Welcome to Younique Academy

Cultivating Creativity Through Technology-Enhanced Arts Education

Explore Our Approach

About This Site

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About Younique Academy

Younique Academy is a private arts and music academy based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. With 8 branches and 80 dedicated educators, we offer comprehensive programs in music, dance, ballet, drama, and performing arts for children ages 4-16.

Our headquarters in Thao Dien serves a diverse, multicultural community including Vietnamese families and expatriates from around the world. We are deeply committed to inclusive education, welcoming students with diverse learning needs including children with ADHD and autism, many of whom demonstrate exceptional artistic talents.

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About the Creator

I am Vi Tran, an educator and administrator at Younique Academy. With a passion for integrating technology into arts education, I am currently pursuing a Master of Education at Edgewood College in partnership with UpGrad.

This website is part of my coursework for Course 3: Technology in Education, where I explore how digital tools and ISTE standards can enhance creative learning experiences.

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Purpose of This Website

This educational resource site serves multiple purposes:

  • For Students: Understand how technology can enhance your creative journey
  • For Parents: Learn about our approach to responsible technology integration
  • For Educators: Access resources aligned with ISTE standards for arts education
  • For the Community: Explore Open Educational Resources (OER) for arts learning

The 7 ISTE Standards for Students

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has established these standards to guide how students can effectively use technology for learning. Here's how we apply them at Younique Academy:

1

Empowered Learner

Students leverage technology to take an active role in choosing, achieving, and demonstrating competency in their learning goals.

At Younique Academy:

Piano students use apps like Simply Piano or Flowkey to practice at their own pace. They set personal goals, track their progress, and choose which songs to master, becoming active directors of their musical journey.

2

Digital Citizen

Students recognize the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of living, learning, and working in an interconnected digital world, and they act in ways that are safe, legal, and ethical.

At Younique Academy:

Before sharing performance videos online, students learn about copyright for music, obtaining proper permissions, and respecting others' creative work. They practice giving credit to choreographers and composers in their digital portfolios.

3

Knowledge Constructor

Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct knowledge, produce creative artifacts, and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and others.

At Younique Academy:

Drama students research historical periods for theatrical productions using digital archives, YouTube documentaries, and museum virtual tours. They compile their findings into digital mood boards that inform costume design and set creation.

4

Innovative Designer

Students use a variety of technologies within a design process to identify and solve problems by creating new, useful, or imaginative solutions.

At Younique Academy:

Dance students use video analysis apps to study their movements, identify areas for improvement, and design practice routines. They experiment with recording angles and playback speeds to perfect their techniques.

5

Computational Thinker

Students develop and employ strategies for understanding and solving problems in ways that leverage the power of technological methods.

At Younique Academy:

Music composition students use digital audio workstations (DAWs) like GarageBand to break down complex arrangements into patterns, loops, and layers. They learn to sequence sounds logically, understanding how small components create complete musical pieces.

6

Creative Communicator

Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats, and digital media appropriate to their goals.

At Younique Academy:

Students create digital portfolios showcasing their artistic growth through videos, photos, and audio recordings. They learn to present their work on platforms appropriate for different audiences—Instagram for peers, formal presentations for parents, and professional compilations for auditions.

7

Global Collaborator

Students use digital tools to broaden their perspectives and enrich their learning by collaborating with others and working effectively in teams locally and globally.

At Younique Academy:

Our students participate in virtual exchange programs with arts schools in other countries. Through video conferencing, they share traditional Vietnamese music and dance while learning about performing arts from different cultures, creating collaborative performances that blend diverse artistic traditions.

AI Guidelines Statement

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into education, Younique Academy has established clear guidelines for its responsible use in our learning environment.

Purpose

This policy provides guidance on the appropriate use of AI tools in arts education at Younique Academy. We believe AI can enhance creativity when used thoughtfully, but human artistry and personal expression must remain at the center of our educational approach.

Encouraged Uses of AI

  • Research & Inspiration: Using AI to explore music history, discover artists, or find creative references
  • Practice Support: AI-powered apps for music practice, rhythm training, or technique feedback
  • Accessibility: AI tools that support students with diverse learning needs (text-to-speech, visual aids)
  • Language Learning: Translation tools to help non-Vietnamese speakers understand instructions
  • Administrative Tasks: Scheduling, reminders, and organizational assistance

Use with Guidance

  • Composition Assistance: AI music generators may be used for learning and experimentation, but final creative works should reflect personal effort
  • Choreography Ideas: AI can suggest movement concepts, but students should develop their own artistic interpretation
  • Written Reflections: AI may help organize thoughts, but students must write their own reflections and analyses

Not Permitted

  • Submitting AI-Generated Work as Original: Passing off AI-created compositions, choreography, or written work as your own
  • Replacing Practice: Using AI to complete exercises meant to develop personal skills
  • Sharing Personal Information: Entering personal details into AI chatbots or tools
  • Bypassing Learning: Using AI to avoid the creative struggle that builds artistic growth

Transparency & Attribution

When AI tools are used in any creative project, students must:

  • Disclose which AI tools were used and how
  • Clearly identify which portions involved AI assistance
  • Explain their own creative contributions and decision-making

For Parents & Guardians

We encourage families to:

  • Discuss AI use openly with your children
  • Monitor AI tools used at home for practice
  • Contact our educators if you have questions about appropriate AI use
  • Remember that the goal is to enhance—not replace—your child's creative development

Open Educational Resources (OER)

Open Educational Resources are freely accessible, openly licensed materials that support teaching and learning. Here are curated OER resources for arts and music education:

What are the 5 Rs of OER?

R Retain

Download and keep copies

R Reuse

Use in various contexts

R Revise

Adapt and modify

R Remix

Combine with other materials

R Redistribute

Share with others

Curated OER Resources for Arts Education

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Music Theory

MusicTheory.net

Free lessons and exercises covering fundamentals of music theory, from reading notes to understanding chord progressions.

Free to Use
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Piano Resources

IMSLP - Petrucci Music Library

The largest collection of free public domain sheet music. Access thousands of classical compositions for piano and other instruments.

Public Domain / CC
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Dance Education

Kennedy Center Arts Education

Lesson plans, videos, and activities for dance and movement education, aligned with national arts standards.

Free Educational Use
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Drama & Theater

Drama Notebook

Collection of drama games, lesson plans, and theatrical activities for young performers.

Free Resources Available
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General Arts

OER Commons - Arts Hub

Comprehensive collection of open educational resources for visual and performing arts, searchable by grade level and subject.

Various CC Licenses
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Video Resources

PBS LearningMedia - The Arts

Free videos, lesson plans, and interactive resources covering music, dance, theater, and visual arts.

Free for Educators

Understanding Creative Commons Licenses

When using OER, pay attention to the license type:

CC BY

Use freely with attribution

CC BY-SA

Share alike - your adaptations must use same license

CC BY-NC

Non-commercial use only

CC BY-ND

No derivatives - cannot modify