade Song" was typed up and placed into the "Favorite Folders" for each child. They wrote and learned the song, polishing the song for recording on "Garage Band," and finally being able to listen to their project over the speaker system.

The children were so eager to record the message they created and they were even more eager to listen to how well they did. They had felt like they were a part of a magical experience!

Internet Safety

1. Reading: What article did you choose to read for your fourth article?

Let our Voices be Heard - M. Russell Ballard

2. What were the most important things you learned from the readings?

I learned that I need to walk away from viewing/listening to moral medial regardless of what anyone else around me does. I learned that immorality through media destroys our families. We need to choose what Heavenly Father would choose and God would choose that which is good for us and our families.

3. How will what you have read influence your actions as a parent and/or teacher of children and youth?

I will take the steps Elder Ballard listed in the article and try to implement them in my life with my family. I will not view media that is immoral and will have all media equipment filtered and out in the open and will have constant conversations and supervision when children are using this equipment and will limit the time.

4. How can you use what you have learned from the reading to have a positive influence on family and friends?

I will use the steps that Elder Ballard mention plus I will "let my voice be heard" when media is inappropriate.

Frontline PBS Documentary-

Watching/Website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/ tried to find my delicious account but couldn't. This is a good resource because I feel PBS is truthful for the most part on what they present.

Who did you talked with (no names are needed - just a brief description of age)
I talked to my best friend in Columbus Ohio. She is 24 years old and has 2 children.

What did you shared and how did it go (was it positive? negative? hard? easy? valuable or not?)
I shared with her the article I read from Elder Ballard. She is not a member of the church but is a strong evangelical christian. I knew that the principles that Elder Ballard said would touch her heart and it did. She was positive about the information I gave her. I told her how I have a "Clear Play" to filter immorality out of my movies which is one of the things Elder Ballard talked about and she loved that idea. She agrees that there is too much immorality in the media.

We also talked about the internet and she is wanting to get some filter for that too so her children don't stumble across something inappropriate. She said she is well aware that she needs to do something. She liked the idea of having internet safety conversation with her children and limiting the time. She found the article to be valuable. Mostly because she does love God and is aware that immorality separates her from feeling his love in her life.

She appreciated that I talked to her about internet safety and was particularly interested in the fact that I wanted to encourage her to communicate with her children about how to use the computer safely.