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Sounds are a simple way to add excitement to learning.

try itGo to the Conners Emerson Literary Magazine produced by fifth grade students in 2005 and 2006. Be sure to watch the short video of two fifth graders describing their poetry writing and musical composition activity. Then, listen to the student audio poetry journal entries. How was sound used in this project? How did the sound elements contribute to their learning experience? What was the role of technology? Could this project have been done effectively without the use of technology? Also, check out the Grade 2 Poetry Project. Why do you think the cross grade level project was effective? In what other areas could sound be used in learning?

Software Tools

Stand-Alone Software

Sources of Open Use Sounds

You don't need to create all the sounds and music elements yourself. There are online resources that allow users to freely use materials.

Features of High Tech Sound

You don't need much to technology to get started producing your own sounds.

Option 1. Use pre-recorded sounds.

Option 2. Use the microphone built into your computer or add an inexpensive portable microphone that can be plugged into the microphone port on your computer. Locate existing software that has a record option. For example, you can record sounds inside Microsoft PowerPoint, Kidspiration or Inspiration, and KidPix. There's no need to edit, simply delete unwanted sound files.

Option 3. Use free or inexpensive sound editing software such as Audacity or Apple's Garageband. These tools allow you to record and edit audio file, add music, rearrange segments and product high-quality programs. You might also want to buy a quality external microphone for higher quality and recording situations such as singers and interviews.

Option 4. Add additional elements such as audio mixing software, high-quality microphones, and external mixers. Tools such as Mixere allow you to mix audio clips and adjust sound levels. On the high end, you can add external mixers and recording devices.

Sound Studio

You don't need a fancy sound studio to produce high quality sound. In most cases you can simply sing or talk directly into your computer. However if you're working in a classroom setting, it's nice to have a small, quiet area set aside for production. An old study carrel, a small room divider, or a blanket all work fine. Although they may not help with the sound, they'll make the actor feel more comfortable.

Foley Stage

Build a Foley stage.

High Tech Sound Tools in Learning

 

Library Produced

Facilitator Produced

For young children, consider adding narration to web pages. For example, read and listen to What is a Rainforest?

Learner Produced

Subject Areas

Fine Arts

Foreign Language

Performing Arts

Sciences

Social Sciences

Digital Sound in Learning

Many classroom projects benefit from audio enhancements.

Oral History. Create an oral history project. Use the following resources to get you started:

Consider using audio recordings as the focal point in your project. There are many great resources such as the John Denver or John Lithgow picture books with audio CDs. Also look for singers and songwriters that focus on academic topics such as history, science, or literature.

Biography Project. Listen to portions of Sacagawea and When the Land Belonged to God by Jack Gladstone. They tell the stories of two people. Whose story will you tell in words, pictures, and music? For more great music for writing and history starters check out Jack Gladstone's CDs.

Tappin' the Earth's BackboneGeology and Geography Project. Listen to a portion of Tappin' the Earth's Backbone by Jack Gladstone. It speaks passionately about our connection to the earth. Write your own story about your feelings about a landform or special place.

History Project. Listen to a portion of Lewis and Clark's Traveling Magical Show by Jack Gladstone. Use words, pictures, and music to tell your own story of a significant historical event. Be sure to tell the story from all perspectives.

Legends Project. Listen to a portion of Napi Legend by Jack Gladstone. Read the legends and lore about animals. What animals would you like to be? What special trait does this animal have? Tell the story of becoming this animal.

try itUse PhotoStory 3 for Windows to create your own audio-rich project.

 

Learners, Multiple Intelligences, and Digital Sound

Use of sound software matches well with Howard Gardner's verbal/linguistic as well as the musical/rhythmic intelligence. These "music smart" people learn best through sounds including listening and making sounds such as songs, rhythms, patterns, and other types of auditory expression. They are able to use inductive and deductive reasoning and identify relationships in data. Provide students with audio and video recorders to capture their musical expressions. Ask them to choose appropriate music to go with a slide show, artwork, or poem. Create and record hand-made instruments. Add other intelligences such as drawing patterns of music or writing about music and sounds.

Those people with a musical strength like to choose and compose music for multimedia presentations. They like to see and hear patterns, so they may be good at sequencing a presentation. They are good listeners, so ask them to look for things that might be missing after watching a videotape.

Audio Resources

Links to the materials in this section can be found in the navigation bar on the left side of this page. Continue to the arrow means an internal linkTools: Video page.

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