Middle School Music Appreciation:
Engaging Students in Learning
Presented By: Laura Snow
Stanley County School District
TIE 2009
WHY?
• I don’t have a ‘regular’ classroom in which
to teach this course, the computer lab was
open…so why not?
• Felt many of the students are/were not
being exposed to opportunities to learn the
skills that will help them to succeed in
work and life in the 21st century.
21st Century Skill Applications
• Partnership for 21st Century Skills: Framework for 21st
Century Learning
http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/index.php?Itemid=120&i
d=254&option=com_content&task=view
• Core Subjects: Art and History
• Creativity and Innovation: Think creatively and Work
Creatively with Others
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Make Judgments
and Decisions; Solve Problems
• Information Literacy: Access information efficiently and
effectively; Use and Manage Information
• Media Literacy: Analyze Media
• ICT Literacy: Apply Technology Effectively
• Life and Career Skills: Flexibility and Adaptability;
Initiative and Self-Direction; Social and Cross-Cultural
Skills; Productivity and Accountability; Leadership and
Responsibility
7th Grade Music Appreciation
• Familiarize Students with WebCT
Navigation
• “Tutorials” in Discussions, Mail, Calendar,
Assignment Upload, File
Folders/organization
• Syllabus, Parent Information
• Let’s get working!
Units of Study
http://webct6.k12.sd.us/webct/entryPageIns.dowebct
• Early American Music (colonial music,
spirituals, patriotic music, early
frontier/country/western music)
• Ragtime
• Blues
• Jazz
• American Musical Theater
• Popular Music (decades beginning with
1950 though today)
Assignments and Assessments
• Assignments are listed for student view
with due dates and upload information
• Assessments given after each general unit
of study- in WebCT
• Journals
• Music Listening
• Portfolio
IT WORKS!
• Students are able to see what work to
make up if they have been absent.
• Students are able to get work completed in
advance if they know they will be gone on
a given day.
• Parents are able to view student progress,
see what work is missing, see graded
assignments
Students learn to be
more responsible for
their own learning
Thanks! I hope the information
that was presented today gives
your some ideas in your efforts
to help your own students move
along in the 21st century!
Comments/Questions:
Laura.Snow@k12.sd.us