The conference weekend offers more than just live performance; it also serves as a forum for the evolution of music pedagogy. We are pleased to highlight a paper presentation by Dr. Aaron Pergram (Miami University), which challenges the traditional boundaries of the university lecture hall.
On Friday, March 13, at 11:45 AM, Dr. Pergram will present his research in Room KC113:
“The Shaman, the Economist, and the Podcast: Gamifying Cooperative Learning in a Diverse Global Music Course”
Rethinking the Survey Course
In this session, Dr. Pergram share’s an autoethnographic investigation into pedagogical transformation. He addresses a common tension in music higher education: the choice between an ethnomusicologically rigorous course that risks overwhelming students, or a broad survey that lacks academic depth.
To move beyond the limitations of textbook-centered lecturing, Dr. Pergram examines the implementation of a curriculum built on creative podcasting projects and a cooperative cohort learning model. By gamifying these elements, the course fosters a deeper, more personal engagement with global musical materials and cultural concepts.
Key Inquiries
Dr. Pergram’s presentation will explore several critical questions for the modern educator:
- Experiential Learning: How can project-based approaches enhance a student’s genuine understanding of global musics?
- Institutional Validity: Does traditional music school training effectively prepare students for the complexities of intercultural study?
- Qualitative Depth: How can we better collect data to understand the nuances of student engagement within a cooperative framework?
Whether you are a fellow educator looking for fresh classroom strategies or a student interested in the intersection of media and musicology, Dr. Pergram’s session promises a provocative look at the future of music history and culture courses.
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