MUHL 3304:
1.
Have changes been made in the way instructors (faculty or
graduate students) teaching your core courses in humanities are
trained, oriented, or supervised?
Dr. Tracy Patterson began teaching the course in the Fall of 2011. Dr.
Patterson works closely with TTU Chair of Musicology, Dr. Chris Smith
who serves as a mentor and consultant. Dr. Patterson has stated that
Dr. Smith has been an invaluable resource on matters of course
content, use of technology in the classroom, and classroom
management.
2.
Have changes been made in the base syllabus for your core
courses in response to assessment results?
As of the Fall 2011 semester students no longer use Turning Point
Response Clickers. The instructor saw more advantages to group
discussion versus that of a digital poll. Also, students had concerns
with using the devices to take attendance/quizzes. Attendance is now
taken by giving brief quizzes (and turned in on paper) that are taken as
a class and integrated into the lecture.
3.
Have you adjusted the way the courses are assessed, the
examinations, or the base content in the areas listed above in
response to assessment results?
The base content of the course has not changed, but there have been
modifications to what events and topics are highlighted. Students
reported that they were highly interested in jazz music/artists
associated with 1960’s politics/civil rights. These pieces and artists
have been given additional time in the lectures. Dr. Patterson stated
that these lectures become interactive with a plethora of student
questions and discussions.
4.
Have you made any changes in the way content is delivered
such as adding on-line modules, improving classroom technology,
using on-line quizzes or exams, making lectures available to students
on-line, or flipping the classroom?
Lectures containing larger slides (quotes, album personnel..) are
posted as a pdf to the Blackboard website. Students are instructed
that these slides will be posted (slides are usually posted before the
lecture) and that they will have access to them until the exam opens.
Dr. Patterson stated that Blackboard is an essential tool for such a
large course.
5.
Have you made any changes in how students are provided
with help to improve their comprehension of the material such as online tutoring, face-to-face or group help sessions, etc.
A “review day” was implemented in the Fall of 2011. Every semester
students have concerns with the listening requirements for the course.
After the content of the lecture is delivered (typically only 30 minutes
of lecture on a review day), Dr. Patterson uses the remainder of time
to play examples featured on exams, discuss their relevance, and field
any questions or concerns from students. This process has worked
well as it gives students multiple opportunities to experience the art
form in the classroom, and ask questions freely to the professor.