While doing Prof. David Wong’s Music Module, I witnessed a compelling experience of music in my school. It was surprising, as my school is having its own concert and are paying a tribute to one of the world’s most talented, Iconic singer-songwriter, dancer, actor, choreographer, philanthropist, activist, record producer, and entertainer Michael Jackson.
Students right from Grade 4 to Grade 12 are going to be taking part in this concert .I am amazed to see the whole school being turned into a rehearsal hall. Listening to the famous American music composer, Robert Kapilow’s radio interview in which he spoke about the book “Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gadwell were he mentions, how some ideas stay around for centuries, and how some just die out. ‘Michael Jackson’ is one name which will stay in coming time memorial. Or I can say will stay in coming 1000 years. I remember growing up in India, other than just a few recognized worldwide bands like The Eagles, The Beatles and other noted singers like Whitney Houston, Madonna , Tina turner. Michael Jackson was one of the most popular star in India. As a 6 year old boy growing up listing to Michael Jackson also made me tap my feet. He is the type of artists whose work of art will stay around for centuries.
Coming back to the NDCE module . I wanted to find out what made music so compelling and how I can construct bridges which can connect my passion for teaching with the work of art and the energy these musicians inject into their song . I felt there would be no greater opportunity other than that to watch the Michael Jackson concert or see the enthusiasm and sprit that was going into it. I could really feel that the whole school was going crazy behind this iconic music legend. Students tend to run out of the class for rehearsal, groove in corridors, and even if sitting in class, I would notice their feet constantly tapping on the floor, humming along, the distinctive beats of Michael Jackson’s songs. So indeed I felt that music can make a compelling experience and as the concert day is coming near that is 26th march I am looking forward to seeing what the students and teacher who will take part in it display and the response of the audience who will be watching the concert. Wait for next post to find out if it is compelling or not.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
So much to inspire from ........
After visiting two retail spaces, that in my case are these famous Indian restaurants in Dubai that are Bikanerwala and Bombay Chowpatti, I am trying to make a connection with the compelling experience of these two food joints with my teaching /classroom environment.
I had to ask myself what makes these spaces special for me as a costumer and also as food lover, and in what way I can connect these experiences to my classrooms to make it more compelling. There can be countless analogies that can be drawn. How do I draw analogies from them and make a meaningful connection to my classrooms. Prof. Wong advised us to wear NDCE glasses and look through that angle and try to make a more meaningful connection and try connecting them to our classroom.
While doing NDCE reading I read Big Ideas behind Not So Big Houses Sarah Susanka mentioned a very good point that it is the quality and not quantity which makes the difference. So these places that I visited were not that big but the way the interiors were done, the food displayed, the seating arrangement done and the way everything was arranged in a particular manner made it pleasing and a very compelling experience for me.
Being an Educator of 21st century we had to do some soul searching to try putting passion and taking inspiration from many fields and from the work of different professionals. For example when I tell my students let’s do some more calculus problems or one more problem of trigonometry or let’s keep extra class on geometry they tend to give me excuses or they just do not seem that interested. But when I tell the same students let’s go out for a class lunch at a restaurant students are more than happy. This is how we can apply such meaning full experiences to enhance classroom learning. What makes a visit to a restaurant or fast food joint more compelling than a math class? This is what I want to find out?
In my school all classrooms are similar, all the furniture and fixtures follow the same pattern and the whole school follow similar monotonous prototype model in terms of number of desks, the white boards, windows, lights, curtains and even ceiling fixtures, fans and A.C are same in all the rooms. So how do we make it different and more compelling? Definitely we have neither the budget to decorate every classroom in a unique way nor is it possible to have different classrooms for different subjects. The only way I think this can be achieved, in fact we are actually achieving it, through our classroom boards.
These boards that are done once every month helps to enhance the classroom interiors and give every classroom a unique look. Ever classroom has a very different and distinctive look depending on the level and subjects offered and the design of these boards depend on the creative quotients of the teachers and students. I will post some of the board photographs on my blogs so that you can tell me if you find them compelling or not.
I had to ask myself what makes these spaces special for me as a costumer and also as food lover, and in what way I can connect these experiences to my classrooms to make it more compelling. There can be countless analogies that can be drawn. How do I draw analogies from them and make a meaningful connection to my classrooms. Prof. Wong advised us to wear NDCE glasses and look through that angle and try to make a more meaningful connection and try connecting them to our classroom.
While doing NDCE reading I read Big Ideas behind Not So Big Houses Sarah Susanka mentioned a very good point that it is the quality and not quantity which makes the difference. So these places that I visited were not that big but the way the interiors were done, the food displayed, the seating arrangement done and the way everything was arranged in a particular manner made it pleasing and a very compelling experience for me.
Being an Educator of 21st century we had to do some soul searching to try putting passion and taking inspiration from many fields and from the work of different professionals. For example when I tell my students let’s do some more calculus problems or one more problem of trigonometry or let’s keep extra class on geometry they tend to give me excuses or they just do not seem that interested. But when I tell the same students let’s go out for a class lunch at a restaurant students are more than happy. This is how we can apply such meaning full experiences to enhance classroom learning. What makes a visit to a restaurant or fast food joint more compelling than a math class? This is what I want to find out?
In my school all classrooms are similar, all the furniture and fixtures follow the same pattern and the whole school follow similar monotonous prototype model in terms of number of desks, the white boards, windows, lights, curtains and even ceiling fixtures, fans and A.C are same in all the rooms. So how do we make it different and more compelling? Definitely we have neither the budget to decorate every classroom in a unique way nor is it possible to have different classrooms for different subjects. The only way I think this can be achieved, in fact we are actually achieving it, through our classroom boards.
These boards that are done once every month helps to enhance the classroom interiors and give every classroom a unique look. Ever classroom has a very different and distinctive look depending on the level and subjects offered and the design of these boards depend on the creative quotients of the teachers and students. I will post some of the board photographs on my blogs so that you can tell me if you find them compelling or not.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)