K-12 Teacher Courses

Classroom-based Training

Overview | Supporting Materials
Taxonomies: Skill-Centered | Research-Centered | Integrated Teaching

Class Seven
Library of Congress - American Memory Sound Recordings
(3 hours)

Edited By:
Beth Coulter, Ed.D., AAM Director (brcoulter@wcu.edu)
Western Carolina University
Amy Wilkinson, AAM Director (aisom@siue.edu)
Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville
Margo Tomaras, AAM Director (mtomaras@depaul.edu)
DePaul University

Pedagogy:

In class exercise:

• Why should I use sound in teaching and learning activities?
• How should I use sound in teaching and learning activities?

(Divide into teams of three and research, online, why and how you should use sound in teaching and learning. Each team reports on one "why" and one "how". A recorder enters these into a word processing program and projects for all to see. Copies of the findings will be distributed to each teacher for inclusion in their AAM notebooks). NOTE to instructor: make sure to stress the importance of citing sources.

Technical Vocabulary:

• Real Audio, MPEG, MP3, WaveForm - (Library of Congress - American Memory http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amviewer.html ).

In class - review of the above web site and general discussion of audio formats

Resources:

• Library of Congress Sound Recording - where are they and how do I access them?

In class exercise: Library of Congress Treasure Hunt (partner with someone that teaches the same grade level and/or subject that you do - no more than three to a team. Spend fifteen minutes exploring the resources in the Library of Congress -Sound Recordings. As you explore, make sure to include the "real web addresses" for those items you might be interested in using in your teaching and learning activities. Add at least three new item web addresses to your organizer.

Capturing, Editing, and Using Sound:

(NOTE to instructor: it is recommended that prior to the next in class activities that you discuss the following with the teachers:

• Analog versus digital (what's the difference, what are the advantages/disadvantages in the classroom, possibilities for conversions, etc.)
• Demonstration of how to set up equipment and how to use a microphone.

Technical Vocabulary:

• MPEG, QuickTime, RealMedia

In class exercises:

• Download audio players (see Library of Congress - American Memory http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amviewer.html for suggestions and helpful links)
• Locate one of the items you found potentially useful during the Sound Recordings Treasure Hunt and download that file to your computer or disk. Make sure you enter all pertinent information into your organizer.

Technology Tools:

• Laptop Microphones
• Digital Conversion - Cakewalk (Pyro)
• Analog and digital sound recorders
• Internet

Skills obtained:

Capturing, editing, audio programs, proper use of microphones and sound recording equipment, analog and digital conversion (analog to digital and digital to analog), and saving audio files

HOMEWORK:

• Interview and audio tape one person whose expertise would enhance your students' learning. You interview question(s) should be concise and your questioning directed so that snippets of the interview can be edited and used with your students. Bring a digital copy to class. Make sure your interviewee has signed the correct permission form.

An Adventure of the American Mind is made available through a Library of Congress grant funded by the U.S. Congress. AAM is administered through the Education and Research Consortium of the Western Carolinas Inc.
For site-related problems, e-mail aam@ercwc.org..