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Contemporary Issues

Developing the debate for “Assessment on our own Terms” and contributing to related discourse

The article Assessment on Our Own Terms by Samuel Hope and Mark Wait is an important read for music educators and anyone who deals with arts education, assessment, or policy connected to arts assessment or evaluation. The article makes a strong case for staying true to assessment that makes the most sense for music education and leads to improvement and learning. Towards the end of the article, Hope and Wait (2013) address the importance of having a strong foundation in… Read More »Developing the debate for “Assessment on our own Terms” and contributing to related discourse

Toward Convergence: Adapting Music Education to Contemporary Society and Participatory Culture

Tobias, E. S. (2013). Toward convergence: Adapting music education to contemporary society and participatory culture. Music Educators Journal, 99(4), 29–36. doi:10.1177/0027432113483318 The digital supplement providing examples of the varied musical practices I discuss in the article. (Also available on the NAfME Bonus Content website). Also included in the same issue of the MEJ is: A thoughtful and nuanced response written by Thomas Regelski. My condensed response to Regelski’s response as published in the MEJ. A complete response is available on… Read More »Toward Convergence: Adapting Music Education to Contemporary Society and Participatory Culture

Mountain Lake Colloquium 2013 General Music & Music Teacher Education

I always look forward to the Mountain Lake Colloquium for teachers of general music methods. This conference addresses issues related to those in music teacher education who focus on general music. It is a wonderful conference and community. This year’s conference will focus on the theme “re-visioning and re-inventing our music teacher education practices and perspectives, culturally relevant pedagogy, and building community through music.” The 2013 Mountain Lake Colloquium will include Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings and Dr. Ysaye Barnwell as keynote… Read More »Mountain Lake Colloquium 2013 General Music & Music Teacher Education

A warning on moving from complex goals to discrete and disconnected tasks

Grant Wiggins (of Wiggins & McTighe’s Understanding by Design) recently highlighted the issue of breaking things into little bits in education. new post on the error of breaking complex goals into itty bitty pieces & marching thru them, & the warning on c core: http://t.co/hwLHJAYgmk — Grant Wiggins (@grantwiggins) April 20, 2013 He focuses on the following excerpt from the High School Publishers’ Criteria for the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics Fragmenting the Standards into individual standards, or individual… Read More »A warning on moving from complex goals to discrete and disconnected tasks

Considering the “next great copyright act”

Wired recently published an article titled “Copyright Chief Urges Congress to Produce ‘Next Great Copyright Act’ regarding upcoming testimony on copyright to congress.  As Mitch Stoltz and Parker Higgins from the Electronic Frontier Foundation state “if it’s open season on the Copyright Act, let’s be involved from the start.” Music educators ought to be a part of any conversation concerning new copyright laws. Whether addressing issues related to engagement with digital music or what students and teachers can or cannot do… Read More »Considering the “next great copyright act”