Reflection - Week 7

       After teaching for 9 years, I've noticed how technology has become more and more commonplace in education.  It wasn't always this way, however.  I can actually recall in my first or second year of teaching (2007-2009 roughly) many instances where technology would have been useful but it wasn't implemented.  For example, quarterly grades and progress reports were still being done via penciled-in bubble sheets for each student in my classes.  Of course, now everything is done online but keep in mind, 2007-2009 isn't all that long ago!  I had left that position and got a new job that uses more technology.  One of my former colleagues at my old job told me that eventually they started doing their grades and progress reports online.  To be fair, it didn't take all that long to fill in the bubble sheets for grades.  But there is certainly a difference in how quickly it can be done on a computer, especially when you have the option of importing grades over from your pre-existing grade book.

       This is one of many examples where technology can help educators do their jobs as efficiently as possible.  Staying organized is crucial to a successful classroom.  I still occasionally do paper-based assignments but I keep them neat and tidy in the band room.  Having become a Google district last year, my students and I have become quite familiar with Google docs and the exchange of assignments through Google drive.  My colleagues and I have built a music department web page where we post upcoming concerts, dress rehearsals, and assignments.  For my jazz band, I have a separate page with links to videos that help students with beginning jazz improvisation.  I also have a listening list that used to be made up of Youtube videos but I plan on using Spotify to organize playlists for my jazz band students to listen to.  This is an excellent way to help stay in touch with both students and parents regarding concerts and other venues.  Many times I will receive calls or emails from parents asking about when the next concert will be and I often tell them right there, but then I'll remind them to check out the music web page for all of this information.

       Since we're on the topic of communication, there is an app that is very useful in helping students and parents stay on top of their band schedules.  It's called 'Remind' and it can be downloaded through the app store or Google play store.  Basically, it is an app in which you can organize a list of phone numbers (these can be parent numbers or student numbers if you're on a field trip) and then you can send out a text message to all the people on that list.  The best part is that your personal phone number is not listed!  As long as your students and their parents have this app installed on their phone, they can receive messages from you and they won't be able to actually see your phone number.  When my colleagues and I did our annual 6 Flags band and orchestra trip, this app was the star of the show!  Once we hit our first check-in time at 2:30, I sent a message to my band kids, "Time to check in!!" on the Remind app and within minutes, they started coming over to check in with their chaperones.  It is so convenient to be able to round up your students with the push of a button!  I strongly recommend this app, especially for field trips.

       I personally believe that when it comes to any school, that school's music department is the public face of that school.  The way the kids behave and carry themselves, how they follow directions during a concert, pretty much any performance is an opportunity for students to display themselves at their very best.  By doing so, they are representing the school that they are from.  That's why with public relations and music advocacy, teachers and administrators need to be mindful of how their programs come across the general public.  I've posted videos of concerts and other performances on Youtube and on the department web page and I do it so people know what goes into each concert.  The hours of practice, commitment, and working together all pays off in the end.  Students become better people as a result of their musical experiences and that is why we do what we do.  Of course, I have to get signed permission slips from students' parents to be able to post those videos but I want them to be able to see those performances, especially parents who could not attend certain concerts.  Just last year, I got a call from a parents thanking me for posting the band portion of the Spring Concert on the department web page so she could still see her children performing even though she was unable to be there.  It's moments like that where I am thankful that technology is around to help me do my job better.