As mentioned in my previous post. I’m going to be focusing on composing as the primary way of teaching specific ideas in the upcoming 2011-2012 school year. In order to best do this I need to properly balance Web 2.0 technology with composition based projects all aligned to the Arts Education Content Standards for Michigan. This first project will focus around creating a 30 second video introduction. The composition aspect pertains to composing a 30 second work of instrumental music, appropriate for presenting themselves to others. To accomplish this, they will use two different technological tools: 1) Sony’s Acid Music (found on the school computers); and 2) Animoto.com (a Web-based program).
Students will be graded on the following rubric (created using rubistar.4teachers.org):
| CATEGORY | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 – Redo |
| Music | The composition was creative, easy to follow and met the 30 second requirement and contained a minimum of 8 instrument tracks. | The composition was somewhat creative, met the 30 second requirement and utilized 6-8 tracks. | The composition was very basic and showed very little creative thought. Did not meet the 30 second requirement and only contained 3-7 tracks. | The composition was not complete, and very difficult to listen to. Under half of the required elements were included. Project needs to be revised. |
| Content | Project utilized a minimum of 10 pictures and depicted the student in a variety of activities. | Project used 6-10 pictures and showed minimal sides to the student’s personality. | Student used less than 5 pictures and they are all of a similar nature. | Uses less than 2 pictures. |
| Originality | Product shows a large amount of original thought. Ideas are creative and inventive. | Product shows some original thought. Work shows new ideas and insights. | Uses other people’s ideas (giving them credit), but there is little evidence of original thinking. | Uses other people’s ideas, but does not give them credit. |
| Final Project | Video presented the student well. The music and the pictures fit well together aesthetically. | The pictures and music generally fit well together. | There is a general disconnect between the music and the pictures. | There is no connection between the music composed and the pictures chosen. The project needs to be revised. |
In alignment with the Arts Education Content Standards for Michigan, students will compose a short piece within specified guidelines (ART.II.M.M.4) and begin to understand the effectiveness of one’s own composition through a post-project evaluation of their peers’ projects (ART.III.M.M.5).
I’m looking forward to this upcoming school year, I’m hoping a mostly project-based aspect to teaching will increase student understanding.
