Peer Review

Moodle Music

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Jan 29, 2022 by Music

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

Moodle Music provides interactive lessons in Western music theory and notation, from basic notation through chord progressions and inversions. Short text explanations are interwoven with audio examples and interactive activities. Progress and results can be tracked through an account or LMS integration.

Type of Material:

Tutorial

Online Course

Recommended Uses:

Homework, individual, self-paced

Technical Requirements:

Latest Chrome browser is recommended.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

Build basic knowledge of major elements of music theory (rhythm and meter, pitch, melody, intervals, scales, key, chords, choral progression, etc.)

Read and interpret staff notation

Improve ear training skills

Target Student Population:

High school or undergraduate music theory and aural training courses.

Some lessons could be used in music appreciation courses.

Could also be used as a self-paced tool for music theory review for more advanced courses

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

None

Some additional introduction to the concept of staff notation could be useful in some cases.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: The tutorials cover the major concepts expected in an introductory music theory course, and provide interactive exercises with immediate feedback.
Concerns:: There are some errors that are probably related to language differences, such as referring to eighth notes as “eight notes.”

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: Interactive exercises allow students to practice concepts and skills immediately, with feedback. Exercises could be easily integrated into assignments, and can be used for assessment since instructors can track scores and use LMS integration.
Concerns:: The learning outcomes and connection between concepts could be clearer at times; for example, the links to activities are not often integrated into the explanatory text in a way that demonstrates the connection between the concept explained and the activity provided.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: The activities are interactive and engage users in ear training and theory skills that are best learned through physical engagement and immediate feedback.
Concerns:: There are some activities that could benefit from more explicit instructions and attention to user experience in design. It often takes some trial and error to understand how one is meant to input the information, or what the goal of the activity is. There are also some YouTube videos used for musical examples that are no longer available. These exercises are probably best used with significant instructor intervention.

Other Issues and Comments:: This tutorial site provides simple interactive exercises for theory and ear training courses, but may need instructor framing to connect concepts with activities and provide additional instructions.
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