(This is part 1 of the first of a series of essays on music education technology)
A brief discussion of the term "technology" will shed some light into this question. Encyclopedia Brittanica Online partially defines technology as, "the application of scientific knowledge to the practical aims of human life." The term "science" refers to the study of the "physical world and its phenomena" that involves "unbiased, systematic experimentation" (Encyclopedia Brittanica Online). When these terms are applied to music education technology, we can decipher this as "the application of systematic experimentation to practical teaching and learning in the music classroom."
Wikipedia states that, "Technology can be most broadly defined as the entities, both material and immaterial, created by the application of mental and physical effort in order to achieve some value." Technology isn't limited to computers or cell phones. It could refer to a car engine, an oven, or even your toothbrush. In music, some of the earliest technology included the musical instruments, and later the phonograph. Technology in specific fields often become "sticky" when they are used in a variety of ways, or by a large population. Specific bits of technology develop as they become more popular.
Today there is a wide variety of technology available to music educators. In this first essay I will explore different some of these types of technology, particularly computer software, internet websites, and applications. I will also take a look at some new hardware that can be used with or without computers.
Look for the next part 2 of essay #1: "Music Theory" soon
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