Experience, technology and curriculum for today's online instrumental music educator

Abstract

Using the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework as the lens to develop, view, and analyze technological assimilation in education, I examined the integration of technology related to experience, curriculum development, and the pedagogy of several music educators who teach online instrumental music lessons. The investigation centered on how the integration of technology can provide a promising and possible future for sustainable online instrumental instruction through curriculum design. The use of TPACK as a research framework helps analyze not only what equipment can do, but how technology can help teachers achieve the integration of technology, content, and pedagogy. By investigating technology use with curriculum design through the perspective of instrumental online educators, hopeful pedagogical patterns emerge. As a result of each instructor’s background, musical knowledge, and technological experience, I addressed the following research questions. 1. In what ways do instrumental educators prepare online curriculum differently than in-person curriculum? 2. How do online instrumental educators integrate technology with curriculum development and pedagogy? 3. To what degree does the experience as a student influence the pedagogy used as educators in their curriculum? These questions delve into how online educators develop their curriculum, approach lessons with new students, compare online to in-person lessons, and factor technology in their teaching. The findings illuminate the role of technology and the extent to which each instructor related to and embraced technology. Every instructor studied, regardless of age or experience, designed their curriculum around technology and utilized smartphone applications and education-based computer software (Figure 4). Based on the findings, technology was seen as useful in how educators design, present, and teach their curriculum. However, not every educator utilized technology to interweave new material into their pedagogy. This finding indicates how the fundamentals of music curriculum are not changing from generation to generation of educators. The findings presented here are viewpoints of how the broad spectrum of technology provides insight into teaching online instrumental music lessons. With educators utilizing blended teaching methodologies, developments, and general trends in technology, I anticipate that someday, there will be an educational community with a broader acceptance of technology's use in curriculum design.