Google Classroom vs. Schoology

Google Classroom VS Schoology

	Google Classroom	Schoology
Grading Rubric (to make grading easier and faster)		X
Don’t have to create a new login	X
Class discussions in a Facebook style		X
Polling / Student response systems		X
Testing / Quizes	Yes, with floobaroo	X
Assignment comments and feedback between teacher and student	X	X
More than 1 way to do things	X
Teachers can SHARE a class as admin	?	X
Large folders with different file types can be shared with all students		X
Share assignments between classes	X	X
Can hide discussions/comments from rest of class		X
Teacher can delete comments	X	X
Unlimited file size upload	X	limited to 500mb
Skyward (gradebook) Sync		X

At the start of this year our music department has taken on the task of moving the 7th grade band/orchestra over from practice record collection once every 2 weeks, to a new video "check-in" system.  Students are assigned a music excerpt or etude from the method book to prepare.  They then record themselves so we can address the musical AND the visual, including posture, hand position, etc...

So we were left with having to make a comparison, then finding which system would work best for us.  Long story short, we went with Schoology this year.  The main reason behind this was the rubric.  When a student submits a video, we click a button while watching the video which pulls up a rubric for us to grade them by.  Grading for us teachers is quick and efficient, yet still gives students ample and specific feedback.

Google Classroom has such amazing potential, but is currently a means to organize students sharing of docs using google drive.  Once Google Classroom incorporates rubrics, I think we may just switch over.

What differences and similarities have you found between the 2?  Feel free to leave comments below!

Free Resources

Free Resources

Chorales & Warm-Ups (http://pmhmusic.weebly.com/band-resources.html)

Phil Hash has transcribed several three- and four-part chorales from various hymnals. They are all in accessible keys and technically very simple to allow students to focus on fundamentals of tone, intonation, and balance. Each instrument has a designated part (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) for all chorales, which simplifies rehearsing individual voices and allows directors to distribute parts to fit the instrumentation of the ensemble.

The warm-ups are nothing revolutionary. They simply consist of basic long tone and scale exercises. Nonetheless, the creative director will find a number of ways to use them.

One Size Fits All Band Books (http://osfabb.com/index.html)

FREE music ideal for small concert bands. This site contains arrangements for flexible instrumentation for grade .5 through 2. There are numerous arrangements of familiar tunes suitable for holiday, patriotic, or other occasions. All parts contain the melody and a harmony line, making these arrangements suitable for soloists, small ensembles, or full band. The director (and students) can arrange these pieces in a variety of ways, or play them as recommended. The percussion parts are optional. GREAT RESOURCE FOR THE SMALLEST OF BANDS!!

TedED Talk on Instrumental Music

This TedED Talk (video) discusses some of the recent research on the potential benefits of playing an instrument might have on brain function. It is under 5 minutes and might be a useful tool on recruiting night or as a link in an email to parents. (http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-playing-an-instrument-benefits-your-brain-anita-collins?utm_source=TED-Ed+Subscribers&utm_campaign=0fd1ca8b79-2013_09_219_19_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1aaccced48-0fd1ca8b79-47005797)

McCracken MS Band Web Site (http://www.mccrackenband.com/)

Director Chip DeStefano has posted several resources including first lesson practice exercises, recommended repertoire, articles, and free arrangements. This band made its second appearance at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago in 2014.

Band Music PDF Library (http://www.bandmusicpdf.org/)

The Band Music PDF Library offers over 3200 public domain titles from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries for free download. Each download includes a full set of parts, a score (if one was published), and biographical information on the composers and arrangers. Although some pieces include modern parts, directors will likely need to transpose Db piccolo and Eb horn for modern instruments. Users can search by title, composer, grade level, genre, publisher, year, and other filters. Organizers continue to add new titles each month.

New National Core Music Standards (http://www.nafme.org/my-classroom/standards/)

On June 4th, 2014, the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards released NEW National Core Arts Standards. NAfME spearheaded the creation of the new music standards, led by a team of hundreds of music educators from across the country with over 1,800 years of combined teaching experience. These new standards are comprehensive, flexible and ready for use.

Assessment and Teacher Evaluation (http://pmhmusic.weebly.com/mi-teacher-evaluation.html)

This web page provides a number of links and resources related to assessment and music teacher evaluation in Michigan. Please feel free to contact Phil Hash at any time with questions.