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Designing an online/blended course for beginning clarinetists has allowed me to rethink how students experience skill-building, feedback, and reflection beyond the physical band hall. In this implementation stage, I built the Start Here Module and the first two instructional modules of my Canvas course. These modules establish clear expectations, provide onboarding support, and introduce the foundational skills students need to succeed—both musically and digitally.

This page includes:

• My Start Here Module overview

• My Week 1 and Week 2 instructional modules

• My Implementation Video that walks through my design choices

• A brief reflection on the instructional strategies used so far
  
   

Course Overview & Purpose

This blended course is designed for beginning clarinet students. We meet daily in person to practice our instruments, while the digital components—reflection, theory, modeling, and multimedia activities—are completed asynchronously at home.

My goal is to create a learning environment where students understand what we are learning, why it matters, and how their practice habits shape their tone and progress. Canvas becomes the digital extension of our band classroom, offering structure, reflection, and accessibility tools that support all learners—including students in special education.

 

Start Here Module

The Start Here Module serves as the onboarding hub for students and families. It includes:

• Welcome materials and expectations

• Syllabus and required equipment list

• MakeMusic Cloud troubleshooting guide

• Ningenius account setup instructions

• Recording rubric used throughout the course

This module is intentionally simple and accessible, giving students a clear path forward before they encounter any instructional content. It also reduces cognitive overload by clarifying routines and making digital navigation predictable from the start.
 

Module 1 and Module 2: Instructional Design in Action

Week 1: Foundations and Modeling

• Edpuzzle videos featuring my own voice and face

• Closed captions for accessibility

• Staff attributes quiz in Canvas

• Recorded demonstration of posture and breathing

This week establishes modeling, structure, and supportive feedback early on.

Week 2: Music Literacy & Practice Habits

• MusicTheory.net note-reading exercises

• Google Docs practice calendar

• Reflection and planning to connect home practice with class performance

Together, these modules demonstrate how outcomes, activities, and assessments align to support mastery learning.

 

Implementation Video

In this video, I walk through the modules I have built so far and address the required components of the assignment, including:

• How the Start Here module fits into the course map

• How Fink’s Significant Learning Environment framework shaped my design

• How module structure reduces cognitive overload

• Where learning outcomes are shared

• How I build community and introduce myself

• Ratios of synchronous and asynchronous learning

• Instructor role (presenter → facilitator → coach)

• Accessibility supports and troubleshooting resources

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