Simply Music Technology workshops (simplymusic.ie), which incorporate Interactive Technology and Live Music Performance, have been specifically designed to support the music curriculum for primary level for both students and teachers. The model has been designed to enhance learning for different cognitive styles through the introduction of technology as a learning tool and the content is based on the 3 strands of the primary school curriculum for music:

1. Listening and Responding
2. Performing
3. Composing

The motivational approach of this video looks at how the positivity that is inherent in constructivist and behavioural aspects regarding theorists like Gagne, Gardner, Kolb, Carl Rogers and Skinner, can enhance the pedagogical development of Simply Music’s offering, increasingly so in the area of teacher training.

The intention is to build on the tried and tested in-school and teacher training workshop successes delivered to date, with an informed theoretical approach that will enhance and augment future pedagogical development regarding music and technology interactivity. These will include B.F. Skinner’s work from the 1950’s, regarding programmed instruction, which demonstrated the positivity achieved through the immediacy of results. Success in this area, to date, has produced considerably positive feedback from school principals and the Department of Education. It is a combination of this feedback coupled with a new, more informed, theoretical approach that will enhance the pedagogical content and development of new training material and workshop content for my work in music education.

Skinner’s Motivational approach in the 1950’s still stands strong today, for teacher, student and developer alike.