Curating Music Education: Music Teachers' Perceptions and Implementations of Smithsonian Learning Labs

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 1:30 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Research on Professional Development in Music Education (Table 5)

Abstract

This multiple case study analyzes music teachers’ perceptions and implementations of the Smithsonian Learning Lab (SLL) program. SLL is an online platform that provides users access to millions of museum artifacts, specimens, recordings, and other materials from all museums across the SI ecosystem, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture. I tasked three music teachers with using SLL to conduct two lessons that included African American musical cultures. I identified several findings, including the varied impressions of SLL from the teachers, how they incorporated SLL based on various specialties and grade levels taught, and how they perceived and practiced culturally relevant pedagogy and object-based learning using SLL.

Author

• Christian Michael Folk, University of Texas at Austin