Patricia Jimenez
SLM521 – Elective #9
Teacher Made Websites
I had little difficulty in locating lesson plans,
suggestions, and musical resources created for teachers.
Finding sites created by teachers was a bit more challenging.
The best treasures were found by using search phrases
such as teacher created sites and sites by music teachers.
Ideas and suggestions offered by these teachers are
already proofed in the classroom.
Music
At School – This site was created by the Director of Music at
Commendations:
- The organization is well blocked and uses color to separate information panels; not boring nor intimidating.
- The site is full of information but is not cluttered. It is useful for teachers and students as a resource.
- Search and navigation of the subject matter is easy. Parents could use this site to polish their musical knowledge.
Recommendations:
·
A warning that the
game/plan will play music as soon as you click on it. So much of the site is
silent, that I was startled upon entering a game.
·
More information. More
lessons. More ideas. This site is well
planned and executed but few ideas from anyone but the site originator.
·
More updates. The last guest book submissions shown were
form 2002. Yet, I have been there and signed in with comments
Music
For Teachers - 'Music for Teachers' aims
to provide support for the planning of schemes of work and lessons to meet the requirements
of the National Curriculum in
Commendations:
·
The site is
organized. At first it seems sterile,
but it is designed with teachers only in mind.
It is easy to navigate.
·
The site has many
useful resources and connotations for all music teachers even though it is
designed with
·
The “Developing a
School Music Policy” section is great! I
particularly like, “what is the relationship between school music and music in
the community?”
Recommendations:
- Glossary is somewhat
simplified, especially for music teachers.
Standardized definitions should be expected of teachers.
- A little more color would make
it more interesting and less sterile.
Although we should be disciplined and focused, teachers need
stimulation, too.
- The contact button provides
the e-mail address but no direct link.
Although not wrong, it could be more right.
Ricci Adams: Music Theory - Ricci Adams first
envisioned Musictheory.net during his senior year of high school. Soon
afterwards, he created his first lesson: The Staff, Clefs, and Ledger Lines.
The Interval Ear Trainer was developed a few weeks later and the site
officially launched on
Commendations:
·
The set up of lessons
is easy to follow and understand.
Success for the developing music student is easy to achieve.
·
The Trainer programs
give instant feedback and tally of answers.
No problems with font size either.
·
The Staff Paper
generator is fantastic!
Recommendations:
·
Link to “display
keyboard” on the trainer pages should be larger or more noticeable. It is a useful tool which may be overlooked.
·
The Matrix Generator
is really cool! There should be more explanation and enticement for its use.
·
The site is black,
white, and blue. Even though it is
appealing and neat, maybe a few more subdued colors, or even shades or blue
would be comforting to the frustrated theory student.
Busy Teachers’ Café – This elementary level site was created by a reading
specialist in New Jersery. The site offers lesson plans, worksheets,
graphics, and internet activities. It
provides links to other top educational sites.
Commendations:
- Provides a listing of
classroom websites by grade.
- Provides printable calendars
which you can customize.
- Worksheets are located in a
“filing cabinet” and organized by subject.
- There are pages with links
and tutorials to help teachers create their own websites.
Recommendations:
- Entries are not divided by
subject material. It is easy to
discover grade level but subject material needs to be scanned.
- Kids’ website suggestions do
not reference any music or art subjects.
- Some
parental guidelines and suggestions would make the site more complete.
