What do you get when you cross a video gaming prophet with a music industry savior? You get the birth of a modern day movement that just might include the needed ingredients to change our educational institution.
The video game company, Ubisoft, is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide. Some of their more famous titles include Assassin's Creed, Just Dance and FarCry. The Music Industry Group is VH1, a non-profit organization committed to ensuring that music instruction is a core component to a complete education, giving children the tools and confidence to excel in academics and in life. Their Parent Company is the original VH1 TV station which was a music video channel.
These two companies got together to create a challenge for public schools. Their challenge was for public school students to produce a media product to share why the arts are important to their school. The challenge was also to integrate arts education with academic education and was accompanied by an $8000 grant. Congratulations and Hats Off to P.S. 48 Joseph R. Drake Elementary School in Bronx, New York for winning the $8000 grant. I have had the opportunity to visit the New York schools and I can tell you first hand that there is something profound going on. These students have been able to link technology education with the arts in creative and intellectual ways. They were collaborative and innovative, embracing the use of 21st century skills.
There is a ton of research supporting the arts. It has been scientifically proven that music stimulates the brain in such a manner, allowing for optimal learning to take place. Eric Jensen and other experts on the brain have written that music is responsible for much more educationally than just provoking feelings. Music is a powerful vehicle for learning and energizing the brain. Jensen writes that there is new evidence to show that music taught purposefully brings about marked improvement in math, reading and the sciences.
We look at other educationally superior countries and we watch them increasing their music programs including dance (kinesthetic) programs. Japan, for instance, requires every student to play a musical instrument and also requires kinesthetic movement each morning. We watch some of the Ivy League schools look at those students that have a music background with favor because they know that to play an instrument or to be a performer, a student must already have a great sense of responsibility, organization, motivation and academic ability.
It is very frustrating to read about the many benefits of music and the arts and then stand by as so many schools continue to eliminate portions of the arts from their curriculum. It has become the norm that we in education ignore sound research and turn a blind eye to the damage that is being done in our schools. It sort of reminds me of playing the game of hide and seek with my 5 year old son. He would close his eyes and then cover his eyes with his hands to "hide". So many people do the same with scientific facts and figures. They just close their eyes or stick their fingers in their ears and pretend it doesn't exist.
In the technology world there is a term we use called "App Smashing". I believe that Ubisoft and VH1 have gone beyond App Smashing. They have created a new term, PowerCom Smashing. PowerCom Smashing is the process of using multiple powerful companies, working together, to find educational solutions to student issues and to create educational opportunities. PowerCom Smashing can provide your students with opportunities to create and be inspired through their generous grants and real world opportunities.
I like it. I think I will use that one. This PowerCom Smash between Ubisoft and VH1 may be the ticket to increasing music and the arts in our schools, which in turn will benefit our country's academic standings in the world. These two media giants, Ubisoft and VHI, came together and because they value music, technology and education, provided the motivation and the money to propel this urban school in New York City into the 21st century.
References:
Jensen, E. (1995). Brain-Based Learning and Teaching. Turning Point Publishing: Del Mar, CA.
Mundel, S., April 22, 2014. Japanese vs American Music Education. Retrieved from https://prezi.com.
National Association for Music Education (NAME). Retrieved from nafme.org/20-important-benefits-of-music-in-our-schools/.
K12 Technology. Retrieved from http://k12technology.weebly.com/app-smashing.html.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/child-obesity-research-study-video-games-help-lose-weight/