Probing Questions

Teacher: Carol Forristall

Interview

Overview

Principles of Learning

Information Processing

Content Standards

Tenets of Democracy

Questions

Interview: Previewing Questions

1. How would tolerance be part of an international project? Give examples of behaviors students display while working together. What might, according to you, be in the way of good communication?

2. Describe interactive learning in your own words. Is it more effective than lecturing? Why or why not?

3. Reflect on your school experiences. Have you ever taken part in an international project? If so, briefly describe it and state in what ways this cultural experience enhanced your learning.

Interview: Post-viewing Questions

1. Forristall states that all her students are part of a committee, just like they would be if they were a real opera company. What skills do all these assignments require students to have? 
   
   
2. What is one of the main objectives of this project as stated in the clip?
   
   
3. What are the various types of assessment Forristall uses, according to her lesson plan?

Overview: Previewing Questions

1. Reflect on your musical experiences in school. What techniques did your teachers use to enhance your creativity? Were their techniques effective? Why or why not? As a teacher, how will you spark creativity in your students?

2. As a teacher, how do you plan to encourage your students to take responsibility for their projects and work? What techniques will you use? Explain.

3. As a teacher or student, have you ever served on a committee? What were certain aspects of the experience you enjoyed or disliked? What did you learn from participating in the committee?

Overview: Post-viewing Questions

1. Review the purpose of this activity. What is the purpose of putting the students in committees? How does being a part of a committee affect student learning?

2. Forristall states, "This project really seems to have the power to stimulate the creative part of every child." How is technology used to enhance creativity? Explain.

3. Describe how this video allows students to experience "hands-on" learning. How does this impact their learning experience? Do you feel that "hands-on" learning is important?

Principles of  Learning: Previewing Questions

1. As a teacher, how will you address students who do not want to be actively involved in a lesson? What techniques will you use to spark student interest in an activity?

2. How is compromise and creativity related to the Principles of Learning? Explain.

3. Review the checklist of observable behaviors for Direct Experience. In your school experience, did your teachers encourage you to learn in context? How did they do this? As a teacher, describe techniques you could use to help your students learn in context.

Principles of  Learning: Post-viewing Questions

1. How does Forristall encourage the students to use Active Involvement in this lesson? How does this improve student learning?

2. In the video, how does technology assist students in gaining Direct Experience? How does this affect student learning? Describe.

3. How does Forristall encourage the students to use Reflection in this project? Is it important for students to reflect on themselves as learners? Why or why not?

Information Processing: Previewing Questions

1. Explain how the use of Patterns and Connections is related to the stages of Information Processing. 

2. Reflect back on your musical experiences in school. What techniques did your teachers use to encourage you to demonstrate Appreciation for the arts? Explain. As a teacher, how will you encourage your students to engage in Appreciation?

3. As a teacher, what methods and techniques will you use to encourage your students to use the Interpretation stage of Information Processing? How does 
   analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information improve student learning? Explain.

Information Processing: Post-viewing Questions

1. How do the students demonstrate the Interpretation stage of Information Processing? Why do you feel this stage is often neglected? 

2. Review the checklist of observable behaviors for the Evaluation stage of Information Processing. Is it important for students to assess their own personal information processes? Why or why not?

3. How does Forristall encourage her students to develop an Appreciation for opera? How is their learning affected by this Appreciation? Explain.

Content  Standards: Previewing Questions

1. Explain how National Education Technology Standards for Grades 6-8 may be used to fulfill Music Standards from the National Standards for Arts Education. Develop a music lesson in which you incorporate the use of at least 3 Music Standards and three National Education Technology Standards. 

2. In your own words, describe the purpose for having The National Standards for Arts Education. Do you feel that having these standards is necessary? Why or why not?

3. Review the Music Standards from the National Center for Arts Education. Are there any aspects of the standards you would add to or delete? Why or why not? Explain.

Content  Standards: Post-viewing Questions

1. Explain how Forristall addresses Music Standard Number 4 for Grades 5-8. What does this standard address? How does this impact student learning?

2. Throughout the activity, describe The National Standards for Arts Education for Theatre that Forristall addresses. How does the use of these impact student learning? Explain.

3. In the lesson, how does Forristall address Technology Performance Indicator 6 for Grades 6-8? Explain. How does the use of this standard affect student learning?

Tenets of Democracy: Previewing Questions

1. As a teacher, what methods and techniques will you use to encourage positive participation and establish a sense of community in your classroom? Do you feel that these impact student learning? If these were not present in a classroom, how would learning be affected?

2. Describe some possible conflicts that could arise while students work together in committees or groups. Which of the Tenets of Democracy could be used in order to help students learn from and resolve these conflicts?

3. As a teacher, how do you plan to empower your students? What is the purpose in empowering children? Explain. How does a sense of Empowerment affect student learning?

Tenets of Democracy: Post-viewing Questions

1. From the video, explain how Forristall encourages her students to demonstrate Critical Thinking and Decision Making. Review the checklist of observable behaviors. How does this component enable the students to learn more effectively?

2. Describe how the students are encouraged to demonstrate Individual Responsibility and Civil Involvement with Others in this project. What techniques did Forristall use to encourage this tenet?

3. In the course of the project, how do the students demonstrate Tolerance? What would an intolerant classroom look like? Explain.

Technology: Previewing Questions

1. Describe some different technological resources that may be used in a music classroom. How would these help to improve student learning?

2. In your opinion, how important is it for teachers to use technology in their classrooms? How are classrooms that utilize technology different from classrooms that do not?

3. Reflect on your school experiences. What types of technological resources did your teachers use in your music classes? How did the use of them (or lack of them) affect your learning experience?

Technology: Post-viewing Questions

1. Explain three different types of instructional software that are included in this project. How do these enhance student learning? Describe. If instructional software was not available, how would learning have been affected?

2. In the video, describe the role of the AEA assistant and the Technology Coordinator. How do they facilitate the learning process? Explain.

3. In the video, how does Forristall demonstrate the use of WWW Authoring? How does the use of this competency improve student learning?

Teacher Knowledge : Previewing Questions

1. What is "instructional management"? How can it support the learning process?

2. Refer to your school experiences. Did your teachers address your musical/rhythmic intelligence? Explain how. If they did not, explain how they could have. 

3. What Student Characteristics must a teacher be aware of when taking into consideration the learning preferences of both students who work better in a traditional classroom setting and students who work better in a nontraditional classroom setting?

Teacher Knowledge : Post-viewing Questions

1. Both the Swedish teachers and the American teacher display Knowledge of Student Characteristics by addressing their students' Interpersonal Intelligence. How is this demonstrated in the video?

2. How do the teachers blend their student's individual and interpersonal work in this project? What are the benefits of interdependent tasks?

3. Forristall's In-Depth Content Knowledge is evident in her method of Instruction. How does she treat her students? How does this enhance student learning?

Teacher Behavior: Previewing Questions

1. Assume the role of a teacher. How would you create a supportive learning environment for your students? What elements should such an environment contain?

2. Describe two ways in which a music teacher could facilitate music learning in a nontraditional classroom setting.

3. What do you feel is the most important aspect of effective Content Management? How would you integrate this into your classroom?

Teacher Behavior: Post-viewing Questions

1. Forristall demonstrates an element of Pedagogy by providing her students with instructional resources that enhance their learning opportunities. What are these resources? Find evidence of how they enhanced learning in this project.

2. How is Content Management evident in the way Forristall manages in-class group work?

3. The teachers have created a supportive learning environment that fosters creativity and encourages active participation on the part of the students. How did their interdisciplinary approach to the opera address the varied interests of the students?