The disharmony created by techno-phobic music teachers

I supervise 70 music teachers in our district. We have trained teachers to use interactive whiteboards, music writing software, SmartMusic, and recording software, but I have some teachers who are still reluctant to use their email. Many of them are the only music teacher in their school so partnering them with another teacher will be for brief periods only. Any other ideass about how to get them to engage students with technology?

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Permalink Reply by Nicholas Tee on May 6, 2012 at 8:29pm

Ellen - I could not resist a smile when reading this, but really I shouldn't because I regularly encounter this - and by no means is it limited to music. There are many - especially above the age of 35 - that did not grow up with computers and technology, and for them that resistance is primarily caused by a fear of change, and something new that they don't understand, and don't appreciate how straight forward that it can be to use.

The easiest way I have found to overcome that is primarily by demonstrating simplicity of use and user-friendliness. But that is easy for me to say because we are in the field of delivering curriculum content online with subtitled video, and we have an online video library with a significant amount of Music, History of Music and Art and Music content which is really as simple as point, click, watch.

Maybe finding a way to start with somthing simple is the key to help garner and develop their confidence as a starting point is the trick. I have an interest in music as a hobby and I know how I felt the first time somebody tried to show me - as a new user of computers - how to use software for wriring and recording music felt?

Maybe one way is to start with something as simple as looking at the online video that we have for music at http://www.zaneeducation.com and then develop their confidence from there?

If I can be of any other assistance, just let me know.

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Permalink Reply by Ellen Maust on May 6, 2012 at 9:31pm

Thanks. I did a brief prview of your website, but realized I need more time to do it justice. We have explored several online resources, but this is the first I've looked at zaneeducation. I will let you know if I need any other help. Thank you again.