On episode 289 of The Elementary Music Teacher podcast, I talk all about effectively implementing what you learn at music education conferences. These gatherings are rich sources of knowledge, inspiration, and professional connections, but the true challenge lies in successfully translating the insights gathered from these events into practical applications in your own classroom.
In this blog post, I will discuss the importance of attending conferences with a problem-solving mindset, reflecting and debriefing after the conference, implementing the new ideas in your classroom, and balancing between immediate implementation and future planning. We also explore ways to organize and revisit the wealth of knowledge gained during the conference, and the courage to try new teaching methods. Keep reading to learn more on how you can apply these strategies to get the most out of your music education conference experience.
Attending Conferences with a Problem-Solving Mindset
When attending conferences, enter each session with a well-defined understanding of the issues or problems you’re presently grappling with in your professional practice. This problem-solving mindset equips you to proactively hunt for solutions during the course of each session, bridging the gap between your existing challenges and the ideas being presented.
Consider each session as a unique opportunity to not only acquire new knowledge but also to identify effective strategies to enhance your teaching methods. Be actively involved in the session, immerse yourself in the discussions, and don’t hesitate to ask questions or seek further clarification from the presenters. They are experts in their field and their insights may hold the key to resolving the issues you’re facing.
Also, make a point of interacting with other attendees. They may be dealing with similar challenges and their experiences or approaches could provide fresh perspectives. Use breaks and networking sessions to discuss common problems and potential solutions.
Remember, the goal is to leave the conference with not just theoretical knowledge, but practical solutions that you can apply directly to your professional practice.
Reflecting and Debriefing After the Conference
Actively review and process the wealth of information you’ve gained during the event. It’s not merely about remembering what was said, but understanding and interpreting the knowledge to make it relevant and applicable to your practice.
Post-conference reflection should ideally start with a thorough review of your notes. This activity allows you to revisit the key points and discussions from each session, reinforcing the new concepts in your mind. As you go through your notes, highlight or underline the most important points. These could be innovative ideas, practical strategies, or key insights that resonated with you.
On top of reviewing the content, organizing the information you’ve gathered is equally important. This can involve creating categories or ‘buckets’ based on the topics or sessions, and sorting your notes accordingly. For instance, you may have a category for ‘teaching strategies’, ‘student engagement’, or ‘curriculum development’. This makes your notes more manageable and easier to navigate.
In our digital age, you might also consider typing up your notes for easy reference later. Digital notes can be easily edited, searched, and shared. This is particularly useful when you want to revisit these learnings in the future, whether it’s for implementing them in your classroom or for preparing for your next conference.
Implementing New Ideas in the Classroom
You might encounter challenges or unexpected results when you apply new techniques in your classroom. But rather than getting disheartened by these hiccups, perceive them as opportunities for growth and learning.
When a new method doesn’t yield the desired outcome, pause and reflect on the process. Ask yourself why it didn’t work. Was it the timing, the presentation, or the context? Did it clash with other teaching methods you are using, or was it simply not the right fit for your particular group of students?
Once you’ve identified potential factors that contributed to the less than successful implementation, consider how you can adjust your approach for better results next time. This might involve tweaking the method to better suit your teaching style or students’ learning needs, or it could mean seeking additional resources or training to strengthen your understanding of the technique.
The key is to keep trying, keep experimenting, and keep learning. Every attempt, successful or not, brings you one step closer to discovering an approach that works wonderfully in your classroom. So, don’t hold back from trying new ideas you’ve gleaned from conferences. You’ll never know how transformative they can be for your teaching practice unless you give them a try.
Balancing Immediate Implementation and Future Planning
Some ideas or methodologies may be complex and require a thorough plan or additional resources to execute effectively. Prioritizing what can be implemented right away and what needs more time for planning or preparation can enhance the overall process.
For instance, simpler concepts that align closely with your current curriculum can be integrated almost immediately, while more complex methodologies might require you to develop a more detailed plan or gather additional resources. This could include obtaining necessary materials, creating new lesson plans, or even attending further training to fully understand the new approach.
Always consider the readiness of your students. Some concepts might be too advanced for them at the current stage of their learning journey, requiring you to delay implementation until they have gained more foundational knowledge.
How do you implement what you learn at music education conferences? Tell me about it in the comments below or share your thoughts on social media as you share this post. I’d love for you to share this post or any of the resources on my website with a friend or colleague who you know NEEDS to see it too.
P.S. Are you feeling frustrated or stuck as an elementary music teacher? Check out these free resources to help you teach elementary music with confidence!
Also…I wrote a book called “Make A Note: What You Really Need To Know About Teaching Elementary Music” to help music teachers move forward in your teaching career. You can get your copy here.
