Elements of the methodology for teaching the theme "Creating and processing of sound information" using the free sound editor Audacity

Abstract

The article presents the framework of the methodology for teaching the theme "Creating and processing of sound information" of the informatics course at the level of basic general education using the free cross-platform offline sound editor Audacity. The concept of "teaching methodology" refers to the process of transferring from the teacher to the student a certain necessary and sufficient set of algorithms for creating certain information objects that correspond to the information technology being studied. As a result of the analysis of possible software options to support the teaching of the theme under consideration in the informatics course, it is concluded that offline free cross-platform sound editors with low minimum system requirements is the best option. One of the most successful software options is the Audacity audio editor, which has a number of advantages over its counterparts. The article questions the principle of invariance of the method of teaching information technology, in particular technology for creating and processing sound information, with respect to the software and hardware used in the educational process, and substantiates the conclusion about the partial failure of this principle. A possible variant of the framework of the methodology for teaching the theme of the informatics course under consideration is given, which includes the division of the learning content into seven stages. Each of the stages includes a description of the presentation of the relevant educational material, including the technology for performing practical work aimed at mastering the basic elements of the functionality of the Audacity sound editor by students. The description of the author’s teaching methodology also contains the lesson planning corresponding to it on the theme " Creating and processing of sound information" of the informatics course for the basic school. The advantages of the proposed teaching methodology include the possibility of its use for both full-time and distance learning, as well as the low cost of its use in the educational process of a general education school. In addition, the methodology under consideration ensures a high resistance of the educational process to the destructive impact on the information structure of Russian educational organizations, which includes, among other things, an unmotivated refusal of licenses to use foreign-made proprietary software.