Live to learn.: Learning Through Music

Thursday, 31 May 2012

Learning Through Music

Albert Einstein said 'If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.'
It is not difficult to see why Einstein would think about being a musician if not a physicist. There is plenty of overlap between science and music, from playing the music to actually understanding the scientific principles embedded in an instrument and how our ears hear it. Luckily (but not always depending on your taste!), many people have attempted to be both a scientist and a musician, and looked to blend the two. Music and/or rhymes can be a fun way to learn things. I used to play 'Phases of the Moon' in Astronomy talks at schools and kids of all ages loved it and wanted to know if they could watch it at home. Below are five songs (including Phases of the Moon) that could engage more students in science. Better still, why not get students to make their own rhymes or songs related to some area in science? Who knows, it could be a youtube hit or at the very least a bit of fun learning between classmates.

Laws of Motion Rap

Meet the Elements

Phases of the Moon

Scientific Notation

The Elements Song

If you like these songs you can check out more at:
Physics Songs,
Rhyme N' Learn,
Science Song and App List, and
Sing About Science.
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Publications

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Donnelly, D.F., & Hume, A. (2015). Using collaborative technology to enhance pre-service teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge in science. Research in Science and Technological Education, 33(1), 61-87. doi:10.1080/02635143.2014.977782 [Link]

Donnelly, D. F., Linn, M. C., & Ludvigsen, S. (2014). Impacts and characteristics of computer-based science inquiry learning environments for precollege students. Review of Educational Research, 84(4), 572–608. doi:10.3102/0034654314546954 [Link]

Donnelly, D. F., McGarr, O., & O’Reilly, J. (2014). “Just be quiet and listen to exactly what he’s saying”: Conceptualising power relations in inquiry oriented classrooms. International Journal of Science Education, 36(12), 2029–2054. doi:10.1080/09500693.2014.889867 [Link]

Donnelly, D. F., & Boniface, S. (2013). Consuming and creating: Early-adopting science teachers’ perceptions and use of a wiki to support professional development. Computers & Education, 68(1), 9-20. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2013.04.023 [Link]

Donnelly, D., O’Reilly, J., & McGarr, O. (2013). Enhancing the student experiment experience: Visible scientific inquiry through a virtual chemistry laboratory. Research in Science Education, 43(4), 1571–1592. doi:10.1007/s11165-012-9322-1 [Link]

Donnelly, D., McGarr, O. and O'Reilly, J. (2011). A Framework for Teachers' Integration of ICT Into Their Classroom Practice. Computers & Education, 57(2), 1469-1483. doi: 10.1016/j.compedu [Link]

Donnelly, D., O'Reilly, J. and McGarr, O. (2011). Building blocks for PCK: A conceptual framework to support Shulman’s original construct. Proceedings of European Science Education Research Association (ESERA), Lyon, France, September 5-9. [Link]

Donnelly, D., McGarr, O. and O’Reilly, J. (2011). The promotion of scientific inquiry in Irish post-primary schools through the use of a virtual chemistry laboratory: Implications for teacher education. Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2011 (pp. 3638-3645), Chesapeake, VA: AACE. [Link]

Donnelly, D., O'Reilly, J. and McGarr, O. (2010). A Practical Approach to the Promotion of Inquiry in Chemistry in Irish Post-Primary Schools: a Virtual Chemistry Laboratory. Proceedings of London International Conference on Education (LICE), London, 6-8 September. [Link]

Presentations

Vitale, J.M., Libby, G.F., Donnelly, D.F., McBride, E., & Linn, M.C. (2015). Comparing teacher use of logistic and conceptual indicators to guide online science inquiry. Paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Chicago, IL, April 16-20.

Gobert, J.D., Sao Pedro, M.A., Linn, M.C., Donnelly, D.F., Buckley, B., & Ketelhut, D.J. (2015). Next generation learning and assessment environment for science inquiry practices. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting, San Jose, CA. February 12-16.

Linn, M., Gerard, L., Donnelly, D., Krajcik, J., & Lester, J. (2014). Navigating to NGSS success: Identifying a research agenda, DR K-12 PI Meeting, Washington DC, August 5-6.

Donnelly, D.F., & Hume, A. (2013) 'Pre-service teachers' perceptions of a wiki to support Content Representation (CoRe) design' in Australasian Science Education Research Association (ASERA), Wellington, New Zealand, July 2-5.

Donnelly, D., Boniface, S. and Hume, A. (2012) 'Supporting New Zealand Teacher Professional Development Through CoRes and PaP-eRs On A Wiki' in International Conference on Chemistry Education (ICCE), Rome, Italy, July 15-20.

Donnelly, D., O’Reilly, J. and McGarr, O. (2011) 'The Promotion of Scientific Inquiry in Teachers’ Practice through ICT: Affordances of a Virtual Chemistry Laboratory' in World Conference on Educational Technology Researches (WCETR), Nicosia, Cyprus, July 6-10.

Donnelly, D., O’Reilly, J. and McGarr, O. (2011) 'Facilitating scientific enquiry in Irish post-primary schools through the use of a virtual chemistry laboratory' in FACiLiTATE conference, Dublin, May 26-27.

Donnelly, D., O'Reilly, J. and McGarr, O. (2009) 'A Virtual Chemistry Laboratory for Irish Post-Primary Schools' in Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Conference, Kilkenny, April 23-24.