Non-Music Tech Ideas for Music Class

It's a common conundrum for music ed teachers to want (or have) to incorporate more technology usage into their classes. It can be especially challenging when you want to use it to enhance your instruction and not just be tech for tech's sake.  

While there are some obvious option with things like Smartmusic or online composing tools like Noteflight or Flat, there are a lot of options that can be utilized that are not music-specific.  Here are a some of my favorites and ideas on ways to incorporate them:

• Padlet
• Padlet is a great collaborative site that I compare to a big digital white board. Those with the link can click anywhere on the wall and share a thought, link, picture, or video. It gives a lot of options for privacy settings as well as moderating posts to make sure things stay appropriate. In the past, I've set one up with columns (favorite thing about band, thing they're looking forward to, new thing they'd like to learn) under which students added a comment, had students share links to pieces they'd be interested in, and add links to great YouTube videos of someone playing their instrument. We've used it for brainstorming Genius Hour projects too. 
• QR Codes
• With a free scanning app and free sites to create your QRs, the uses are endless. Have a QR that links to your class site on all communications home. Put out QRs and do a paperless program at performances. Do scavenger hunts or use them on bulletin boards. You can even use them for your inventory!
• Dotstorming
• Dotstorming is a similar site to Padlet. It allows posting on a wall, but what I love about it is the option for others to directly comment and vote on a post. I've been using Padlet to have students share descriptions and links for potential concert pieces, but plan on using Dotstorming for this activity from now on.
• Kahoot or Quizizz
• Need a fun way to do some assessing? Try either of these quiz game sites! With Kahoot, questions need to be projected for students to see. They then use their device (phone, tablet, etc) almost like a game show buzzer and select the color/shape on their device that corresponds with the answers being projected. Quizziz is similar, but the questions show up on their device which means that a projector is not needed for games. Students can also move at their own pace and games can be shared for practice in things like Google Classroom. Both will give you detailed information after the game is done that can be used to check for overall understanding.
• Poll Everywhere
• This is the only site on this list that can potentially involve some cost, but it's only if you're using it for groups larger than 40 or want some of the other premium options. You can pose a question, and students respond by sending a text message. You can have the responses show as different graphs or even as a word cloud. If you're a BYOD or 1:1 where students all have their own device, this is a great option for some quick formative assessment
• Plickers
• If not all your students have devices, but you do, this is a good assessment option too! Each student has their own numbered card with a unique code (similar to a QR code) on it. When held a certain direction and scanned through the app it registers as an A, B, C, D answer or can be also set for true and false. You can use it to ask a quick question or use their site to create quizzes and assign students to a card number to get more detailed feedback. Aside from more concrete questions, it can be a good way to check for comfort level with a part, piece, or concept. Because students can't tell what their friends are answering, this can help give you a more realistic idea of where your students are. Click here for a more detailed post on using Plickers!
• Aurasma or Blippar
• Aurasma and Blippar are augmented reality (AR) apps. If you've never used AR, think of it like a QR code on steriods. Instead of needing to scan that digitized box to access information, it can be used with practically any image to create a trigger.  Imagine creating a word wall where when scanned with the app, a video of a student demonstrating the definition or concept appears! Or projects that when scanned, display a video of the student explaining it! For more information and ideas on using AR in the class, check out Two Guys and Some iPads.
• Google Classroom
• Google Classroom (GC) is a learning management system that allows for all kinds of ways to assess your students and share information. Here's a post I did for Band Directors Talk Shop on the basics of GC.  Here's a post with some more specific ideas for utilizing it in band.
• Social Media
• Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter! Oh my! Open the walls of your classroom to your students, families, and others and share what's happening. Students are excited to be part of "postable" moments and families love seeing pictures and videos of what they're doing daily. Your audiences are all using different platforms. Posting on multiple accounts can become cumbersome, but utilizing IFTTT to automate your posts can be a huge time saver and help you put your story in places your audience will see it. Social media is also an amazing way to stretch your own learning and help you be a more impactful teacher!

What are some of your favorites? Please share in the comments!