How Songza can be utilized to facilitate learning inside and outside of the classroom

When mentoring our pre-service and in-service teachers we need to describe and model both research-based and clinically tested best practices, and demonstrate how these best practices can be applied in the real (i.e. physical) and virtual (i.e. online) classroom for both teaching and teacher training. The combination of face to face instruction in a physical setting and online learning is called blended learning. In this section of the blog we will describe how the internet can serve as a supplemental resource for instruction and the mentoring of pre-service and in-service Jewish educators. In this post we will continue our discussion on how teachers and  students in a Judaic Studies blended learning classroom can use Songza to find Jewish and Hebrew music on the internet.

Assumption: The teacher or mentor teacher has a interactive white board (i.e. SMART Board, Promethean, etc.), a Tablet PC (also called a Slate or Blade), a computer presenter or computer with internet access attached to an LCD projector in the classroom. It would be ideal if students or mentees had access to their own laptop computers or Ipads. Given parental and school approval, and the development of specific guidelines, smartphones can be used to enhance instruction as well.

Note: Although Songza can be applied in the Judaic Studies blended learning classroom, it can be also be used for training pre-service and in-service Jewish educators for professional or staff development. It is our hope that Jewish educators around the globe will form an online community of practice, a CoP, a group of people who share an interest, a craft, and/or a profession, to enhance the delivery of instruction and training of Jewish educators. For example, here is a CoP you might want to join. 

Note: Songza can be used in both a physical and virtual Judaic Studies classroom.

What is Songza?

Songza is an online search engine for finding Jewish and Hebrew music.

Where is  Songza  located on the web?

http://songza.com/

How Songza can be utilized to facilitate learning inside and outside of the classroom

Click on the links below and find resources explaining how Songza can be used to promote learning in the physical and virtual classroom:

• http://educationaltech-med.blogspot.com/2011/04/songza-listen-search-and-find-music-you.html
• http://songza.com/listen/soothing-classroom-music-lise1008/
• http://songza.com/listen/easy-classroom-listening-lise1008/

On the next post we will share examples of Jewish and Hebrew music that can be found on Songza.