K-12

Numeracy deficits in childhood have a negative impact on socioeconomic status and academic performance achieved in adulthood. We designed the NMT (Numeracy Musical Training) and carried out a study with preschool children to investigate its potential to stimulate early numerical cognition. Then, we applied the NMT in 3rd and 4th graders with low achievement in mathematics to test its effects on remediation. Contrasting pre- and post-test assessments, results from both studies indicated improvements in specific components of numerical cognition in comparison to the control group.

In this session, we introduce Deltaphone, a browser-based blocks programming language for generating musical scores. Just as learners used Logo's turtle geometry to explore mathematical space in a relative way, learners use Deltaphone's interval-based motion to explore musical space. The emphasis on intervals means that certain computational and musical ideas can be investigated quite naturally in code. For example, musical structures can be more easily abstracted into functions and reused in a variety of musical contexts, and custom chords and progressions can be built.

Songs can be effective in engaging children with science. Tweens (children aged 8 to 12) are in an important preadolescent phase where individual interests are thought to be established. This study aims to determine if songs can help teachers to engage their tween-aged students with science. A review of the songs currently available to help teachers in Australia engage tweens with science was conducted. Few songs were found that were directed at tweens and most were aimed at content knowledge rather than engagement.

An Ensonglopedia is a collection of 26 peer-reviewed educational songs on a single theme, one for each letter of the alphabet. I tour these song collections regularly around the UK, and have produced accompanying music videos and a making-of documentary, which can be found on YouTube, as well as audio albums which are available on Spotify, iTunes etc.