I think that as a writer I have developed in many ways. I think that the biggest way that I have developed is in the area of analyzing. I have learned that analyzing the text that is being studied is the best way to prepare for a paper and helps write clear thoughts on the matter. I can also use this skill of analyzing for other classes because it will help me to understand a topic better that I may be studying. I honestly think that the first paper I wrote was the best piece that I did. This one was the easiest to write about and I did a good job of placing the pieces together. I think that my strategy for writing goes along with my strengths for writing. That is that I am able to take a topic and just write about the topic after analyzing the text beforehand. This also leads into my weakness in academic writing and that is the planning stages. I have always had trouble with planning a paper out. I personally enjoy just writing the paper without any preparation. If I had to give myself a grade for the class I would probably say I deserve a B, but an A would be nice. I think that I deserve this because as the semester kept going I learned so much in this class and I spent a lot of time working on my past papers.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Writing Project Three
Keeping Music in Schools.
Music. What is music? Music can take form in many different ways. Music and art has always been around. Everywhere we go you can see that. Even look around at the PNC campus and you can see the art and read the description of what they are. Those artists had to start somewhere. That’s right school. Beginning as early as elementary school. In essence music and art would not be what it is today without these beginning classes.
Music and the arts are being cut more and more from schools. This issue is very relevant in our day and is something that is becoming more popular. A survey, by the Center on Education Policy, found that since the passage the No Child Left Behind, 71 percent of the nation's 15,000 school districts had reduced the hours of instructional time spent on history, music and other subjects to open up more time for reading and math. All that time is lost of the opportunity to be in music and art programs.
Others might say a few things that are for the idea of cutting music programs from schools. Some might say that the reasons for cutting music programs include: it cuts costs, it makes music education optional for those that do not enjoy music, they say the loud noises from the music department are a distraction to other classrooms, and that music is difficult to understand. These reasons could be reasons to cut music, but they are not good enough to get rid of a child's chances of learning music in school.
Others may say that music should be cut from school, but researchers have found that having music in school has a big effect on the way a student learns and performs in a very positive w ay. Keeping music programs in schools would be very beneficial to a student.
‘Champions of Change, the Impact of the Arts on Learning’ is the most comprehensive study on the subject of students involvement in the fine arts and how it relates to academic success. The study builds a strong for students achieving higher levels of academic success and in higher overall numbers when involved with fine art.
Music. What is music? Music can take form in many different ways. Music and art has always been around. Everywhere we go you can see that. Even look around at the PNC campus and you can see the art and read the description of what they are. Those artists had to start somewhere. That’s right school. Beginning as early as elementary school. In essence music and art would not be what it is today without these beginning classes.
Music and the arts are being cut more and more from schools. This issue is very relevant in our day and is something that is becoming more popular. A survey, by the Center on Education Policy, found that since the passage the No Child Left Behind, 71 percent of the nation's 15,000 school districts had reduced the hours of instructional time spent on history, music and other subjects to open up more time for reading and math. All that time is lost of the opportunity to be in music and art programs.
Others might say a few things that are for the idea of cutting music programs from schools. Some might say that the reasons for cutting music programs include: it cuts costs, it makes music education optional for those that do not enjoy music, they say the loud noises from the music department are a distraction to other classrooms, and that music is difficult to understand. These reasons could be reasons to cut music, but they are not good enough to get rid of a child's chances of learning music in school.
Others may say that music should be cut from school, but researchers have found that having music in school has a big effect on the way a student learns and performs in a very positive w ay. Keeping music programs in schools would be very beneficial to a student.
‘Champions of Change, the Impact of the Arts on Learning’ is the most comprehensive study on the subject of students involvement in the fine arts and how it relates to academic success. The study builds a strong for students achieving higher levels of academic success and in higher overall numbers when involved with fine art.
According to the study;
- 82.6% of 8th graders earned mostly As and Bs who were involved heavily in fine arts versus 67.2% earning As and Bs who were not.
Fine arts help teach students far more than how to draw roses in a vase, or how to play the violin. They help stimulate the creative part of the child’s mind, teach discipline, and instill a sense of pride, accomplishment, and self-worth. These attributes not only help students do better academically, but do better in their adult life, with their career, their new family, and their emotional well being.
Many people might say a few things that are for the idea of cutting music programs from schools. Some might say that the reasons for cutting music programs include: it cuts costs, it makes music education optional for those that do not enjoy music, they say the loud noises from the music department are a distraction to other classrooms, and that music is difficult to understand. These reasons could be reasons to cut music, but they are not good enough to get rid of a child's chances of learning music in school.
Even though cutting music from the budget might cut costs, there are better places to cut from to balance the budget. Those that say that the music department is loud and distracts other classroom, there can be a solution to this problem. It may not be a cheap option, but in order to keep the program it can be done. It is that schools can invest in sound-proof rooms in order to not bother other classrooms. The last one that critics might say is that music is hard to understand. The first thought is that the people that are stating that have a bias thought behind that idea. Music can be just as difficult to understand as a math or science class. In most cases the math and science class can be the harder class by far. To say that music should be cut for those reason are not good reasons to cut music from the budget.
Think back to when you were a kid in elementary school. Do you remember what it was like to be in a music class? Every day was a new adventure that the teacher would take you on. I always remember even until this day getting to play with various instruments and learning how to play the recorder. When I was a kid music class was the highlight of my school day. I am sure that you felt that way too. Now imagine that your kids, when they get to elementary school are denied the opportunity to enjoy music classes like you got to enjoy it when you were little. How would that make you feel if you knew that the reason your kid was not given this opportunity was just because a school system decided that music was not important anymore? This alone should make anyone want to keep music programs.
Music educators have a big importance in the world of teaching students music. “Students need the help of their teachers to explore and understand the many varieties of contemporary music. Music educators today have a responsibility and a unique opportunity to introduce our students to the art music of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Elementary and secondary school students should know that composers are living and working in their communities. They should be aware of the diverse styles and genres of contemporary music and have an opportunity to play works of new music.
Fine arts help teach students far more than how to draw roses in a vase, or how to play the violin. They help stimulate the creative part of the child’s mind, teach discipline, and instill a sense of pride, accomplishment, and self-worth. These attributes not only help students do better academically, but do better in their adult life, with their career, their new family, and their emotional well being.
Many people might say a few things that are for the idea of cutting music programs from schools. Some might say that the reasons for cutting music programs include: it cuts costs, it makes music education optional for those that do not enjoy music, they say the loud noises from the music department are a distraction to other classrooms, and that music is difficult to understand. These reasons could be reasons to cut music, but they are not good enough to get rid of a child's chances of learning music in school.
Even though cutting music from the budget might cut costs, there are better places to cut from to balance the budget. Those that say that the music department is loud and distracts other classroom, there can be a solution to this problem. It may not be a cheap option, but in order to keep the program it can be done. It is that schools can invest in sound-proof rooms in order to not bother other classrooms. The last one that critics might say is that music is hard to understand. The first thought is that the people that are stating that have a bias thought behind that idea. Music can be just as difficult to understand as a math or science class. In most cases the math and science class can be the harder class by far. To say that music should be cut for those reason are not good reasons to cut music from the budget.
Think back to when you were a kid in elementary school. Do you remember what it was like to be in a music class? Every day was a new adventure that the teacher would take you on. I always remember even until this day getting to play with various instruments and learning how to play the recorder. When I was a kid music class was the highlight of my school day. I am sure that you felt that way too. Now imagine that your kids, when they get to elementary school are denied the opportunity to enjoy music classes like you got to enjoy it when you were little. How would that make you feel if you knew that the reason your kid was not given this opportunity was just because a school system decided that music was not important anymore? This alone should make anyone want to keep music programs.
Music educators have a big importance in the world of teaching students music. “Students need the help of their teachers to explore and understand the many varieties of contemporary music. Music educators today have a responsibility and a unique opportunity to introduce our students to the art music of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Elementary and secondary school students should know that composers are living and working in their communities. They should be aware of the diverse styles and genres of contemporary music and have an opportunity to play works of new music.
We music educators pass our attitudes about contemporary music on to our students, shaping their beliefs and guiding future interactions. If we choose to be proactive, we can introduce students to new music in ways that provide them with a positive experience. How we manage this responsibility may well have a lifelong effect on the attitudes our students form. Listening to and playing new music, working with living composers, learning about the many styles and genres, and developing an understanding of the music's historical context are the kinds of activities that can help students foster a positive relationship with contemporary music.
By adopting educational strategies that embrace new music, we contribute to a rich artistic milieu from which future exceptional artists can emerge. Engaging in new-music projects can introduce educators and students to the genre from the inside out, encouraging them to discover their interests, explore their potential, and gain an appreciation of the art of their time, while guaranteeing that the genre of contemporary music will flourish.
When we fail to help students build a relationship with new music, we contribute to the continued fragmentation of new and old music, played out in our failure to connect twentieth- and twenty-first-century music to its historical past. To find new music meaningful, one needs to understand how music written in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries is a continuation of the artistic achievements of earlier times, that styles and genres are dynamic, and that new styles and genres have continued to emerge and develop. Without an understanding of historical context and development, listeners are apt to dismiss, dislike, or simply ignore new music because the stylistic gap between new and old music is simply too wide for them to bridge. As educators, we can guarantee that new music survives, and even flourishes, by making sure that activities to support it are alive and well. The actions required to achieve this end are well within our abilities and resources. We must provide hands-on experience through exercises in listening, playing, and creating so that students can develop a rewarding lifelong relationship with new music.”
Something should be done about keeping music programs in schools. There are groups out there that are fighting to keeping music in school. If something is not done, by the time the future generations of kids get into school, music programs will cease to be important anymore. What a shame that would be to lose something in the future that is so beneficial now.
By adopting educational strategies that embrace new music, we contribute to a rich artistic milieu from which future exceptional artists can emerge. Engaging in new-music projects can introduce educators and students to the genre from the inside out, encouraging them to discover their interests, explore their potential, and gain an appreciation of the art of their time, while guaranteeing that the genre of contemporary music will flourish.
When we fail to help students build a relationship with new music, we contribute to the continued fragmentation of new and old music, played out in our failure to connect twentieth- and twenty-first-century music to its historical past. To find new music meaningful, one needs to understand how music written in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries is a continuation of the artistic achievements of earlier times, that styles and genres are dynamic, and that new styles and genres have continued to emerge and develop. Without an understanding of historical context and development, listeners are apt to dismiss, dislike, or simply ignore new music because the stylistic gap between new and old music is simply too wide for them to bridge. As educators, we can guarantee that new music survives, and even flourishes, by making sure that activities to support it are alive and well. The actions required to achieve this end are well within our abilities and resources. We must provide hands-on experience through exercises in listening, playing, and creating so that students can develop a rewarding lifelong relationship with new music.”
Something should be done about keeping music programs in schools. There are groups out there that are fighting to keeping music in school. If something is not done, by the time the future generations of kids get into school, music programs will cease to be important anymore. What a shame that would be to lose something in the future that is so beneficial now.
Works Cited
Dillon, Sam. “Schools Cut Back Subjects to Push Reading and Math.” The New York Times.
Web.
Hines, Eric. “Art and Music Department Budget Cuts, What it Means for Your Child and What
You Can Do as a Parent” CrazyVector.com. Web. 20 April 2011.Fiske, Edward B., Ed. “Champions of Change: The Impact of the Arts on Learning” President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, Washington, DC. Web.
Costes, Therese. “New Music: How Music Educators Can Save An Endangered Species.” Academic Search Premier. Web.
Writing Project Two
Childs Games
In the article by Henry Giroux called “Children’s Culture and Disney’s Animated Films,” Giroux has came up with the concept of a “teaching machine.” This leaves the unanswered question: what is a “teaching machine”? In the article Giroux is referring to animated films as the basis for the concept of “teaching machines.” There are many examples of “teaching machines.”
The first example of a “teaching machine” is video games. Video games have been around for a few decades. As video games became older they also started becoming more technologically advanced. Along with the advance in technology in video games comes with the hundreds upon hundreds of games that are designed and created for different purposes. Video games are given a rating based on how graphic the material is in the game. The three main ratings are: E for everyone, T for teen, and M for mature. Each game rating is meant for different audiences and the content is based on that factor.
Video games are used as “teaching machines.” The most typical rating that video games used for teaching is E for everyone, designed for children to play. A good example of how video games can teach children are when a game is made that a learning game. One example of a learning game is a Brain Age for the DS, a portable video game system. This game is a challenge for the brain in many ways. Brain Age is a game where the player is tested by taking various games and math quizzes to find out the players “Brain Age.” The use of this game helps to stimulate the brain and keep the brain functioning well. Brain Age is a video game that will have a positive effect on the player. It helps to stimulate the brain and keep it active in order to become smarter.
To describe video games as “teaching machines” would be an accurate statement. Though they may or may not have a teaching aspect to a particular game created, they can be called machines by the effect that they have. The reason why this is is because the video games are used as learning tools to achieve a learning goal. With the hundreds of games that are out they after a while the effect of the learning style becomes similar and almost machine-like.
When a child is given the opportunity to play video games they will take it. A new set of video games have been created. These include two types of games: physical activity games and learning games. A recent system called the Wii started a whole new revolution in the gaming industry. The Wii uses a controller that is designed for movement. With more development in games the Wii has come up with the concept of incorporating physical activity with video games. One example is the game Wii Fit. Wii Fit is a game that is basically a video game used to work out and stay fit. This concept is a great thing for kids and adults that want to stay fit. These video games can teach kids that even though video games are fun, physical activity can still be incorporated also. The other type of games is learning games. A whole wave of games has come out that are purely devoted to learning. As stated earlier Brain Age is considered a learning game. Learning games good for children to see that video games can teach necessary skills. A problem arises when children become dependent on video games to teach them something new. It is almost impossible to have a video game based something as difficult as calculus. Calculus is not something that can be taught through a video game, it has to be taught through a teacher and a lot of trial and error. Children must not become dependent of video games as a “teaching machine” for their lives.
Video games can be referred to as “teaching machines” in many ways. Video games can have a negative effect on a person by the way of violence. Violence is reoccurring more and more in video games and with the new increase in technology that is happening the violence that occurs is becoming more deadly. Video games may or not be considered “teaching machines,” but they are used as a tool to learn.
Writing Project One
National Identity
A national identity is something that every person is born with. No matter where a person comes from, a national identity is something they have. Imagine that a family living in France decides to move to the United States of America for better job opportunities. When they arrive in America, they are told that they must forget their culture and learn another one. Should this family have to agree to this? No, any person immigrating to this country should be able to keep the culture they once came from, but they must at least know enough of the language to function in the new society they have chosen.
Many people will say that if an immigrant comes to this country that they must leave their culture behind. Should this be the case? Should a person have to lose an identity that they have had their whole life? When a person comes to a new country for whatever reason, they should bring along their culture. One reason why is the United States of America from the beginning of its existence has been “a melting pot.” This means that many different people from many different cultures have come to the country and make up what the country is today. Many different cultures exist in America’s society. These varieties of identities that come from all over the world bring along with them a variety of foods that Americans now enjoy. Along with the new foods that they bring there are also new sports that are brought. One of the top cultural aspects that come along with a person is their religion. There are many different religions that are in the world and some are brought to this country. One example of a religion coming to America is Islam. There are approximately 2 million Muslims in America right now. This is a good example of how when immigrants come to this country they do not have to lose something that was a part of their culture: their religion.
In an article by Elizabeth Martinez called Reinventing “America”: Call for a New National Identity, she talks about a person’s national identity. Martinez states that, “the concept of Manifest Destiny, with its assertion of racial superiority sustained by military power, has defined U.S. identity for 150 years.” This claim may or may not be true, but what is true is that Manifest Destiny does exist and Americans have for many years tried to conquer other races for land.
In an article by James W. Loewen called Lies My Teacher Told Me, he talks about how history books are far wrong. Loewen states that high school textbooks do not give accurate information on historical and sociological aspects. One example that he gives is the truth about the first thanksgiving. Loewen talks about how when the question about who were the first settlers comes up most students will stay the pilgrims. Loewen says that this is not a correct answer because there were many other settlers that come before them. This just goes to show that people often assume that the first settlers were the white ones that came from England, but the ones of different races are often forgotten.
Imagine that a person has come to live in America. They pass all the tests to become a citizen and they are living in the country. Now what? Their life is going to be different then what it was in their native country. Most people that are in this situation have a hard time adjusting to all the new customs and daily life that comes with being an American. For these people it is not an easy task. One thing that might be the hardest of all is learning a new language. Learning a new language is always a hard thing to do, but to make it well off in a new country that part of the culture must be necessary. Communication can often times be difficult if a person does not speak English. Learning the country’s language is a must for adapting to the new country.
When it comes to either resisting or accepting assimilation when accepting identity as an American an immigrant must decide what they want to do. They should choose to do both by adapting new characteristics of the culture and keeping part of their culture in their daily lives. It is important that the national identity from where they came from not be lost.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Context Statement
Music and the arts are being cut more and more from schools. This issue is very relavent in our day and is something that is becoming more popluar. A survey, by the Center on Education Policy, found that since the passage the No Child Left Behind, 71 percent of the nation's 15,000 school districts had reduced the hours of instructional time spent on history, music and other subjects to open up more time for reading and math. All that time is lost of the opportunity to be in music and art programs.
Others might say a few things that are for the idea of cutting music programs from schools. Some might say that the reasons for cutting music programs include: it cuts costs, it makes music education optional for those that do not enjoy music, they say the loud noises from the music department are a distraction to other classrooms, and that music is difficult to understand. These reasons could be reasons to cut music, but they are not good enough to get rid of a child's chances of learning music in school.
Others may say that music should be cut from school, but researchers have found that having music in school has a big effect on the way a student learns and performs in a very positive way. Keeping music programs in schools would be very benificial to a student.
Others might say a few things that are for the idea of cutting music programs from schools. Some might say that the reasons for cutting music programs include: it cuts costs, it makes music education optional for those that do not enjoy music, they say the loud noises from the music department are a distraction to other classrooms, and that music is difficult to understand. These reasons could be reasons to cut music, but they are not good enough to get rid of a child's chances of learning music in school.
Others may say that music should be cut from school, but researchers have found that having music in school has a big effect on the way a student learns and performs in a very positive way. Keeping music programs in schools would be very benificial to a student.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Report and Reflection
According to the a New York Times article titled: Schools Cut Back Subjects to Push Reading and Math, Thousands of schools across the nation are responding to the reading and math testing requirements laid out in No Child Left Behind, President Bush's signature education law, by reducing class time spent on other subjects. According to the same article 71 percent of the nation's school districts reduced their instructional time spend on history, art, and music projects to spend more time on reading and math. More and more music is starting to be cut from the school's budgets to make way for "the more important subjects".
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Reflecting on New Information
I used Wikipedia as a source for research on my topic. I know that Wikipedia is not normally the best source to use because on Wikipedia any person can go in and change what they want in any article. In the Wikipedia article titled "Music Education" it gives just a little bit of information on the topic of music education. This article is not exactly the right information that I need to further prove that music programs should be kept in schools because this Wikipedia article talks mainly about music history and the education of music in school. The part about music education in school and what music can do for a person was a helpful addition. One part in particular that intrigued me was the part that talked about music and the effects on learning. The article states that music increases your overall brain activity. As a person that plays the piano and has been immersed in music often, that is good information for me.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Reflecting Music Programs
I want to talk about music in our school systems. I think music is an important part of a child's life. Music should not be taken away from them. More and more music and arts programs are being cut from schools to fit a schools budget. I want to explore the arguments that are against cutting music programs and also the arguments that are for cutting the programs. As a child I will always remember the music classes that we all went to. I believe that if this class was taken away from a child music in our society would be alot different.
Personal Introduction
Hi, my name is Ben Isbister. I was originally born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. I am currently living in Chesterton, Indiana. I moved to Chesterton when I was about five or six years old to be closer to family. I am attending Purdue University North Central in Westville, Indiana as a freshman. I decided a few years ago what I wanted to go to college for and here I am. I have decided to go to college to become an elementary teacher. My purpose for writing this blog is to think through information that is related to keeping music programs in our school systems.
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