Syllabus Example, from a Previous Summer Term

ONLINE COURSE SYLLABUS

MUS Z393 – Jazz History

Syllabus Example, From a Previous Summer Term

Instructor: Dr. Farrell Vernon.Professional profile.

Classroom:IPFW Blackboard Online.

Office:Blackboard Learn “Online Office for Your Jazz Professor” OR by appointment at Rhinehart Music Center on campus. (Refer to more information in the Course Communication section of this syllabus.)

Office Phone: (260) 481-6720.

Email: Use Blackboard Learn course site.

Emergency Email: .

Welcome!

I want to welcome you to a new and exciting online course focusing on JAZZ HISTORY. This is America's true art form and major contribution to world music and culture. I look forward to being your guide as we trace jazz music from its earliest roots to its current forms, including its use in television and movies.

Course Description:

A non-traditional history course focusing on development of basic music listening skills (including instrument identification) and applying these skills in an overview of jazz history. Course materials cover major periods of jazz, major performers and composers, trends, influences, stylistic features, and related materials in the history of jazz music. Predominantly designed for non-music majors, but appropriate for music majors. Serves as an Area IV Humanistic Thought general education course.

Course Goals:

Students will gain an appreciation for jazz music and develop a broad knowledge of jazz periods, performers, and composers. Students will develop basic aural skills and learn to apply these skills in the identification of singers, instruments, rhythms, and styles in jazz, America's unique art form.

Prerequisites:

None. A general education course appropriate for all students.

Learning Objectives.

You and other classmates may vary in your competency in achieving the following objectives.You are likely to be successful if you honor all course policies, complete all course activities and assignments on time, and meet all other course expectations described in this course.(You cannot cram for this kind of course.)

Objective 1.Recognize and compare the two basic jazz forms (blues and song form).

Objective 2.Discern the sounds of different instruments in music selections.

Objective 3.Describe jazz eras and important musicians from each era.

Objective 4.Analyze musical selections to discern the jazz style and the names of the musicians who perform in that style.

Course Communication:

Online Office for Your Jazz Professor.

Post questions of general interest any time in my Online Office in Blackboard Learn; replies will be posted there within 24 hours, so that allclassmates can see the answers.But if the nature of the question or concern is more personal or you are not comfortable having classmates see the message, you should use another means of communication.

Campus Office.

My campus office is at the Rhinehart Music Center located on the north side of campus, Room 210 (second floor).If you want to have a meeting with me at my campus office, please request an appointment date and time and wait for a confirmation.When leaving a voicemail at my office phone, please leave a callback number. If you send me an email, I will reply directly to the email address of the original message unless instructed otherwise, so keep track of your messages. (Text messages and notes attached to my office door are strongly discouraged.)

Jazz Lounge

This is an area reserved just for you and your classmates in case you want to communicate socially with each other, whether it is to exchange concert tickets or just to hang out.I do not visit this area, so if you want to reach me, please use another method of communication.

Online Communication Tools

In this online course, I will periodically post Announcements, enter information in my Online Office, send E-mails, give occasional responses in the Discussion Board area, and post Grades.Please follow the guidelines above for using my Online Office and Email.

Communication Protocols: If using Email for course communication, consider stating the need for putting course name and issue in the Subject of the message and for adding the student’s name to the close of the message.

Online Communication Protocols:

As for all communication at IPFW, you are expected to follow ethical standards for use of computer technology and electronic communication.Basic netiquette (online etiquette) is described in Albion’s Core Rules of Netiquette.Also refer to the Ethical Guidelines for IPFW Information Technology Users and the IPFW Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

Blackboard Learn:

You may access the course through Blackboard Learn or MyIPFW.You have the flexibility in an online course to study and participate according to your work and personal schedule within each week of study.However, you must still complete assignments by their required due dates.Your challenge is to dedicate the required time for study within your personalschedule.This syllabus, including the schedule and due dates, should support you in managingtime effectively.Marking your study and your online discussion time in your personal calendar also will help.As part of your personal schedule, make sure you check the Announcements and my Online Office several times a week so that you can see if I have posted any new information about the course.

Weekly Discussions:

Each week will have active discussions equivalent to classroom meeting time.If you have ever attended a summer course on campus, you know this means intensive hours of study because we are compressing 45 hours of class meeting time into four weeks, and you have added study time for each week’s materials. If you have never before attended this kind of summer class, you will need to take extra care with planning your in-class and study time.

The weekly discussions are the equivalent of your classroom meeting time.Because this is a summer course, this means you should plan about 9 hours to be online each week in discussions.Your discussions will be more fruitful if you begin by studying your online and text materials for a few hours ahead of discussions, just as you would be expected to do if you were going to the class on campus.This course is organized to help you manage your time in weekly study lessons. The weekly discussions count for a lot of the class time, and you know this means you must get started before the end of the week.Otherwise, how can it be a discussion in which all classmates participate?It is better to get started early in the week and return several times later during the week to see and comment on what others have posted.In this way, you can actually have a discussion and will not just be posting stuff just to get something online.

Your job is to help your classmates think about what you are studying and, likewise, to learn from your classmates. You need to “hear” each other.So, I expect to see you actively involved throughout the week and not just on the last day of the week.When I review your discussions, I will take into account the quality and timing of what you have posted.

Course Dates and Times.

The Spring Semester 2013 I Academic Calendar shows the basic schedule for our course.The first week begins on Monday, May 14, and the following weeks of study also will continue to start on a Monday.This means that all activities for a given week should be completed fully no later than Sunday of the study week; the exception is the last week which ends on a Friday.You will need to plan your schedule of study accordingly.The last date for this session is Friday, June 22. (Refer to discussion deadlines in the earlier section under Course Communication, Weekly Discussions.) The full course schedule is provided in the last section.

Online Learning Support.

Since you are taking an online course, you already are expected to have skill in the use of computers, browsers, and online searches in the library.If you do not have these skills, you will need additional help and you will need to plan extra time to develop those skills.IPFW has technology support resources and training tutorials, and library has several resources to help you.

Online Learning Expectations

Online Learning;

Online Learning FAQ;

Online Learning Technical Troubleshooting;

Blackboard and Computer Training

Welcome to Blackboard Help for Students!;

Lynda.com (Web Training Link);

STEPS Computer Workshops (STEPS = Student Technology Education ProgramS).

Help and Troubleshooting

Information Technology Services;

Email IT Services Help Desk;

ITServices Help Desk.

Helmke Library Services

Helmke Library;

Helmke Library Services Orientation;

Helmke Library Service Desk;

Ask a Librarian;

Find Your Librarian.

Requirements:

Required Study Materials.

You must have the text in some form and you must have the access to MyMusicLab.Be very careful in your selections, making sure that you get both the text and the lab.Go to the Follet’s Bookstore listing for this course to see the different options and prices.

TITLE:MyMusicLab Student Access Code for Jazz Styles (Standalone); AUTHOR:Gridley; EDITION:11th; COPYRIGHT YEAR:2012; PUBLISHER:Prentice Hall.

TITLE:MyMusicLab with Pearson eText -- SAC -- for Jazz Styles; AUTHOR:Gridley; EDITION:11th; COPYRIGHT YEAR:2012; PUBLISHER:Prentice Hall.

CAUTION:If you decide to purchase a used textbook, you still will need to purchase the access code in order to be able to use MyMusicLab.

Software and Technical Programs.

IT Servicesresources and help can assist you with any special software or technical operations.As written earlier, make sure you use those resources and help services if you need assistance.

Assignments.

You will have assignments in each week for each module of the course requiring the use of MyMusic Lab, your textbook, and discussion participation.

Quizzes, Tests, and Exams.

You have a getting started quiz, optional pre and posttest within each chapter which can help you in your studying, chapter exams on which you are expected to achieve at least 85%, a midterm and a final exam.

Equipment and Skills Needed:

Students must have regular access to a computer and be able to use computer skills to successfully complete this course.Many problems instructors and students run into when using Blackboard Learn stem from mis-configured browsers, incorrect software versions, pop-up blockers, and other issues.Most of these issues can be prevented by performing the browser tune up before using Blackboard Learn or once a problem arises.Often students find it easier to use Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Safarirather than Internet Explorer; for some applications Internet Explorer may work well.

Organization of this Course:

The course contains six units of study.Each unit has several modules.These are mini-modules with a particular topic of focus.Each module has a study guide that gives the checklist of learning activities for that module.Learning activities cover the reading assignment and use of supplemental resources.Students also will find links in each module to major course areas such as audio lectures, videos, music, discussion areas, quizzes, a web links folder, and suggestions for managing time.

Many brief quizzes will be distributed throughout the modules in the course with the first one given in Unit 1.There will be five major tests in the course, the last of which will be given in finals week of the course.There will be two concert critiques due in the semester (see Concert Critique below).Students will have each Unit available to them for a limited period of time, and those weeks are listed below.

Unit 1, May 14-20:Introduction

Module 1 Syllabus, Course Outline

Module 2 Introduction

Module 3 Basics of Jazz

Module 4 Appreciating Jazz Improvisation

Unit 2, May 21-27:Premodern Jazz

Module 5 Origins of Jazz

Module 6 Early Jazz

Module 7 Swing (early 1930s to 40s)

Unit 3, May 28-June3:Swing

Module 8 Duke Ellington

Module 9 Count Basie

Midterm Exam

Unit 4, June 4-10:Modern Jazz

Module 10 Bop (early 1940s to 50s)

Module 11 Cool Jazz

Module 12 Hard Bop

Unit 5, June 11-17:Innovators

Module 13 Miles Davis

Module 14 John Coltrane

Module 15 Avant-Garde/Free Jazz (1960s to70s)

Unit 6, June 18-24:Modern Jazz (1960s to Present)

Module 16 Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and more.

Module 17 Jazz-Rock Fusion

Module 18 1980s to Present

Module 19 Other Voices

Final Exam

NOTE:IPFW operates within the Eastern Daylight Saving Time, EDT. If a student is not in this time zone, the student will need to adjust for this time zone when submitting course assignments.

IMPORTANT:Tests will be available only for a limited period of time.Students must complete and submit their tests before that time frame expires.

Grades.

Values for determining the grade in the course are distributed as follows, each of which must be completed in order to pass the course.

• Start Here Quiz:5%
• Discussions: 15%
• Chapter exams:20%
• Concert reviews:10%
• Midterm and Final Exams:50%.

This course will use the following basic grading scale which shows the grade earned for different percentages of total possible in the course.

93.49 or above = A.

89.49 through 93.48 = A-.

86.49 through 89.48 = B+.

83.49 through 86.48 = B.

79.49 through 83.48 = B-.

76.49 through 79.48 = C+.

73.49 through 76.48 = C.

69.49 through 73.48 = C-.

66.49 – 69.48 = D+.

63.49 – 66.48 = D.

59.49 – 63.48 = D-.

Below 59.49 = F.

Course Policies:

Class Attendance:

Full participation in class discussions and timely submission of all assignments constitutes evidence of class attendance.On-time participation at the course site, particularly in the unit discussions, is evidence of attendance in this online course.Students are expected to allocate sufficient time to complete all the requirements for each Unit: reading, listening, responding to discussion questions, submitting replies to classmates, and completing other assignments on time.Failure to keep up with the pace of the course may result in lower grades or the failure of the class.

NOTE: Our eLearning system has a tracking feature built into the course site so that ITS and instructors can identify the time spent by each of student in exams and other areas of the course site, including when emails are delivered.This rather detailed information helps to verify attendance and participation.

Illnesses and Anticipated Absences:

Explain what will be required for approval of anticipated absences in the activities of the online course, for unexpected absences, and requested extensions.

Late Work:

Late assignments result in automatically lowered grades; therefore, it is to the students’ advantage to turn them in on time.Students who have a situation that prevents on-time work, should turn in work in advance.Only the student is responsible for any failure of on-time submitting or posting of work at the course site.

Basic Requirements for Course Assignments:

For your Concert Critiques you must submit them at the Blackboard Learn site in MS Word .doc, .docx, or in .rtf format.(These file types can be opened in Blackboard Learn and receive comments; other formats such as .wpd cannot.)

Academic Honesty and Standards of Conduct.

Academic Performance.

Mention that standards for academic performance at IPFW include academic honesty and standards of conduct.

Academic Honesty.

Cheating or plagiarism will result in failure for the assignment and potential failure in the course.All work should be the student’s own work, not someone else’s. To understand more about how to write with academic honesty and to avoid plagiarism, students can visit the brief explanation posted at the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL): Overview and Contradictions.

Honor code statement:

The ways in which exams in an online course are taken require that extra steps be taken to ensure that academic misconduct does not occur during them. As part of these extra steps,students are asked to indicate agreement with an honor statement on each major test in the course.

The student who participates in this course is expected to be the one who posts his or her own messages in the discussions, who takes the quizzes and tests, and who does the concert critique. The student’s work should be the result of the student’s own efforts, not someone else’s work.The student should consult textbooks, notes, or other outside aids only as allowed in the directions for a particular assignment.Each student also is expected to not reveal the contents of quizzes and tests to anyone outside of this course.

Discussions and Computer Resources.