UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS SCHOOL OF MUSIC

MUS 243: Introduction to Music Education Technology

Course Syllabus Spring 2015
Instructor:
Adam Kruse, Ph.D.

Teaching Assistant:
Christopher Cayari

Email:
akruse@illinois.edu

Email:
ccayari2@illinois.edu

Office Hours:
By appointment
Music Building #4034

Office Hours:
By appointment
Music Education Annex #309

Course Times & Locations:

Mondays: 11:00am-11:50am
Music Building #1201
Wednesdays or Fridays: 11:00am-11:50am
Music Building #1164 (CAMIL II Lab)
Course Website:
http://www.schoology.com
Access Code: GP6G5-H8TH2

Course Description:
Overview and exploration of the relationships between technology and music education.
Opportunities for practical development of skills, work, and play with a variety of software and
hardware, and group projects that tie multiple technologies together in larger curricular units as
well as reading and discussing of relevant contemporary scholarship.
Course Goals:
To challenge limited perspectives of music education by exploring music technology and its
meaningful integration in settings of music teaching and learning while growing as individuals
and as a community of learners, educators, and musicians.
Required Materials:

Watson, Scott. (2011). Using technology to unlock musical creativity. Oxford University Press.
ISBN-10: 0199742766
Headphones Bring them to every lab session (Wednesdays or Fridays).
Additional materials will be posted to our class Schoology website.

Policies & Procedures

Attendance: Students are permitted two absences during the semester. Each absence beyond two will
result in lowering a students grade by half of a letter grade (e.g., from A- to B+). Every two instances of
tardiness will be counted as one absence. Students are not required to contact the instructor ahead of
time regarding absences, but advanced notice and prompt communication are appreciated.
Preparation and Participation: Students are expected to complete all readings prior to the class for
which they are assigned and to be prepared for meaningful and active participation. The instructor(s) will
assess students preparation and participation formally and informally during class.
Classroom Etiquette: This classroom will support an inclusive learning environment where diversity and
individual differences are appreciated, respected, and recognized as a source of strength. It is expected
that all participants will respect differences and demonstrate diligence in understanding how other
peoples' perspectives, behaviors, and worldviews may be different from their own.

Due Dates: Assignments are due prior to class time on the date listed regardless of a students
attendance. Late assignments will be reduced by 10% for each day that they are late.
Academic Integrity: Plagiarism policies and other aspects of student conduct can be found within the
Student Code of Academic Integrity: http://www.library.illinois.edu/learn/research/academicintegrity.html
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Students anticipating issues related to the format or
requirements of this course should meet with the instructor to coordinate accommodations. Students
requiring formal accommodations must register with Disability Resources
(http://www.diversity.illinois.edu/disability.html) and notify the instructor of eligibility for reasonable
accommodations.
Grading
Education majors must earn a grade of C or better in their major field coursework and their professional
education coursework or they will be required to retake the course (January 2010 ruling by the Illinois
Board of Higher Education). As music majors, students must also maintain an overall UIUC cumulative
GPA of 2.5, a GPA of 2.75 in all music courses, and a GPA of 3.0 in professional education courses.
Details can be found at http://muehandbook.music.uiuc.edu/allindex.html.
Preparation & Participation (10%)

Grading Scale

Responding & Connecting (30%)

Reading & Reacting Blog (10%)
Collaborative Discussion Vlog (10%)
Digital Music Lesson (10%)
Creating (30%)
SoundCloud Creation Portfolio (30%)
Composition/Arrangement with Notation (10%)
Composition/Arrangement without Notation (10%)
Composition/Arrangement with Recording Technology (10%)
Performing (30%)
Stage Plot (10%)
Sound Reinforcement Live Event (10%)
Virtual Ensemble Project (10%)

Letter
A+
A
A-

Percentage
97%-100%
93%-96%
90%-92%

B+
B
B-

87%-89%
83%-86%
80%-82%

C+
C
C-

77%-79%
73%-76%
70%-72%

D+
D
D-

67%-69%
63%-66%
60%-62%

0%-59%

Assignments
Specific assignment descriptions and rubrics will be posted to the class Schoology website.
Website
All students will create and maintain a personal website for the class where they will post their various
assignments. We will introduce strategies and resources for creating, designing, and maintaining this
website during class instruction. Details of what to include on the website will be posted to the class
Schoology website.

Course Schedule
The instructor reserves the right to modify the schedule during the semester and will notify students of any changes in a timely manner.

Date

Topic(s), Readings and/or Materials

Wed., Jan. 21
rd
Fri., Jan. 23

st

Monday,
th
Jan. 26

NO CLASS Illinois Music Education Association Conference in Peoria, IL

Introduction to Signal Flow & Sound Reinforcement
Reading: Watson Chapters 3 & 4

R & R Blog #2

th

Web Design / Sound Reinforcement

Monday,
th
Feb. 9

Digital Audio Workstations & Sampling Demonstration

Reading: Watson Chapter 5

Wed., Feb. 11
th
Fri., Feb. 13

th

Monday,
th
Feb. 16
th

Monday,
rd
Feb. 23

R & R Blog #4

Microphones & Recording Techniques

Reading: Watson Chapter 13
Limitations & Distractions
Reading: Watson Chapter 6

Wed., Feb. 25
th
Fri., Feb. 27

R & R Blog #5
Stage Plot

th

Digital Audio Workstations & Editing Digital Audio

Monday,
nd
Mar. 2

Teacher as Facilitator
Reading: Watson Chapter 8
th

R & R Blog #6

Notation Programs
Reading: Watson Chapter 15

Monday,
th
Mar. 9
Wed., Mar. 11
th
Fri., Mar. 13

R & R Blog #3
First Website Check

Digital Audio Workstations & MIDI

Reading: Watson Chapter 14
Video: The Open Door (Schoology)
Microphones & Recording Techniques
Reading: Edstrom Chapter 4 (Schoology)

Wed., Feb. 18
th
Fri., Feb. 20

Wed., Mar. 4
th
Fri., Mar. 6

- Create Schoology
Account & Join Course
- Order Textbook
- Create Website
- R & R Blog #1

th

Monday,
nd
Feb. 2
Wed., Feb. 4
th
Fri., Feb. 6

Establishing a Positive Learning Environment

Introductions, Course & Syllabus Overview, Introduction to Online Resources

Creativity & Creative Identity

Reading: Watson Chapter 2

Wed., Jan. 28
th
Fri., Jan. 30

Assignment Due

Assessment
Reading: Watson Chapters 9 & 10
th

R & R Blog #7

Lab Work Time

Work on SoundCloud Portfolio

Monday,
th
Mar. 16

Performing with Digital Technology

Reading: Williams MEJ Article (Schoology)

Wed., Mar. 18
th
Fri., Mar. 20

th

Monday,
rd
Mar. 23

Video Editing
Prep for Collaborative Vlog, Digital Music Lesson, and Virtual Ensemble Project
NO CLASS Spring Break

Wed., Mar. 25
th
Fri., Mar. 27

th

Monday,
th
Mar. 30
Wed., Apr. 1
rd
Fri., Apr. 3

SoundCloud Portfolio
R & R Blog #8

NO CLASS Spring Break

Digital Music Instruction
Bring: Review of a music instructional video that you found online

st

Collaborative Vlogs
begin this week.

Video Editing (cont.)

Prep for Collaborative Vlog, Digital Music Lesson, and Virtual Ensemble Project

Monday,
th
Apr. 6

Active Listening
Reading: Edstrom Chapter 8 (Schoology)
th

Wed., Apr. 8
th
Fri., Apr. 10

Soundstage and Imaging

Monday,
th
Apr. 13

Virtual Ensembles

Wed., Apr. 15
th
Fri., Apr. 17

th

Monday,
th
Apr. 20
Wed., Apr. 22
th
Fri., Apr. 24

Open Session: TBD

Digital Music Lesson

nd

Open Session: TBD

Monday,
th
Apr. 27
Wed., Apr. 29
st
Fri., May 1

Lab Work Time

Work on Digital Music Lesson, Collaborative Vlog, and/or Virtual Ensemble Project

Collaborative Vlogs
conclude at the end of
this week.

Enduring Questions
Reading: Watson Chapter 17
th

Lab Work Time

Virtual Ensemble Project

Monday,
th
May 4

Reflections, Conclusions, and Course Evaluations

FINALS WEEK
TBD

We will not meet during Finals Week.

Virtual Ensemble
Projects Due During
Finals Meeting Time