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 Educator Resources  |
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Windows on Jazz was conceived primarily as a teaching tool to be used in any way a student or educator sees fit, though lessons and ideas emphasize constructivist teaching and learning practices. Below we offer links to tools for utilizing the Timeline and Timeweb and ideas for challenging historical jazz orthodoxy. All links were previewed and determined to be appropropriate for student use when the links were placed. Consult the Site Map to familiarize yourself with the organization of Windows on Jazz, and play with it a bit to see how its structure might fit your vision for your students' learning about jazz on their own or in cooperative or even international study groups. The authors of this site assume no responsibility for accuracy or appropriateness of content at linked sites. Educators are encouraged to preview any links to be assigned as content changes over time. For questions regarding this site, to offer contributions, to suggest improvements (such as adding source material or podcasts!) contact the Webmaster at webmaster@windowsonjazz.com. |
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Women In Jazz: Audio files on Mary Lou Williams, Lil Armstrong and Marian McPartland
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Learning experiences utilizing this site can take any of these forms, and more:
1. Direct instruction in a classroom setting, using the various media tools and resources on this site and links.
2. Individual student-generated artist biography.
3. Individual student-generated reflection and criticism of music styles in their historical contexts.
4. Individual student-generated histories and criticism of music evolution from one style to another.
5. Individual student-generated histories and criticism of a modern style as a reflection of origins.
6. Multi-stage investigations by any multiple of students in which individual historical lineages are compared to classmates, either distant or in the same physical location, critiquing relationships and evolutionary similarities and differences. For instance, one student has investigated Glenn Miller, another Dizzy Gillespie. What is similar and what is different about the success of those two band leaders? Any two artists from any part of the web can be compared as to the evolution of styles in their cultural contexts.
7. Criticism of the validity of the evolutionary lineages suggested in the timeweb. For instance, "What musical and historical evidence can you offer to support or refute any relationship between Funk and Soul Jazz? or "Listen to the Mary Lou Williams audio file, then decide whether or not there is evidence for including her in the Timeweb. If not, why? If so, where would you put her, and why?"
8. Following the completion of individual style or artist biographical reports, assign small group discussions regarding the relationships between their assigned styles/artists based on the timeweb .
9. Teacher-led introduction to styles/artists, followed by individual or small group analysis and reporting out.
10. Podcasting development and design... follow this to the Lesson Plan!
11. Utilizing a learning-based chat forum such as the Tapped In educator resource, establish a classroom group or long-distance (international jazz pen pals?!) to discuss, critique, and argue about the history of jazz, the how and why of its birth and evolution.
12. Construct a WebQuest lesson using Windows on Jazz as your launching point!