Hallelujah! I found a great solution to my sound file conundrum. Go to http://www.mymusictools.com/audio_converters_4/free_m4a_to_mp3_converter_26542.htm to check it out (I posted this on Twitter and my delicious site as well). By downloading this FREE application, I am able to convert m4a files into mp3 files and even wav files. It has made my life a lot easier.
The only hitch in this solution is that it only works on a PC. I have searched to find a similar free application that will work on my Mac at school with no success as of this writing. It’s not that there aren’t programs available, but none of them have been free, even ones that are advertised as free. I’m trying to decide if I’m going to bite the bullet and buy something to have at school or if I’m going to buy an application that will simply let me use PC programs (like this file converter application) on my Mac. Both programs appear to be somewhere in the range of $40-$60.
To address the reading, I found it very interesting to read about Steven Spear’s experiences being trained on assembly lines at Toyota and Detroit Big Three factories (pp. 108-110). At the Big Three factory, Steve was shown how to several steps and then given 58 seconds to do all of it. When he failed, the assembly line stopped and all the steps were explained again. Steve did not have great success, as he was only able to install four seats correctly in one hour. At Toyota, Steve had a very different experience. He was only told step one (of the seven steps) and was required to master that step before he moved on to step 2. There were no time limits. He would learn step 2 only when he mastered step 1; therefore if step 1 took one hour, then he could learn step two after one hour. If step 1 took a day, then he could learn step 2 the next day. As a result, Steve was able to experience much greater success in that he was able to do his part right the first time and every time after that. What a great example of how assessment needs to be a part of the instruction, not something to tag on at the end of a process.
This story made me reflect on two things. First of all, perhaps the setup of Toyota’s assembly line is the reason for Toyota being known for making great cars that rarely break down and last for a long time?
Secondly, it made me think about the Suzuki method of teaching music. The Suzuki method is based upon a concept of early childhood education, which focuses on how children acquire native language – through “immersion, encouragement, small steps, and an unforced timetable for learning material based on each person's developmental readiness to imitate examples, internalize principles, and contribute novel ideas.” The unforced timetable is key, both in the Suzuki method, and apparently in Toyota’s assembly line model. It makes complete sense to me in terms of an educational model – why do we insist on forcing kids to learn at the same rate, when clearly we all learn at very different rates????
To clarify something I wrote in my last blog, though I have definite concerns about this predicted change in education, I very much like the idea of customizing education for all children. I completely approve of ‘flipping’ from “monolithic instruction” to “student-centric” learning. And I do think it is important to be on the ready side of this movement than trying to fight it and be left behind. I just hope that there will be a place for relationships in this future.
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