Tech.Grp Project(Dance/Music) and Final thoughts

Well, it is my final week of technology class and it has been a great journey. Not only did it give me time to reflect on how technology can enhance dance, but through the assignments I am feeling more comfortable with technology/computers/software. As a final project, the class was broken up into groups. Each group had to develop a lesson plan incorporating the performing arts and technology.

My group was made up of two music educators and one dance educator (me). For our project we decided to create a unit plan that included a webpage/timeline that had information on Salsa Music and Salsa Dance/dancers. Our unit plan would be an interdisciplinary were both Music and Dance educators would work together to design lessons that would incorporate the following:

• Information/History of Salsa Music and Dance - Style, culture, influences, instruments, beats/timing, musicians, singers, dancers
• Students will gather information, pictures, music etc and begin to develop a webpage with all of this information
• Students will use itunes, imovies/movie maker, audacity, digital cameras and so forth to build their projects
• Students will learn to play and dance salsa. Perform at the end of the year

All of this will take place in a 6 week unit plan. This unit incorporates performing arts, history, research, performance, literacy and culture.

Group Process - As a group we were able to divide the work by History, Music and Dance, each of us completing a part. Then we created webpages about the project on our own sites. The individual pages on each of our sites were then connected together using html codes. So when you click through the pages, you are actually clicking on all 3 of our personl websites. I think our group worked well because we laid out a plan as a group, but then were able to work on our sections separately. We were all parts of a whole. We presented our project to the class and it went smoothly. I think we complimented each other in our presentation styles and backed up each other when our classmates had questions. I will definitely continue to work on this project and develop the lesson plans for my dance education portfolio.

Final Thoughts

This class has really helped me to think about how I can incorporate technology into the classroom. I have done several lessons in the past year and not one included a section with technology. That has all changed for me now. I will be a better educator by being aware of all the technology resources that are available to me and my students.

Music Technology and Dance

I still remember walking to the dance studio with a "Giant Boom Box" in one hand and my bag of cassette tapes and CDs in the other. I cannot tell you how long it took me to find the right song as I fumbled through all of the tapes and CDs I had in my hand. Not only was lugging all of that tiring and bad for my back, but I wasted alot of class time.

My how things have changed. I love the ipod!! Who doesn't? This one apparatus cannot only hold hundreds/thousands of songs, but it categorizes them for you, it fits in your pocket and you can use it for work, home and play. As a dance educator, dancer and choreographer it has made my life so much easier. I take the ipod to every studio and instantly have access to my whole music collection. Also, if I need a particular song, I can purchase it on line and download to my ipod within seconds. I think the best thing about the ipod is being able to share my music and listen to other people's music in such a convenient way.

My other new love is audacity. Although I know there are other music editing softwares that have more functions this is the one we are using in class. As a choreographer this gives me the tools to mix music for my dance pieces. As an educator, I can see my class creating their own soundtracks for class projects. How great is that! I know I am a little excited about this, but remember per my previous postings/blog, I am not very good with computers/technology. I am new to all of this and learning something new always makes me happy. My next step is to try out Garage band software.

With all of that said, I must admit I still have a box of cassette tapes in my closet :- )!

LIVE or DVD? Negative Technology effects on Dance

So here I am in my second week of the Technology class and I am learning so much about html codes, creating movies with pictures, the wonderful world of YouTube and I see so many different ways that I can incorporate technology into my dance lesson plans. I also see how technolgy such as ipods (see my Music and Dance post) have enhanced dance. However, I do see a downside to the use of technology in dance as well.

There are many dance dvds available now in the market. You can learn anything from Salsa to Swing to Belly dancing via video. In the privacy of your own home, you just pop in the disc and begin to dance. This does have its advantages - convenient, quick, costs less, private and you can look at it over and over again in order to pick up the steps. These are just a few good reasons why we choose to buy dance DVDs. With that said, I hope that people don't choose dvds over a live dance class. Nothing can replace the social interaction, attention to details and one on one instruction that a LIVE DANCE CLASS can offer. The dance instructor can provide you with feedback during your lesson that you cannot get with a DVD. She/He can watch your placement and alignment to make sure that you are learning properly and safely. You can ask questions from the teacher and from others that are taking the class with you. I believe that you should use dvds to compliment your dance classes, but not replace them.

Also, I think that videso/dvds are excellent resources for dance educators and dance lovers. You are able to watch so many different dances in the comfort of your own home. However, videos/dvds should never replace going to a live dance concert. Watching dance live is a totally different experience and there is nothing like it. You feel the energy of the audience, the anticipation of the curtain opening and of course the dancers moving across the stage with strength and grace.

MUSIC - we have so much access to recorded music and music devices ie: itunes, mp3s, cds, ipods, etc and as a music lover and dance educator I use them all. But, I think it is very important for dancers, students and dance educators to use live music as well. The communication/partnership between musician and dancer/educator is essential.

Dance History Books - as per my previous blog, technology helps preserve dance history, but we cannot forget about all of the great books on dance history as well. There are so many dance writers, critics and dance historians that use the pen to record dance events. The pen and paper is still one of the best inventions. Once again, use the videos with the books and do not replace oral and written history. The dance history books also support dance literacy.

So with all of that said, lets remember to compliment, enhance dance with technology. Do not use technology to replace the LIVE experiences.

Technology helps preserve dance history

The ability to film, photograph and record dance is important to perserving the history of dance. Through videos, dvds and now even YouTube dance educators and students have the ability to watch the dance stylings of Isadora Duncan, Doris Humphrey and many other dancers/choreographers that helped shape dance. It allows us to document choreography, movement style, costumes and music used for each piece outside of writing them down.

As a dance educator, it is wonderful to be able to put in a DVD and have a dance concert right in your classroom. It can compliment any lesson plan on dance history since many students are visual learners. And now with YouTube all of us can share our own choreography and dance styles with the rest of the world. What a great class project it would be for your class to record their choreography or develop a dance lesson plan and then place on YouTube, Face Book, etc so they can share with another school in lets say Korea. Then the students in Korea can respond with their own video on YouTube for your students. Maybe they would teach your students Korean dance. Instead of penpals this two schools can be "YouTube pals".

As your students document their dances/choreography they are developing their own dance history.

Technology and Me

This week I started a new class at NYU called Technology Resources. Even though I am looking forward to this class, I am a little nervous. You see, technology and me don't mix very well. I have never been on Face Book, My Space, or You Tube. I still have trouble connecting to wireless internet and I don't know what half of the bottoms are for on my Blackberry. Even my boss laughed when I told him I was taking this class because I am always complaining to him that my computer doesn't work - but really, I know that it is not the computer - its me.

So I am looking forward to this class not only to familiarize myself with technology ie: software programs, on-line resources, creating my own webpage, etc., but also to explore the different ways it can help me as a Dance Educator. What role does technology play in the world of Dance? What role does it play in Education? Can technology make both better and how? I never really thought about it before, but this class will help begin this discussion with my peers and myself.