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- trakAxPC in Education - a Paper by Michigan State University
- Wednesday, June 29, 2011
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In their article “The 7 trans-disciplinary habits of mind: Extending the TPACK framework towards 21st Century Learning”, Punya Mishra, Matthew J. Koehler and Danah Henriksen introduce their concept framework called “Technological, Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK)”. Their paper is designed to be a starting point for discussing the special kinds of knowledge, skills, and understanding that teachers require in order to become effective classroom mediators of “transformative learning experiences”.
In the article they discuss Patterning Skills; “Creative practitioners are always involved in recognizing and creating patterns. Recognizing patterns involves identifying a repeating form or a plan in a seemingly arbitrary arrangement of things or processes”.
They explain how trakAxPC can be used to develop these Patterning Skills -
Teachers can help students develop Patterning skills in both the arts and sciences, since patterning skills are useful within and across domains. One example demonstrates how the TPACK framework might be used to develop patterns that combine both Math and Music, using a freely available DJ software called trakAxPC. This software lets users download music samples and copy and paste them into a mixer. Students can cut the music samples into smaller units of sound and arrange them. What makes this a compelling TPACK lesson is that students essentially manipulate the trakAxPC software to help them describe and explain fractions, ratios and percentages. By connecting musical concepts such as rhythm and tempo to mathematical concepts (ratios and percentages, etc), students can creatively find and build patterns. Patterns form a relationship between concepts (musical beats per minute and ratios) that belong to different disciplines (music and mathematics). They can and should be integrated, however, and the elements of TPACK in this lesson are just one example of the myriad possibilities of how technology, pedagogy and content can seamlessly combine to design learning environments that promote students’ patterning skills
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Previous Comments
Are there any updates available? I mean for the trakaxPC? I just can’t run in it on my macbook.
I have same questions, does it run on my macbook air? (bought 2010)
Hi Sally,
Unfortunately, trakAxPC only works with Windows XP, Vista and 7.
I hope this helps,
Best regards,
Colm
I love trakAxPC, it’s such a great software. I recommend this to everyone!