Introduction to Creating and Recording Sonic Vibrations
Click here to download document.Lesson
Objective(s):
The students will begin to manipulate and create using audacity. Software documentation as well as self documentation will be encouraged when exploring and troubleshooting.
Overview:
This lesson begins to incorporate Sound into storytelling. This lesson introduces the students to the tools and practices in audio creation and recording.
Expected Lesson Duration:
Lesson is expected to last 2-3 days.
Interdisciplinary Connection(s) to Common Core
Preparing to Teach this Lesson:
Audacity software download that students will use to produce and manipulate their sounds.
Audacity software documentation that students and instructors should become familiar with and learn how to navigate.
Free sound resource that students may use to find a sound to experiment with in Audacity. Note that there are other resources online.
Student Handouts:
- Students should be directed to audacity’s software documentation for when students need to troubleshoot while using Audacity, but this does not need to be printed.
Lesson Procedure:
Introduction/Gain Attention
- Sound of the Day: The class will begin with an activity that will require students to write a brief story about the content or relation of a sound presented by the instructor.
Project
The students will begin with a quick walkthrough of audacity and its quarks.
As they begin to explore and learn audacity the students will each begin with a sound file
With the sound file each student will be manipulating its loudness, pitch, quality, timbre, etc.
After the students have had practice with duplicating, replicating, and combining tracks the students will produce a small soundscape to complete the image that they took in the last unit. (The image of something important to them)
The soundscapes should:
Be a minimum of 30s
Maximum of 60s
Incorporate a minimum of 8 organic sounds
No more than 4 sounds from other sources, non-original
Minimum of four layers
Outcomes:
Demonstrate adequate knowledge of Audacity, including how to use the software to manipulate qualities of individual tracks, and the combining and editing of multiple tracks
Understanding of how different sound attributes alter the effect a sound has on individuals
Acquiring new technological skills by use of Audacity
Experience working with multiple mediums, integrating imagery with sound
Demonstrate combination of creativity and technical skills in soundscape production
Content of Lesson
Acquiring Key Concepts: becoming familiar with Audacity software, being able to use Audacity to manipulate sound files, and using both original and pre-made resources to create a soundscape specifically for a previously created image and storyline.
Engaging in Experiential Learning: experimenting with sound manipulation and creation with Audacity software, navigating software documentation during troubleshooting.
Building Proficiencies: establishing a new skill set for creating and editing sounds via Audacity, creating and applying appropriate sounds to a storyline.
Connecting with STEM Professionals: view a video or listen to a podcast of a professional sound artist discussing their work and the process, implementation, and importance of it.
Assessing Learning: have students justify the different components used in their soundscapes in terms of relation to the image and/or storyline they previously created. Students can also demonstrate their understanding of Audacity software and documentation, and that they are capable of using the software and troubleshooting using documentation.
Closure and Review
Expectations of projects and their due date.
Have students describe the importance of diversity or individuality in the storytellers and writers due to experiences and how it shapes our stories.
Higher Level Thinking Skills Noted
Looping vs repetition
Non-linear editing vs linear editing
Relevance/Rationale:
The art and skill of storytelling that will be practiced in this class will help the students reasoning skills, cognitive constructive capabilities, and develop character. The creation of a narrative requires the student to develop a logical order from a sequence of events. In order for the student to develop a meaningful arrangement of events the student must begin to grow their narrative reasoning skills. These skills can evolve through the consumption and dissection of narrative literature, of a mixed medium. While developing of their narrative reasoning skills the students should/ will become more empathetic to others, wise to deciphering the true purpose of the story, and become comprehensive thinkers of their own circumstances. The students are finally at the age in which they are beginning to construct their own narratives. We, as educators, want them to be exposed to a great diversity of narratives in order mature those narrative reasoning skills. The more developed their narrative reasoning skills are the more they get from a story (deeper perspective). The more advanced their skills, the more likely they are to rationalize why this character chose a particular path, place themselves in the characters shoes, and develop their own character.
Explorations and Extensions:
What was meant by the question, “Why does music move us?” Can the term, move be replaced with a more scientific term? If so, what term?
Assessment Criteria for Success:
Content knowledge, student knowledge, and appropriate resources are aligned to instructional outcomes. student learning will be assessed throughout the lesson via question responses and correlation to the project.
Students will have successfully met the outcomes when fundamental questions about the importance of storytelling and its role in imagery can be observed through their writing and reflections of their peers work. Also questions about their current disposition are taken into consideration when they see media should begin to arise. Also a fluid and respectful use of time, along with an essay that is fluid, easy to follow, and retains its essentials as an ELA.
Modifications/Accommodations and Access for All:
A simpler version of Imagery and storytelling is already prepared if there are students that need to re-review the information. Also, if students need an alternate assignment due to their personal disposition to the material, alterations will be easily made.
Implementation Feedback:
Students can receive feedback on their soundscape from their peers and instructor. Students can then share what they felt about the project with their instructor; as well as what they gained from it, how it could have better benefited them, etc.
Reflections:
To be completed upon the end of lesson