Question # 3

In educational settings, discuss how technology enhances the teaching and learning environment. What do the viewpoints of Dewey, Bruner, Elliott, McLuhan, and Eisner provide for our consideration when thinking about technology, performing arts, and the process of teaching and learning.

We live in an era where the advancement of technologies has improved our quality of life.  Computers organize and run the world.  We walk around with mini computers  like blackberry's and Iphones in our back pockets.  I can email a friend from the mountain tops (provided I get service) or from the corner of 42ND Street and Broadway in Times Square, NYC.  We are fortunate to be enjoying theses innovations, the benefits, and we most certainly see how the level and standard of education has improved and made it easier for teachers and students alike.

I think back when I was in elementary school during the 1980's. No one had a personal computer. By the time I reached the 4Th grade, we had a computer class that met once a week. But the number of computers were limited and we had to share.  Everything we did was hand written. Book reports come to mind in regard to how much time it took.  Just about every school going child now, has access to a computer where they can set up a work station either at home or at school computer labs.  

Teaching and learning has become more dynamic and exciting for both educators and students. The countless number of software programs, act as tools to explain new concepts and ideas.  As a piano teacher, I have been incorporating  Garage Band in my lessons. I particularly love Garage band because it allows me to record lessons and then email them to my students who are then able to review every little detail as many times as they want.  The audio track can become portable if they choose to upload to an Ipod. 

The class I have been taking for the past few weeks, Technology Resources for Performing Arts Majors, has shown just how important it is to be able to use the advances in technology to our benefit as educators.  My team project was to look at how social networking sites can be used as a teaching tool.  Students of all ages are already on these sites, why not find a way to incorporate them in the classroom and beyond.  Visit my project page on my website to learn more.

Elliot Eisner has made many important contributions in arts education and his belief in "educational work as artistry." He believed that you could apply the study of the arts to any field of study like science and subjects in the humanities.  With my own personal experience, learning music from an early age has thought me discipline that I have applied to all other areas of my life.  Studying music education in a time like this is very exciting.  Jerome Bruner, one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century believes that one should be motivated to learn whatever it is they are studying.  This makes me think about how the advancements in technology like the use of a macbook or a site like Facebook encourages students to want to learn and study because we are using tools that they love and are familiar with already. Eiser, Bruner, and other influential figures in education like Dewey, Elliot and Mcluhan all believe that we learn by doing and being actively involved.  The technologies of the past 10 years have given us greater access to information than ever before.