Hard copy materials vs digital
Found in: Forms & Organization, Technology
Patti P., Hawaii
I’m interested in hearing how everyone is dealing with the digital materials in class. My hard copy books are falling apart, and I’m debating on going the pricey route of buying an iPad Pro for the piano or printing out all the materials. For those of you who print, what have you found that works well for organizing? It’s going to take a lot of ink and binders/portfolios to print all those books!
If you are using an iPad, what have you found to be the best way to navigate between the various SM programs? Using hard copies, it’s easy to pull out the various books needed for a class and have them ready on the music rack.
Jeff O., Massachusetts
I cut up my books, and put the pages in sheet protectors in three big binders: one for Foundation, one for music, and one for everything else. It takes a while, but now it’s done and it works for me. I have an iPad too, for lesson plans and notes. Workflowy is a great app for that (and everything else).
Becc S., Australia
I have an iPad Pro and it’s the size of a standard page. It’s bright and easy to read. I have downloaded all the books into iBooks and saved them into groups for Foundation and music. It’s very easy to go to. If the student has forgotten their books that week (doesn’t happen often, but does happen), I don’t have to spend time sorting through my books to find their level. It’s all in one spot. I’m a fan of the iPad Pro (if you hadn’t guessed).
Maureen K., California
I cut my SM books up and put the pages in sheet protectors in 1-1/2″ binders: F1-4, F5-9, Accompaniment, Reading, etc. I use my iPad for most everything else we use in class: one-off pieces, YouTube, etc. I may try Becc’s method though.
Melanie W., Minnesota
I didn’t have everything physical when things went digital, so I use iBooks on my iPad, but I do occasionally print, and when I do, I take it to an office supply store and get it spiral-bound with a clear cover on front and opaque on the back. I figure it’s money invested.
Gabrielle K., Iowa
I have my students print off the reference book and bring it to class every time, and I printed out the teacher materials and put them in a binder, but I also use the materials online as well. I like both for backup when the electronic device decides not to function, because inevitably it always does when you need it most.
Michelle H., Australia
I’m about to trial using a smart TV setup behind the piano and attached to my iPad so it’s easier for the life coach to see what we are working on, instead of trying to see it on the iPad. The TV is wirelessly connected to the internet as well. I haven’t tried the entire setup yet so I’ll post when I have. I print out all the reference books and put them into folders, and just include this extra cost in the price. So far the students are okay with that.
Patti P., Hawaii
I recently displayed the music we were working on from my iPad to the TV – the parents in the class liked it because they could easily see what we were working on. I plan on doing that a lot more.
Karen K., Oregon
I have both printed copies and the books uploaded to an iPad but I’d love to be able to print a page from my iPad to a woreless printer right there in the class.
Joy O., Alabama
I am a new teacher, so my materials have always been digital. I print it and put in sheet protectors in a three-ring binder.
Kym N., California
I also like to download all the materials to OneNote on my iPad and use it in the class because it has a “Draw” function. I may ask the kids to pick a red thin marker to draw triangles around all the chords (letters) which are “Triangle”.