Digital Learning is Here to Stay

If music is truly a universal language then we  as music educators have an amazing opportunity  to reach learners of all levels according to  these 2011 statistics. This graph shows  percentages of internet usage per population  in various areas of the world.  With 488 million users in the America's alone,  it's no wonder why folks like Tom Vander Ark  are keen about investing in Digital Learning  programs. Tom's Getting Smart is a site focused  on innovations in learning with primary emphasis  at the K-12 learner, but they also explore  informal, early, and adult learning as well.   From the Getting Smart site: "We are optimistic  about the potential of connecting more young  people to the idea economy through personal  digital learning. Getting Smart is a community  of people passionate about learning and helping  others learn." Music ed. programs take note. Our future music  teachers need more training in non-traditional  classroom teaching/learning with a special  emphasis on digital technologies.  Reaching  this huge and growing market can provide  far-reaching support for musical arts organizations,  music retailers, performers, and yes, even in-school  music programs. The global educational landscape is  changing and we need to be proactive about the  future of our profession. This is an opportunity  that needs to be seized. Let's not be the last  profession to the dance!