Teaching with Technology in the
College of Music

by Chris H. Lewis, Ph.D., cclewis@spot.colorado.edu
www. colorado.edu/AmStudies/collmus.htm

I. Teaching with Technology in the College of Music

1. What do we mean by Teaching with Technology?

• Using technology to increase the nature and quality of resources and materials presented both in- and outside the classroom.

• Using technology to increase the quantity and quality of information shared between faculty and students.

• Using technology to increase active learning and present materials to students with diverse learning styles.

• Using technology to enable students to more actively participate in the recording, production, and distribution of musical performances.

2.  What kinds of Technology can we use to achieve this 
      goal?

• VHS, Laser Disc, and DVD video players

• CD and Cassette players

• Personal and Network Computers and Computer labs

• Powerpoint Slides and Presentations

• The Internet, the World Wide Web, and E-mail

• CD-Roms for in and outside of class use

• CD-R recordable CD discs for audio, video, and multimedia productions

• Streaming Audio and Video technology to record and play performances on the Internet and CD-Roms

3.  What are the steps we should take to explore
      incorporating these new technologies in our
      teaching?

• Start slowly: develop competence and understanding of the proper use of each of these technologies.

• Experiment: design and test materials for teaching modules and specific classroom exercises.

• Research: study and evaluate your CU colleagues' use of these new technologies. Look for models of good practice.

• Get Help and Support from FTEP and ITS: Find out who can support your development and classroom use of these new technologies.

• Reflect on how Technology affects your Teaching: Has your use of technology improved your teaching, helped students better learn the materials, cost you too much time, or saved you time and effort in the long run?

• Mentor and work with Colleagues: Share your successes and failures in Teaching with Technology with your department and University colleagues.

4.  What will the 21st Century Classroom look like?

• All classrooms will be Smart Classrooms, equipped with multimedia presentation tools.

• Integrate audio, video, cable TV, and multimedia presentations onto one platform.

• This multimedia platform will probably be a Whiteboard: a computer screen the size of present-day chalkboards able to present audio, video, computer, and internet materials at the same time.

• All classes will have websites, include multimedia presentations, and use the internet and e-mail to share resources and knowledge.

5. How do we create the 21st Century Classroom?

• Work with ITS, FTEP, departments, and professional organizations to create models and standards for good practice.

• Slowly, incrementally test, build, develop, and redesign teaching materials and approaches to teaching with technology.

• Work with our departments, Universities, and both private and public grant sources to acquire, develop, and test approaches to teaching with technology.

• Remember, we are in a period of transition. Our generation of faculty and the next will help develop, build, and create models of good practice for teaching with technology.

• Institutionally we must move ahead to meet the growing challenge of teaching with technology, but individually we can still afford to teach using our tried and true approaches that work.

• Successful experiments and models of good practice will help slowly build the 21st Century classroom and slowly transform our teaching and create new models of good practice that incorporate teaching with technology.

• If teaching with technology doesn't prove to make us better teachers, provide our students with richer, more diverse resources, improve active learning and better serve diverse learning styles, and increase communication between faculty and students, then we should not use this technology.

• Teaching with technology must improve the quality of our teaching and interaction with students. If it doesn't do this, then we should continue to look for models of good practice that do.

II. Examples of Using the Web to Teach Music

• Classical Composers Course

• MUS 3313: Computer Applications in Music

• Music 152 - Genesis of Rock and Roll  

• Michael Furstner's JAZCLASS   

• Internet Resources For Music Teachers  

• Big Ears: The Original Online Ear Trainer 

• David Code's Aural Comprehension Guide 

• Ball State:  Exhibition and Performance Online

• Introduction to Technology for Music Educators

• IUPUI:  The Master of Science in Music Technology

• IUPUI:  8th Annual International Computer Music
  Technology Conference and Workshop (Summer 1998)

• Temple University: Music Technology Undergraduate Program

• The Classical MIDI Archives

• MIDI Resources for Teachers

• Exploring MIDI

III. Web Resources for the College of Music

1. FTEP: Teaching with Technology Resources

2.  Teaching American Studies and Humanities Courses
     on the web

3. Music Links for the College of Music

4. Web Resources for Faculty and Students

5. Information Technology Services (ITS) Homepage

6. A Quick Guide to CU-Boulder Technology Services

7. ITS Services for Faculty Teaching with Technology

8. University of Colorado at Boulder Home Page

*Created and presented by Chris H. Lewis, Ph.D., Jan. 30, 1998. If you have any questions or suggestions for improving this website, please e-mail me at cclewis@spot.colorado.edu