MS/HS Learning

By: Matthew Arenas, Peter Choma, Bryan Castaeda,

Steven Sanchez

AP Courses
AP or Advancement Placement Courses- Offered by College board;
College Level curriculum courses that are offered in high school.
60% of US high schools and 15,000 high schools worldwide offer
advance placement classes.
Designed to prepare students for college level classes
End of the year exam that students can take to receive college credit

AP Course Classes Pros

Prepares students with college like curriculum
AP courses often allow students to think more critically in various
subjects.
If you pass the AP Exam for your a content area; you have the ability
to receive college credit.
If you receive college credit, this can benefit a student financially.

AP Courses Cons
Stress with rigorous work
Can lead to burn-out before a student reaches college.
Dual-Credit Courses over AP course
Community College summer courses

AP Courses Article
Goal: To seek if participation in High School AP Courses had an impact
on College Success
Methods: Looked at students who took AP courses and if the finished a
four year college degree
Findings:

The study found that just over 40 percent of students who graduated from
high school in 2001 and who took the AP English Language and Composition course and
exam in high school completed college in four years. Just over 25 percent of students who
took only that AP course graduated within that timeframe, and just under 20 percent of
students who took a standard high school curriculum had finished college within four
years. (Klein 2007)
NOTE: This study was funded by CollegeBoard?

AP Course Article
Lack Causation
Success is not solely represented from AP exams
Within Minority and Low-income schools the expansion of taking
these exams are not necessarily enough

IB

(International Baccalaureate)

Schools

What are they?

The IB aims to do more than other curricula by developing inquiring,
knowledgeable and caring young people who are motivated to
succeed.
- IB Website

IB programs help to develop culturally diverse

students who are globally minded.
Similar to AP Courses because students can
receive college credit for certain classes by taking
an exam.
There are IB programs for every grade level.
Elementary - High School.

Source: http://www.ibo.org/about-the-ib/

IB Program Pros
Culturally Diverse
Works on critical thinking
Help students realize what type of
learners they are to maximize
learning efficiency.
Independent from government or
national systems so they can teach
best practices with flexibility.
Every IB school teaches the same
material during the same time at
every school so moving from state to
state is not as bad.

IB Program Cons
Cost - IB Programs are very expensive for the school and students.
Location - Many critics of IB Programs claim that the schools are not
centrally located.
Amount - There are not extensive amounts of IB programs everywhere
so there is not as much availability as AP programs.
Anti - Critics of IB programs say that the programs are anti-american
and anti-christian. Solely for the fact that they explore many cultures
and perspectives rather than focusing on American beliefs.

Special Education
Designed for students who are mentally, physically, socially
and/or emotionally delayed.
1975 - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), children
and youth ages 3-21 provided free and appropriate public
education.
Public School Enrollment - Children federally supported by
special education programs - 13.8%

Special Education Pros

Free education offered to all with disabilities - Ages 3-21
Inclusion in general education/vocational education classes Improve post-school outcomes.
There is a greater acceptance of individual differences
For many students: Enhanced self-esteem, a genuine capacity for
friendship, and the acquisition of new skills.
Helps develop necessary life skills used on a daily basis.

Special Education Cons

Students do not have the same support in regular education
classrooms.
Students with disabilities suffer from greater fatigue and frustration.
Fatigue factor makes it difficult to keep up with the pace of regular
education.
Regular classroom Inclusion may not be as helpful due to the
struggles faced.

Special Education Article - Goals & Objectives

Goals:
To provide free appropriate educational programs
and as necessary, related services for each child
with a disability requiring special education, from
age 3 to 21.
To provide special activities that foster social
development and, to the maximum extent
possible, assimilation into regular school and
community activities.

Objectives:
To provide appropriate related services to students
with disabilities as needed.

Music Education
Music education is the field of study involving the teaching and
learning of music. (Band, choir, music theory, marching band, etc.)
Music education is any curriculum designed to expose students to
the mechanics/art of music in a classroom.
Music education touches on three domains of learning:
Cognitive (Acquiring knowledge)
Psychomotor (Developing skills)
Affective (Emotional growth through music appreciation)

History of Music Education

The first American school to focus on solely music education was created in 1717 in Boston,
Massachusetts.
The primary focus was singing and how to properly read religious music.
By 1832, The Boston Academy of Music was founded.
Primarily focused on the study of music and related theories.
Was so successful, BOE encouraged music education to be included in the syllabus.
By the 20th century, The Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio was the first college to offer a bachelors
degree in Music Education.
With colleges offering degrees, high schools and middle schools began creating marching
bands, orchestras, as well as other music lead groups to prepare students for future
interests in music education.

Music Education Pros

Music education is known to improve academics and is backed by years of research.
Those who participate in music education have larger vocabularies and more advanced
reading skills compared to those who dont.
Those who practice a musical instrument show better teamwork, increased critical and
creative thinking skills, as well as continuing and further advancing in their education
(not dropping out).
Other pros include: increased IQ, improved testing scores, improved organization skills,
improved self-confidence/expression, and improved language development.

Music Education Pros Continued...

Music Education Cons

School budget has a large impact on the implementation of music education in schools.
Music education is often the first program to be cut to balance the budget.
Essential Question: Should money be focused on a music education to improve
academic achievement or use the funds elsewhere in core classes such as new
textbooks for math, science, etc.?
Students can pursue a music education on their own, in other words, schools are not
required to provide this resource.
"Within two to three years, every school that cut arts showed a decrease in morale and
attendance and an increase in vandalism and disruptions, and within three years
most of them had to add extensive disciplinary staff to account for the problems that
were created by not providing the full range of experiences that human beings need
(Hurley, 2004).

Music Education Statistics

Schools with music programs have an estimated 90.2% graduation rate and 93.9% attendance rate
compared to schools without music education, which average 72.9% graduation and 84.9%
attendance (dosomething.org).
The College Entrance Examination Board found that students involved in public school music programs
scored 107 points higher on the SAT's than students with no participation (musicforall.org).
Schools that have music programs have an attendance rate of 93.3% compared to 84.9% in schools
without music programs (dosomething.org).
In the past, secondary students who participated in a music group at school reported the lowest
lifetime and current use of all substances (tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs) (dosomething.org).

Work Cited
About the IB. (2015). Retrieved November 20, 2015, from http://www.ibo.org/about-the-ib/
Brooke, D. (2013, April 23). Are AP courses worth the effort? Retrieved November 10, 2015.
Hallet, R. (2011). Is Increased Access Enough? Advanced Placement Courses, Quality, and Success in Low-Income Urban Schools. Educated of
the Gifted, 34(01623532), 468-487. Retrieved November 10, 2015, from EBSCO host.
"How IB Is Different | International Baccalaureate." International Baccalaureate. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.
Klein, A. (2007). Researchers See College Benefits for Students Who Took AP Courses. Education Week, 26(22), 7-7. Retrieved November 10,
2015.
Pannoni, A. (2014, September 2). Discover the Difference Between AP and IB Classes. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
Special Education for Students with Disabilities: Analysis and Recommendations. Princeton Publications. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2015). Digest of Education Statistics, 2013 (NCES 2015-011), Table
204.30. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
What is Special Education? Teach: Make A Difference. Retrieved November 10, 2015.

Work Cited Continued...

Brown, L. (n.d.). The Benefits of Music Education. Retrieved November 20, 2015, from
http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/music-arts/the-benefits-of-music-education/
Hurley, R. (2005, June 25). Cuts in Arts Programs Leave Sour Note in Schools. Retrieved November 20, 2015, from
http://www.fineartclasses.com/docs/Cuts in Arts Programs Leave Sour Note in Schools.pdf
Music Education: Quick Facts and Stats. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2015, from http://www.musicforall.org/who-we-are/advocacy/quick-facts
Stanford, G. (n.d.). History of Music Education in the United States. Retrieved November 20, 2015, from
http://www.edu-nova.com/history-of-music-education-in-the-us.html
Ramsundar, C. (2013, December 6). SO WHAT IS MUSIC EDUCATION? | Caribbean Examinations Council. Retrieved November 20, 2015, from
https://www.cxc.org/?q=node/8226
11 Facts About Music Education. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2015, from https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-music-education