Information Has Value

Information is intended to serve a purpose: We need information to sustain our lifestyles. As humans we form our opinions, base our principles, and make decisions based off information that is communicated to us. This literacy frame particularly resonates with me due to its importance in our lives, and I often see misconstrued & unreliable information on media platforms that may lead to misinformed opinions and decisions. Information can be used as a means of power-- released by the creator to project influence in a certain direction. I believe we all need to do a quick "background check" on the source of information we receive to verify its credibility. With proper, credited, and balanced information, I believe the decisions and principles we make will lead to a more understanding, less divided society. 

Though the skills required to receive information through this frame may appear daunting, they are attainable as a student and teacher of music. Teachers need to assure that the information they give students is correct and vetted-- not just presented through means of speculation. Students are entitled to correct information, for then they can take that to continue research and/or form their own opinions. One of the dispositions listed is learners that "see themselves as contributors to the information marketplace rather than only consumers of it." That is exactly how teachers should see themselves! Teachers should receive information of value, that they can pass on to their own students. This causes a circulation of valuable and verified information through generations of teachers and students. The research process in music is an excellent method for music teachers to attain and then teach information of value. The process beings with a well-thought topic and investigation within its context. Then, data is collected and analyzed, illustrating significance and implications of findings. 


At this early stage in the research project, I am interested in a topic related specifically to band, such as conducting methods or literature. I want to use this opportunity to learn more about what I do as a band director every day and fill in any gaps I see in my teaching. I feel I am least experienced in quality research on band conducting, and I am also curious to know more about proper band literature selection for grade levels. Not only will this learning opportunity make me a better band director and musician, the skills and knowledge I gain through the process will result in deeper student engagement. My ultimate goal is for my students to learn music and enjoy the processes of it, and I want to play a large role in fostering that. 

Comments

  1. Jorge RoblesJuly 7, 2021 at 5:08 AM

    Hi Alessandra,
    I fully agree with your idea that it's very important to vet information! I agree with your opinion of how unreliable many sources are both in the media and online. Many people only search for the easiest result when "researching" without really checking their sources. This has led to many misinformation campaigns happening throughout the past few years and especially during the pandemic.

    I also believe that teachers have the duty and obligation to help find legitimate sources of information for students to learn from and understand, and in fact I believe teachers should actually teach their students the research process no matter what subject area they teach, even band! Basic things such as proper embouchure and instrument techniques could be completely different just from looking at difference sources.

    My NYCDOE teacher colleagues and I have a Google drive folder of rep and good methods books that they've picked over the years, and that helps a lot when trying to figure out what to do as a new teacher. Knowledge is power!

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