Introduction
Technology is increasingly becoming a staple in schools across the United States. As such, it is important to understand the different ways in which technology is being used in music education in order to make informed decisions about its implementation. The purpose of this study is to map out the different technologies being used in music education in selected primary schools across the United States. Specifically, the study will seek to answer the following questions: What technologies are being used in music education in selected primary schools across the United States? How are these technologies being used? What are the benefits and challenges of using these technologies in music education?
Methodology
This study will use a qualitative methodology. Qualitative methods are well suited for this type of study as they allow for in-depth exploration of the topic at hand. In addition, qualitative methods are flexible and can be adapted as new information is uncovered during the course of the study.
The study will take place in three phases. In the first phase, a literature review will be conducted in order to gain a better understanding of the topic. In the second phase, data will be collected from primary sources. This data will be collected through interviews with music educators who are using technology in their classrooms. In the third phase, the data will be analyzed and interpreted.
Participants
The participants in this study will be music educators who are using technology in their classrooms. A purposive sampling method will be used to select participants. This means that participants will be selected based on their ability to provide information about the research topic. In order to be eligible to participate in the study, music educators must be using technology in their classrooms and be willing to share their experiences with the researcher.
A total of 10 music educators will be interviewed for this study. These music educators will be drawn from a variety of primary schools across the United States. It is anticipated that the majority of the participants will be from the Northeast and Midwest regions of the country.
Setting
The setting for this study will be the music classrooms of the participants. The researcher will travel to the participants’ schools in order to conduct the interviews. In some cases, it may be possible to conduct the interviews via Skype or another video conferencing platform.
Data Collection
Data for this study will be collected through semi-structured interviews. Semi-structured interviews are a type of qualitative data collection method that allows for some flexibility in the questions that are asked. This type of interview is well suited for this study as it will allow the researcher to explore the topic in more depth while still maintaining a structure to the interview.
The interviews will be conducted in person, over the phone, or via Skype. The interviews will be audio recorded and transcribed. In some cases, it may be necessary to use a video recording if the interview is conducted over Skype.
Data Analysis
The data collected in this study will be analyzed using a thematic analysis. This type of analysis is well suited for qualitative data as it allows for the identification of patterns and themes in the data. The data will be coded and analyzed for themes related to the research questions.
Ethical Considerations
This study will involve human participants and as such, there are a number of ethical considerations that must be taken into account. First and foremost, all participants will be given informed consent prior to taking part in the study. This means that they will be made aware of the purpose of the study, the procedures that will be followed, and their right to withdraw from the study at any time. All participants will be given the opportunity to ask questions and will be given a copy of the informed consent form to keep for their records.
Second, all participants will be given the option to remain anonymous. This means that their names and identifying information will not be used in any reports or publications arising from this study. All data will be kept confidential and will be stored in a secure location.
Third, all participants will be made aware of the risks and benefits of taking part in the study. The risks of taking part in the study are minimal and include such things as feeling uncomfortable during the interview or feeling overwhelmed by the questions. The benefits of taking part in the study include the opportunity to share their experiences with the researcher and the potential for the findings of the study to be used to improve music education.
Fourth, all participants will be given the opportunity to withdraw from the study at any time. If a participant decides to withdraw from the study, their data will be destroyed and they will not be required to provide any reason for their decision.
Finally, this study has been approved by the IRB.
