Interactive Whiteboards can be an inspirational tool for education.  In my opinion, music teachers have much to gain from using them.  This post will be the first of many to include links, lessons, keynotes, software and instructional videos on how to integrate these tools into the classroom.  Feel free to leave comments or ask questions about music education and the use of emerging technology in the classroom.

My school only obtained an IWB this year and it is a Promethean Activ.Board running their native, aptly named software, “Inspire.”
The software itself can be downloaded free from their website.  Yes, free, but with some limitations.  So if you wanted to get started making some interactive lesson plans go for it!  If, on the off chance you don’t have that much time, visit Promethean Planet to download some free resources made available to the online IWB community.  Or subscribe to an interactive whiteboard blog for a steady flow of ideas.

As I began to experiment on the IWB it struck me that not only could an IWB run its own software and make flipcharts/notebooks, (which I think Apple’s Keynote could do better anyway), but it opened up the possibility for an interactive classroom.  That is, everything from the smallest listening activity to the most complex theory or aural lesson could involve every students eyes, ears, hands and minds.  Thus ultimately leading to longer lasting authentic learning experiences.  I have since compiled a series of links to websites, software I use for my senior classes and ways that I  present each topic that I teach.  I still have a fair way to travel in my research and mastery of these software packages but I am sharing them with you 🙂

Here is a short video of my laptop and some ideas for your interactive whiteboard.  You will find links to websites, software and the games featured in the video here.

Lastly, I demonstrated the use of the IWB to parents and staff at our school open day last term.  I used most of the software featured in the above video and navigated through certain apps and games to show how they worked in the classroom.

This video is the first of many to come.  The files demonstrated in the video are linked at the bottom of this post.

Year 7 Melodies Term 1 2010

• PDF of Treble & Keyboard Worksheet

Yr 8 Rock Concepts Keynote.zip (videos not in file but links are there)

24 Comments

  1. Thank you for this blog post. Much appreciated. We normally need to search through lots of junk to track down a little good quality info! Any one know the best web site so you can get free things in the United kingdom?

  2. I love your website! did you create this yourself or did you outsource it? Im looking for a blog design thats similar so thats the only reason I’m asking. Either way keep up the nice work I was impressed 🙂

  3. I have been playing the guitar for over 27 years and your blog post has been one of the most and inspiring that I have read on playing my favorite instrument. You can bet that I am bookmarking your blog for future reference.

  4. Just found your information here for the first time tonight… I am admitedly new to the blogging world, but not to teaching music. I have one of these interactive whiteboards in my classroom at my new job and am excited to finally see some wonderful, high school aged, musical ideas about how to use this technology! I’m sure to be a regular here!

  5. I just wanted to comment and say that I really enjoyed reading your blog post here. It was very informative and I also digg the way you write! Keep it up and I’ll be back to read more in the future

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