As I began thinking about what I wanted to do for my Final Presentation, I really leaned towards the publication side of things. It's funny how my mind works because I love being up in front of a choir teaching or on stage playing a character, but get me in front of a room to give a speech or presentation, I just freeze up. I don't feel as comfortable for some reason. So for this being the case, I knew I wanted to write a paper with my findings for my Action Research Project. I really think this AR project helped me out a lot more than I thought it would. Not only did it help me communicate more with my students at different levels, but it also, I feel, helped me develop a better relationship with them. Not only was my teaching in the classroom, but it extended out beyond to their homes. While using Schoology, I could communicate and continue discussions beyond class even when class was cancelled. I know other teachers have used Moodle and other LMS' in their classroom, but I really feel this was a great fit. I hope to use this tool in more classes as I see fit. I wanted to share this experience I had with other colleagues, especially in music, who might be a little apprehensive about using a LMS. I hope to find a good publication where my paper might be read to help inspire other music teachers to try.
It is interesting that you feel more comfortable in performance rather than speech or presentation. I know that performances require a lot of practice. I think its ok to be in situations that require improvisational skills and critical thinking. What bothers you most about presenting in front of a large group of people? Schoology is a great tool, I wish I utilized it more because it does build a bridge and make a connection between the students. I just didn't like how tedious the enrollment process is. And if students don't have regular access to a computer, it makes it hard to utilize the lms.
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