Our Musical School: Ethnographic Methods and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy in Elementary General Music

The current study has uncovered the complexities of childhood musical culture in a rural public school in Maryland with a diverse student population. Through daily interaction with her students, the researcher learned about their particular culture, including musical preferences, practices of music consumption and expression, and how students conceptualize music. The breadth and depth of knowledge the investigator was able to discover through participant observation during teaching duties demonstrates the usefulness of ethnographic methods in learning about students' musical culture for classroom music teachers. The use of this information proved to be productive in developing culturally relevant lessons that students responded to positively. In conclusion, the researcher found that pursuing an ethnographic project in order to create a culturally relevant pedagogy for her students was a worthwhile undertaking as an elementary general music educator

Desarrollo experimental de prototipos de techo solar de bajo costo

Se presenta el desarrollo experimental de los primeros prototipos de un nuevo diseño conceptual de techo solar configurable, cuya innovación radica en proveer de calefacción solar y refrigeración natural a las viviendas, mediante redistribución de agua. El estudio experimental ha demostrado la factibilidad de su construcción empleando técnicas y materiales de construcción convencionales. Se discuten sus costos, que podrían ser similares a los de un techo convencional de similar calidad térmica, y que por lo tanto permitirían aplicar este sistema sobre toda la superficie del techado. Resultados preliminares permiten estimar que en condiciones de clima patagónico se podrían obtener eficiencias como colector solar en el rango del 30% al 50%. Se discute las fortalezas y debilidades de este diseño y otras posibles variantes del mismo también en estudio, que podrían servir para mejorar su desempeño y generalizar su aplicación a techos preexistentes y/o inclinados.The experimental development of prototypes relates a new conceptual design of a configurable solar roof is presented. Its innovation involve a solution for the solar heating and natural cooling of houses, by means of water redistribution. The feasibility of concept by using standard constructions materials and techniques is checked. The cost analyze shows this roof could achieve similar cost than conventional roofs. Preliminary, initial results have shown than efficiencies as solar collector ranging from 30% to 50% could be achievable in this configuration. The strengths and weaknesses of this design are discussed, together with other possible variations of this original design. These variations could be useful for implementing this solar roof onto older and (or) titled roofs.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES