Determining Your Needs for K-5 General Music Shawna Longo Durban Avenue School, Hopatcong Borough Schools shawnalongo[at]gmail.com
The search for the “best” technology-driven product for General Music can be overwhelming! There are many options out there and it can be daunting to make direct comparisons between products. You may be wondering – where do I even begin? In this article, my goal is to give you a side-by-side comparison of four of the major products available on the market: Quaver, Essential Elements Music Class, MusicFirst Junior, and MusicPlay Online. To facilitate this process, I crafted a 25-question product questionnaire to gain information from each company and provide you with comparable answers to assist you in making the best decision for you and your students. But, before you jump into the results and compare products, you should take the time to perform a needs assessment. Even though the side-by-side product comparison will be extremely helpful, as the teacher you need to determine not only what you and your students need, but also what your district needs. Below you will find a Technology-Based Program Integration Needs Assessment to determine your who, what, where, when, and why. A completed Needs Assessment will help strengthen
your discussion with your administration about budgetary needs, showing due diligence in your research. A couple of things to think about: 1) Free trials - Always take advantage of free trials BEFORE you purchase! Give the product a try in your classroom and with your students! See how they react to it and see how it impacts your ability to deliver quality music instruction. 2) There’s no rush – Make sure you take some time to really get to know the product(s). The more comfortable you are navigating and using the technology and product, the better the experience for you and your students. Watch tutorial videos on their YouTube channel(s), attend free webinar to learn more about each product, go to their sessions at the NJMEA Conference (if available), and connect with the sales rep at their NJMEA Conference exhibit (if possible). 3) Start small – You don’t necessarily need to jump head first and start using it with all of your grade levels or classes. Decide what works best for you and your comfort level and build from there.
Technology-Based Program Integration Needs Assessment Who?
Details Known
Need More Info
Who are your students? Age and technology experience level? Do any students need assistive or adaptive technologies? Who are the stakeholders? What are the expectations of the school and community? Is there an instructional technology plan in place, or do you need to gain buy-in from school officials and parents? What is your comfort level with technology? How about your colleagues?
What?
What are you trying to teach? What are the curricular concepts you want to support/enhance with technology? What resources do you already have? Are iPads, Chromebooks, computers, microphones, recording devices, document cameras and other items already available? Check with your school IT people, instructional coaches, and media specialists. Check through all your “old” gear too. If it has a MIDI, USB, or XLR connection, it may be usable. What devices can your students use? Does every student have a device like an iPad, tablet, laptop, or Chromebook? Can you borrow a cart of devices or use a technology lab?
TEMPO 30
JANUARY 2022
