In a context where technology is merging with many fields of education, digital supports (such as smartphones and computers) are often being used to increase the learning experience, and with promising results. It’s worth noting, however, that in the case of gifted students the common way of bringing technology into your class may not be always the best way; sometimes due to a divergent cognitive style, different approach to the tool, or maybe to a lack of motivation. This poster aims to show an alternative approach to digital education, specifically the experience of the 3rd Aistap Summer Camp for gifted pupils that included a Music Technology Module.
The course had the twofold aim to introduce students to both the physics of sound and procedural programming. In the first part, students were taught how sound waves travel and interact in real world and how they are represented in the digital domain. In the second part students were given full access to the digital support to build their own test cases. In particular, the task consisted of putting in practice the learnt theories designing and implementing interactive algorithms for digital audio synthesis, using a simple visual programming environment.
As results, it stimulated the students’ creativity, who made different design decisions according to their skills and interests, it allowed the teacher to introduce both theory and programming with consistency, and also engaged the attention of those students who are at high risk of underachieving.
This approach, its applicability to other subjects and the resulting outcome must be studied more thoroughly. A new module featuring the same techniques is currently under development and will be part of the 2014 Aistap Summer Camp.