Teacher Spotlight: Dale Duncan
Dale Duncan makes learning music 'feel like a game' for grade school students
March 21, 2016
TEACHER SPOTLIGHT
Dale Duncan makes learning music 'feel like a game' for grade school students
Q. How easy was it to get Music Prodigy working for your classes?
It was very easy. At first, I used one of my smallest and most advanced classes in order to test the waters as I implemented my S-Cubed Middle School Sight Singing Program with them. Then, once I saw how easy it was and how much the students enjoyed it and grew from it, I decided to offer it to the rest of my 340 middle school beginners.
Q. Had you used instructional technology before?
Yes. I created S-Cubed Middle School Sight Singing Program for Beginners, and I use it with my students by projecting it on the smart board. Once they complete both levels of the program, I use Sight Reading Factory. This, by far, is the most advanced technological piece my puzzle because it makes individual assessment so simple.
Q. How has it helped you as a teacher being able to monitor and support your students’ practice time outside of the classroom?
It's changed everything. I can listen to their submissions on my own time on an "as-needed" basis. Music Prodigy automatically averages the grades of the individual assessments. I print it out and enter it into my grade book.
Q. How much has student practice time outside of the classroom increased since starting with Music Prodigy?
Before Music Prodigy, I had no "practice time outside of the classroom".
Q. What is your favorite feature and how has it benefited you?
I have to pick one? :-)
I love the automatic averaging of grades. I love that I can listen to the individual students.
Q. What do your students like most about Music Prodigy?
It feels like a game to them. I have loved watching them come up to me screaming "I got a 100" when we work on Music Prodigy in class.
Q. Do most of your student practice with Music Prodigy on mobile devices?
Yes. I have gradually implemented it. I asked all of them to bring in their cell phones on a Monday. They couldn't believe it. Then, I gave them the enrollment code, and they worked the entire period.
Q. To check on your students’ daily practice progress (time spent, scores, etc.), do you find the daily emails or Gradebook Grid feature more useful? Or do you use/find both useful? If so, why?
All of the information you send on their work is useful. I am thrilled with the engagement level from them AND from me! It's energized me.
Q. Do you share your student/class improvement with administrators? If so, how has that benefited your music program?
I have not done so yet, but I will. Administrators are so focused on varied assessment strategies. Music Prodigy has helped me vary mine enormously.
Thanks for this incredible technology.
Dale Duncan
Creator of S-Cubed Middle School Sight Singing Program for Beginners on TES