How do you create a creative classroom where students can collaborate digitally?

We spoke with Martin, a teacher who has found a smooth way to work with Soundtrap from Skolon’s library. Read on as he shares his best tips and insights.

A teacher keeping up with the times

We spoke with Martin, a teacher who has found a smooth way to work with Soundtrap from Skolon’s library. Read on as he shares his best tips and insights.

Martin Laps is an experienced music teacher, writer and musician with a great interest in combining music with digital tools. At Gärsnäs School and Sankt Olofs School in Simrishamn, Sweden, Martin has found an effective way to teach using tools like Soundtrap to help him unite the world of music and language in the classroom.

When Martin began his career, digital tools were rare. He remembers how lessons were once dominated by traditional methods and how it was a challenge to ensure access to digital equipment for all students. The lack of iPads created a logistical nightmare and did not contribute to equitable teaching. However, all of this changed when cloud-based tools like Soundtrap came along.

Suddenly, the programs became available to all students, regardless of the device they were using.

“It felt so much easier when the web-based tools came along, when everything was saved in the cloud,” says Martin.

The adaptive cruise control in the music classroom

Describing how Soundtrap works, Martin likes to use an analogy:

“I usually explain Soundtrap a bit like this, like it’s like you’re driving a car with this kind of adaptive cruise control. You’re still driving, you’re still in control, but the program is helping you all the time. It steers you right if you’re going off course, it adjusts your speed and makes your driving easier. It’s not a self-driving car, but you get all the steering assistance and adjustments you need to stay on the road.”

This lowered threshold is crucial. Martin explains that today’s students are used to speed due to the worlds of gaming and social media. Soundtrap meets this need by letting them get started and create right away. Within just a few minutes, a student can have created their own song, even without advanced instrument skills.

“The program senses what you want to do, and all of a sudden you’ve created a song in a minute. That’s what’s so cool.”

The school contributes to the flexibility

A large part of smooth usage also has to do with Skolon. Before Skolon, the step of starting a lesson was filled with technical hassle. Students had to navigate to the right website and log in, often getting stuck along the way, which could take up to a quarter of an hour.

With Skolon, this problem has been eliminated. Because Soundtrap is an integrated tool in the platform, users get easier and faster access. Students feel secure in what is their “digital home”, and with a single click on the Soundtrap symbol they are transported directly to their projects.

“It’s so easy, just login to Skolon, click on Soundtrap and that’s it. It only takes a few seconds. Suddenly you’re in there, ready to create.”

Inspired by Martin’s story?

If so, and you’re curious about how you can work smoothly using digital tools and learning materials, get in touch with us – we’d be happy to tell you more and help you get started!

This is Soundtrap:

Soundtrap gives students and teachers the opportunity to explore creative audio recording across all subjects, for all ages and skill levels – Soundtrap is everything you need to produce high-quality music or podcasts.

With Soundtrap, students can explore how music can elevate a presentation to the next level, collaborate with classmates to create a song, or record podcasts to share knowledge. Students can deepen their learning by using different tools, senses, and learning styles.

Purchase Soundtrap directly in Skolon:

Within Skolon, your school can easily purchase digital tools and teaching materials, with the option to give users access to the licenses with a few clicks. This means that you can make planned purchases and control when a license becomes active for teachers and students, for example before the start of a semester.

Soundtrap is available for purchase in Skolon’s library. Go directly to Soundtrap in Skolon to purchase licenses or read more about how to make purchases in Skolon‘s library here.

For those of you who do not have an account in Skolon and would like to know more – you are most welcome to contact us using the button below: