Music is a powerful tool that can set the tone of any presentation. According to the University of California, Norman Weinberger explains that the audience needs music to “engage” its emotional reactions and involvement. (pg. 141) Working with students in the classroom can be frustrating enough just keeping their attention long enough to make your point, I agree that music will capture and keep the attention of our students. According to Mayer’s case study, Adding interesting music and sounds will help make the presentation enjoyable to the learner and will increase their level of emotional arousal, also known as the arousal theory which will result in better performance in tests. (pg. 99)
So what kind of music would be acceptable to play in the classroom, according to Burmark, the music we play in the classroom really has nothing to do with taste, but with physiological and emotional impact the music will have on the learner. (pg. 146) In my Multimedia class, my students have been listening to music while they type, I chose the music from Adele to play during these typing sessions because this is the “in” music and the kids love it. The response I got were students staying on task, singing along, and just a great learning environment. And even though this is not a Powerpoint lesson, just the idea that music has made an impact is proof enough. Burmark claims that life experiences can help remember an “emotionally charged” event, and that we can remember both the event and the song more vividly. (pg. 152) I can imaging 10 years from now how these students will remember their typing lessons in Mrs. Manrriques’ class as they type their 15-20 page research papers in college and reflect on this memory.
Burmark, L. (2011). They Snooze You Lose: The educator’s guide to successful presentations. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
Mayer, R.E. (2009). Multi-Media Learning. (2nd ed.) New York: Cambridge University Press
No comments:
Post a Comment