How to use Google Classroom to Submit Recorded Singing and Playing Assignments

This is a invitee post by one of our blog writers, Sarah Taylor.

Streamlining student data collection the easy way

One afternoon, I was sitting at my desk in my chorus classroom. My 6th graders had just left. The high schoolhouse girls ensemble was after my planning catamenia. I was preparing for a coming together with my administrator who wanted an update on my data-driven goals. To me, information equaled paperwork.

I loaded my students with exit tickets, quizzes, worksheets and journals. Now, every bit I sabbatum surrounded by stacks of student work that had information that meant very little to my bodily goals, I had a burning want to shove it ALL in the trash can. I had to practise something dissimilar.

Our schoolhouse was a G Suite for Education school, and several of my colleagues had begun to utilize Google Classroom, so I decided to take a look at it to see if I could use its features to help my students become better singers.

Ultimately, I decided to employ it because I could collect recordings of students to help them improve their vocal techniques. I was optimistic virtually this tech tool considering it works on a variety of devices. Likewise, it's connected to Google bulldoze, then students can collect their recordings over the years in i place to come across growth over time.

I set up my Google Classroom with a few clicks. And then, I invited my students to my Classroom using their school email addresses. Adjacent, I created the commencement assignment by clicking the classwork tab and the CREATE button.

Introducing students to our new organisation

Now to get the students on board. I picked a day and told the students it was going to be device mean solar day. I asked students to bring in a preferred device and be able to admission Google Classroom. I also told the students that if they didn't have a device they wanted to employ, I would have the school'due south chromebook cart available for students to utilize.

On device twenty-four hours, I made sure every student was in Google classroom. I gave them some expectations and procedures, and I explained how nosotros would be using Google classroom for a multifariousness of assignments and to host do resources and vocal recordings. I besides explained how making vocal recordings would help them be better singers and would assist me exist a better teacher too.

Which recording apps practise students use?

Our starting time recording day, the students brought their devices either from home or checked out from the school. To brand the recordings, students could use whatever video or sound recording apps they wanted.

We have found that the photographic camera app that comes on Chromebooks, smartphones and tablets works the all-time. Some students used the Vocalization Memo app, Photograph Booth app (on a Mac laptop) or even GarageBand. But truly, any app that allows students to save a video recording to the camera ringlet OR would let a video or audio rail to be uploaded to Google bulldoze will work.

The best manner to put students at ease when recording!

Here'southward the best part. I tell the kids they aren't making a recording of their face. I have them hold their device shut to their oral cavity with the photographic camera pointing either to the flooring or ceiling. That really sets them at ease. If they have a chromebook, they tin can utilize a headset with a microphone.

Then nosotros all sing the song TOGETHER! I hateful, exercise nosotros ever wait our students to sing a choral piece of work by themselves? NO! Considering the device is shut to them, it picks up their phonation louder than the voices surrounding them.

How to upload recordings to Google Classroom

After we are washed singing, the students follow the steps below to upload their videos to the assignment in Google Classroom. (Both Chromebook and iOS tips are below)

Step 1

First, the pupil will open the assignment and click the word ADD and and then FILE (or add attachment on iOS)

On a Chromebook it looks like this:

On an iOS device it looks like this:

Mark as done IOS

Step 2

2d, click SELECT FILE FROM DEVICE. (on iOS click the location of the recording – the camera roll or google drive)

On Chromebooks:

On iOS:

Step three:

Select the video and click OPEN. (on iOS click Cull) After the video uploads, the students click TURN IN to submit their video assignment.

On Chromebooks:

On iOS:

Turn In iOS

The Feedback and Evaluation Process

Let'due south talk about feedback and evaluation. Nosotros submit recordings ii-3 times per grading menses. Sometimes we tape the same song twice and other times it will exist different repertoire.

Grading is a snap because you can do it all in Google Classroom. I don't always listen to the whole song, but just long enough to give direction. I try to provide 2 points of feedback in the private comment explaining something they did well and something they tin can improve. If you find yourself repeating the same suggestions, Google Classroom has a "Annotate Depository financial institution" feature.

At the end of a marking menses or subsequently a concert, the students mind to their recordings from this year. Past using venn diagrams, rubrics, or question prompts, the students are able to compare their recordings and make notes about areas of comeback and ready goals for themselves Think about what you want them to observe and learn from their recordings, and give them a tool that will assist them do it.

We all know it takes time to prepare, collect data and evaluate it, but using Google Classroom helps me streamline the process. I have swell anecdotal notes and data from rubrics to share with my administrators.

Encouraging the growth mindset

Furthermore, this process gives me the chance to teach growth mindset to my students. People rarely like hearing their voice on a recording the first fourth dimension! But when I give the students objective things to think about and let them to see themselves as a growing and maturing creative person who is working to ameliorate their vocal technique, they're less likely to say, "I'm so cringey!"

Afterward doing this for several years, I have high schoolhouse students who can accept a listen to their middle school recordings and see a marked improvement. And more than that it gives me a chance to accept positive personal conversations and give educatee-specific feedback. Sharing data that celebrates customs tin can exist very motivating as the students run across themselves approaching goals and improving.

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Hello! I'm Katie Wardrobe – an Australian music technology trainer and consultant with a passion for helping music teachers through my business concern Midnight Music.

I'm a qualified teacher merely no, I don't currently teach in a school. I assistance teachers through my online professional development space – the Midnight Music Community – where in that location are tutorial videos, courses, links and downloadable resources.

I similar to focus oneasy ways to contain applied science intowhat y'all are already doing in your music curriculumthrough a range of artistic projects. I also run live workshops and have presented at endless conferences and other music education events.

If y'all want simple, effective ideas for using applied science in music education, I would LOVE to help y'all inside the Midnight Music Customs.

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