Contrast and Compare two Instructional Software Packages

Beth Pickard
bpickard@iupui.edu
IU School of Music at Indianapolis

TI:ME Technology Areas Addressed:

CAI

Level:

College

Equipment:

Computer with Music Ace and Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory Software

Duration:

60 Minutes

Prior Knowledge and Skills:

Students know how to access the software and complete the exercises in the software

MENC Standards Addressed:

MENC 5: Reading and notating music.

Materials:

Music Ace by Harmonic Vision and Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory by Alfred Interactive

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this lesson:

Students will be able to articulate a general understanding of the strengths of each of these pieces of software and have an idea of when to use each.

Procedures:

Students will be given 15 min. to look at each of the two software titles. Students will consider Music Ace Lesson and Game 1 and Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory Unit 1 Lessons 1-5.

Students should be prepared to discuss:
1. Specific Musical Content
2. Procedures used
3. Instructional Mode(Drill and Practice, Tutorial, Game, Discovery/Simulation)
4. Sequence of Materials
5. Pace of Instruction
6. Quality of Interaction
7. Record Keeping

At the end of 30 min. Students/instructor will discuss the strengths of each piece of software and when each would be best used and for what student age and level of experience. Future elementary classroom teachers might decide to have one or both of the pieces of software as learning stations for elementary students.

Evaluation:

The level of discussion from the students/instructors will be the evaluation of the results of this experience. It is hoped that this discussion will aid future and present teachers in the choice of instructional software for beginning theory students no matter what the students’age or experience level.

Follow Up:

Perhaps future or present teachers might access other software that might become available or is now available for beginning theory students.