Module 6 - Instructional Design and Technology

This week, our primary topic was instructional design and technology. After having recently taking the course for this masters program in instructional design, I found most of the information to be an extension of what I learned previously but with a special focus on the technology aspects and incorporation of instructional design.  This week, we interacted with our PLNs, completed the readings about instructional design and technology, learned about copyright and Creative Commons, learned to create websites using Google Sites, learned more about WebQuests and began the WebQuest project, and participated in discussion related to instructional design with technology.

In my PLN, I read some useful information mostly related to using technology to create forms that help with organization of instructional design.  The ability to use these forms was particularly useful in the studying of WebQuests and in beginning to create my own.  My WebQuest will be related to the history and information about the madrigals that my (imaginary) madrigal group would be performing for the purpose of giving an historical context to their music performance.  I found several other previously made WebQuests that were made using Google Sites, and I plan to use their formats when creating mine in the coming weeks.

A big focus of our discussion, both in our assigned reading and extra reading and in our discussion boards was related to copyright and Creative Commons.  Copyright is a tricky subject with music teachers, particularly, because we have to provide ways for our students to listen to a great amount of music and access information about it without pirating, whether accidentally or on purpose, the work of others.  It seemed to be a relief to several teachers in our discussion that fair use prevents most of us from accidentally stealing someone else's work when used in an education-related setting.

I am really looking forward to using Google Sites as I work more on my WebQuest project.  I have previously only used the school's already made website and my school-related blog to be involved.  It seems that Google Sites basically will give me the option to incorporate the two into an all-inclusive, useful central point for parents.

I found this week's information to be very useful and immediately applicable to my work as a music educator.  I look forward to incorporating my knowledge of instructional design with my new knowledge of the technology that can be used so that I become more organized and can use hopefully many WebQuests and other technology-related learning opportunities for my students.