It is of course obvious that copyright issues are also a big problem in music education, if we consider using technology in music learning. In fact, in my view, they are the biggest thing that hinders pedagogical development along with issues relating to the culture of learning and teaching. The copyright system is very complex, and complex systems tend to be hard to adjust, they change very slowly. There are too many different organizations handling copyrights, for whom we are obliged to

1. write reports of the music we use in online learning and
2. pay, and in some cases ask separately for permissions.

In Finnish copyright law, the owners of copyright have right to ban the use of their works in general (in education etc.) – even if copyright organizations handle their business. That is pretty dangerous for education. Read the rest of this entry »

drop.io looks like a very welcome service. It allows you to create your own “drop box” online (drop.io/makeupyouraddresshere..) and allow others also drop files to that address. The files can then be accessed with a password (or without if you choose). Should work nicely if you want your students to return assignments or other files (say when they are recording soundscapes with their mobile devices..).

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Interesting news from Canada. A student at Ryerson University is being accused of forming a Facebook group to study and I guess prepare for exams. The story does not tell what the group was actually being used for. Students could have discussed the course, the content, explained things to each other etc., or they could have exchanged, perhaps plagiarized each others’ assignments. Either ways, this tells a lot about the situation. Read the rest of this entry »

I have always enjoyed reading Steve Hargadon’s writings, and listening to his series interviews in podcast format, since he can set the message out very clearly! If only every educator would read his recent – perhaps overly enthusiastic for some – post about Web2 in education.. He offers 10 trends regarding the future of education(al technologies). It is familiar talk for many of us edubloggers, but a must read. I share his views that people really do not understand or perceive the change that has been taking place recently. Although, I also claim that so many educators and students do not have a clue of what is going on.

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