Though the video was originally created for the interactive sewing tutorial, video was additionally exported in an iPod-compatible format. This allows students to download and watch the video on their own laptop computers or transfer it to their iPod using the free iTunes software. By using the iPod/laptop, students can reference the video while actually performing the procedure.
Jazz By Ear combines the simplicity of “Name That Tune” with the randomness of “Simon”. Students listen to a clip, then move the spinning CD into the appropriate Jewel case.
Game-play begins simple as students identify instruments, and increases in difficulty when they are asked to identify artist, song, artists’ solos and style. The faster they answer, the more points they get. A random logic is applied to the activity to ensure that each game never repeats the order of the music clips. If students answer incorrectly, the sound clips are recycled in random order to ensure a mastery of content at each level.
Due to the complexity of this activity, the files are downloaded to the user’s hard-drive, then installed. This prevents repeated lengthy download times and allows students using their own computers to track their progress using levels of game-play.
This activity was built using Flash and XML. Its architecture is structured so that developers can modify the XML and replace the mp3 files, and background image to make a completely new activity. See future posts on “Phun with Phonetics” and “Art By Eye”.
To play this demo, you need to download the file below, then unzip to a folder your Desktop. The current version of this game is only available for Miami faculty and students.
Download for Mac (16 Mb)
Download for PC (15.5 Mb)
Designed to help students memorize jazz players, instruments, and styles, this activity puts students in the Producer’s seat.
Students are asked to re-create a style of Jazz by building an ensemble from a palette of available jazz greats. As the game play proceeds, the activity’s difficulty increases by the amount of musicians available to choose from.
As students place musicians on the stage, the musician plays a loop synonymous with that style of music. If the wrong musicians are paired together, the resulting song is out-of-time and off-key. The proper mix results in a pleasant tune that represents the appropriate style.
Due to the complexity of this activity, the files are downloaded to the user’s hard-drive, then installed. This prevents repeated lengthy download times and allows students using their own computers to track their progress using levels of game-play.
To play this demo, you need to download the file below, then unzip to a folder on your Desktop. The current version of this game is only available for Miami faculty and students.
Download demo for Mac (7.6 Mb)
Download demo for PC (6.9 Mb)
This learning object was brought to my attention by Julia Guichard, faculty at Miami’s Theater department. The second of two activities, the Voice Recipe is designed to help students be more conscious of vocal qualities and health.
Students listen to samples of different parameters of the voice, then apply their knowledge in an activity. The activity requires each student to listen to a ‘mystery’ celebrity’s voice in character, then determine from a random list of voice qualities, which parameters are used. The students drag the ingredients- parameters to a recipe card. Incorrect choices snap back to the original position. Correct choices remain in the recipe.
The activity was designed to be completely random. In total there are 10 celebrity voices, nine vocal qualities, and each quality has at least 4 parameters. This was designed purposefully. Students are recommended to play this activity several times to achieve a mastery of the practice. The randomness gives the student a different challenge and experience with each visit.
Upon peer review, some improvements in interface/usability were suggested and will be implemented as time permits.
Visit the Voice Recipe
The “Rate Your Vocal Health Survey”, (aka “Cosmo Quiz”) was created to help students diagnose the health and vocal quality of their own voice. Based on the popular magazine’s “rate your love-life survey” the site is a Likard-style questionnaire about lifestyle choices the student makes. The activity helps students determine the overall quality of vocal health and recommends practices for improving/or keeping their voice in shape.
The activity’s logic provides custom responses based on students’ answers.
Learning Activities