The Basic Suite in the Music Classroom

Teaching Music and The Basic Software Suite

The basic software suite refers to word processing, spreadsheet creation, and presentation software packages. Basic software has been shown to improve productivity, appearance, accuracy, and collaboration amongst its users (Roblyer, p110). The choice of which basic software package to embrace in the classroom is one that many teachers and schools face. If you select the correct basic suite your work will be more useful to the entire educational community. However, you select incorrectly you will spend a lot of time learning an obsolete or niche piece of software. With such stakes it is imperative that teachers and schools make a wise choice.

Choose wisely!

Ever since the early 90s Microsoft has dominated the basic suite software field with Microsoft Office. Its dominance was largely due to the acceptance of Microsoft windows as the operating system that ran the majority of the world’s personal and business computers. However, in the late 2000s Microsoft’s web browser Internet Explorer was soundly beaten in the browser wars by offerings like Firefox and Google Chrome which now controls over 70% of the browser market. This loss turned out to be crucial with the advent of web based software like Google Apps and Google Drive.

Google launched Google Apps and Google Drive in 2012 and has continued to improve upon its platform ever since. Being web based and fully integrated with Google Chrome means Google can implement improvements in its software without asking users to reinstall or upgrade. While somewhat lacking in the refinement and features offered by OS based suites, Google Apps and Google Drive offer distinct advantages in collaboration, integration, and distribution. Microsoft has also joined the ‘cloud’ computing trend by introducing ‘One Drive’ and adding collaboration to its Office software package. It is unclear which web based basic program suite is more dominant although Google claims 240 million active users, 58% of Fortune 500 companies, and 72 top universities use its Apps/Drive suite as of October 1, 2014.

For the music educator the choice between the two basic suites boils down to personal preference. Without question this basic software suite will be viable, if not dominant, in the educational community for the foreseeable future. We will now explore the basic suite offered by Google (Docs, Sheets, and Slides) along with Google Drive and examine their relative advantage while suggesting some innovative uses for music educators.

Google Drive

“Can we please get Google Drive now?”

Google Drive is a shared storage space that is integrated with many different Google apps including the basic suite (Docs, Sheets, and Slides). Drive users can store all of the files they create while choosing who to share or collaborate with. Another advantage of Drive is that it can be used to distribute file formats beyond the basic suite including audio and video.

Combining these advantages means that educators can now create and distribute almost any document to their students without fear of giving students a format they cannot open or read. Students, in turn can now access lesson materials anytime or anywhere and be assured that they are not missing crucial lesson information.

One of the most potent uses of the Google drive in the classroom is to use it to create a ‘Community Folder’ and individual ‘Student Folders.’ The community folder is a repository for all of the lesson materials needed to complete assignments throughout the course. Materials can be sorted into sub folders and shared with the entire class at the same time. This arrangement allows teacher to generate ongoing resources and update materials while simultaneously sharing their work with the entire class. Student folders are simply Google Drive folders that are shared between only the teacher and one student. This folder allows students to electronically submit assignments to the teacher who can then digitally correct and automatically hand back graded work without taking class time to do so.

Music teachers oftentimes need to share listening examples, videos, and pictures illustrating various musical points. Since Google Drive is capable of reading multiple file formats it is the perfect distribution platform for such classroom materials. Google Drive can also be used to distribute written sheet music so that students wishing to practice at home will never be without the proper music.

Google Docs

Henchman #7: “So Mr. Joker sir you want to blow up Mr. Dent’s convoy, get arrested, and trick the Batman into choosing between his friend or his girl?
Sounds complex.”
Joker: “Serious?! Did you even read the shared Doc?”

Docs is Google’s word processing program. Although not sufficiently studied by educational theorists, the current belief is that word processing “improve[s] writing and attitudes towards writing” (Roblyer, p115). While the theorists are getting their experimental ducks in a row, educators are busy adopting this critical tool. Google Docs offers the relative advantages of collaboration, integration, and distribution which cannot be ignored by today’s music educator.

Google Docs allows students and teachers to create and share documents as well as editing them together in real time. In fact, collaboration on a Google doc is perhaps its strongest asset when we consider the importance of group work in the classroom. Group projects can help students develop a host of skills that are increasingly important in the professional world (Caruso & Woolley, 2008; Mannix & Neale, 2005). Positive group experiences, moreover, have been shown to contribute to student learning, retention and overall college success (Astin, 1997; Tinto, 1998; National Survey of Student Engagement, 2006).

For the music classroom these collaborative advantages play out in many ways. Students can now work on group research projects, in-class listening activities, and share musical insights and ideas during or outside of class. Music teachers can distribute rubrics, graded work, or give feedback on assignments anytime. Embedding video or audio examples into a document is also a reality which turns the class handout into a truly interactive learning tool.

Google Sheets

Ah!!! #DIV/0!

Sheets is Google’s spreadsheet program which allows users to record and manipulate numerical data. Again, the advantage of Google’s offering is collaboration, integration, and distribution. Students or teachers can come together to make a Sheet, place it in several other types of Google Apps and share it with anyone. The literature contains numerous testimonials by teachers who have used spreadsheets successfully in teaching topics ranging from mathematics to social studies. Wu (Wu, 2007) found that spreadsheet templates helped students better understand the concepts underlying statistical graphs (Roblyer, p123).

Sheets can allow teachers to keep records in a digital format such as a grade book that can be formatted to self calculate student grades. However, the real benefits for teachers can best be realized when combined with Google Forms which is a survey tool capable of storing the data it collects onto a Google Sheet. Distributing a Google Form allows teachers to issue digital self graded formative quizzes (Flubaroo) or gather feedback from students at the end of a lesson, activity, or unit. Sheets can then auto generate graphs and charts that give teachers a powerful visual indication of their educational environment. These results can be used to confirm or enhance current teacher practice.

In the music classroom Sheets is of less value to students unless the activity centers around quantifying. Since Sheets can be shared it helps if students need to select from a list of options before an activity can continue. For example, if a historical book report is desired then the music teacher can have students sign up for various composers or choose from a teacher provided list. A shared Google Sheet allows students and the teacher to be clear about which composer has been assigned to whom. Sheets is also useful when issuing instruments or other material that needs to be returned. Entering in a serial or ID number into a shared Sheet allows teachers and students to know exactly who is responsible for a piece of equipment.

Google Slides

“Any Last Words?”

Slides is Google’s presentation offering which can enhance spoken words through the accompaniment of visuals such as text, pictures, video, and audio. Collaboration, integration, and distribution again take center stage with Google Apps. Teachers can share their lecture slides with students simply by putting them in a shared folder or embedding them in a website. Students can collaboratively create presentations that help them organize their thinking on a topic and demonstrate their understanding. However, their is danger in negating all of the benefits Slides offers if good design method is ignored. Jordan and Papp (2013) researched the use of Powerpoint (Microsoft’s presentation application) in the classroom and found that its positive impact was linked to its use. Improper use of presentation software can include:

• Overuse or improper use of bullets and lists
• Slide design interfering with the information trying to be presented
• A greater disconnect between presenter and information presented
• The promotion of a teaching style not appropriate for all learners (Roblyer p128)

For the music teacher the advantages of Google Slides are numerous. Music theory, history, and applied music can all be improved by a well crafted Slides presentation. Embedding one of the hundreds of thousands of Youtube videos on music or musical practice can bring a world of musical experiences into the classroom. Students can also use Slides to collaboratively create presentations on composers or other musical concepts.

Round Up

The era of learners creating documents alone and unaided is over. Google Docs and other collaborative media encourage humans to communicate which taps into something fundamental about our being. As time progresses and more people learn to collaborate effectively it could be that the creations of lone musician or artist will give way to the group. With that possible future in mind it is essential that educators everywhere strive to foster good communication a positive collaborative learning environment. Google Drive and Google Apps at the center of any classroom is a good first step in this direction.