Dan Mitchell: Resolution 2

I teach Electronic Music and Introduction to Music classes at De Anza College. More information about the classes is available at the Electronic Music and Intro to Music class web sites. Contact me (mitchelldan@deanza.edu) with questions about my classes. Visit the De Anza College web site for general college information including registration and admissions.

Resolution 2

RESOLUTION

Whereas, the “Recommendations Regarding Repeatability” document recognizes the critical and central importance of “practice time” in individual and group contexts and situations that provide “exposure to many genres or areas” in creative and performing arts academic disciplines, and

Whereas, the document recognizes that “most students” generally attend college for more than two years for “valid reasons” and “during the course of study… will take… one or two performance courses each semester,” and

Whereas, the long settled “best practices” approach to such central skill development in visual and performance arts programs has been and continues to be based on continuous skill building and repetition leading to increased competence over time, and

Whereas, the term “performance course” is frequently used in the “Recommendations” document but remains undefined, and

Whereas, the proposal seeks to eliminate repeatability in “all” of the other also undefined “non-performance classes” in music, theatre, and dance, and

Whereas, the proposal presumes that “purposes served by repeatability in these areas can be accomplished through existing curricular options” without defining what those options are nor how they would accomplish the task, therefore

Be it resolved, that prior to adoption of proposed significant changes to repeatability in Visual and Performing Arts disciplines the Academic Senate will convene a work group of subject matter experts in Visual Arts disciplines to propose a consistent definition of the critical term “performance courses,” and make recommendations based on accepted best pedagogical practices within those disciplines and

Be it further resolved that, the California Community College Academic Senate or an approved task force including substantial representation of faculty experts from these disciplines will study and recommend specific ways in which “purposes served by repeatability in these areas can be accomplished through existing curricular options” prior to implementation of changes in repeatability that rely on the use of these currently unidentified “options.”

Spring 2012 Term
Visit the De Anza College web site to find out more about admissions and registration. My schedule for this spring includes:

Music 1A: Introduction to Music

MTWTh at 9:30-10:20 in A11
MTWTh at 10:30-11:20 in A11

Music 51: Introduction to Electronic Music

MW at 12:30-2:15 in A91

Music 8: Intermediate Electronic Music

TTh at 12:30-2:15 in A91

For more information about courses I teach, visit the web sites for my Intro to Music and Electronic Music classes. Send me email if you have questions - see the Contact Info section lower in the sidebar.

Recent Posts From My Other Sites

Music 1

	Grade Updatek 5/22. Grades were updated to include one more listening assignment and one more quiz.

	Brief Grade Update. Another listening assignment is graded, but I could not return it today as I still need to record the grades. Watch for it - and perhaps one other - on Tuesday.

	Important Changes to Class Repeatability and W Grades. Students should be aware of new regulations regarding the repeatability of classes and related to the W ("withdrawal") grade. Beginning this summer, there will be a limit on the number of times most classes may be repeated. This will most affect students who may attempt a class and either withdraw or fail to pass and then reenroll in the class to try again. In general, the once a student makes three attempts at a class, he or she will not be able to enroll in that class again. (There are some exceptions for certain courses in which repeating the class serves certain normal academic goals.) Among the students who may be affected by this change are those who might enroll in a class the first time, feel that they are not doing as well as they might have hoped, and withdraw from the class with the plan to accept the W grade and try again. Under the new regulations, you may not be able to do this more than a single time - so be very cautious about using this strategy. In addition, it appears that there may be some upcoming changes to the deadlines for withdrawing with W grades and similar. These changes are not currently in effect, but now is the time to plan for them.


Source: Music 1; Updated: 10:11AM PST.

Electronic Music

	Test for Intermediate Class. I have set the date for the Music 8: Intermediate Electronic Music test for next Tuesday, May 29.

	Intro to Electronic Music Written Test This Week. An important reminder: The first written test in the Music 51: Introduction to Electronic Music class is scheduled for this Wednesday, May 23. This test is based on the same material you already saw on quizzes #1 and #2. Due to the test, I have delayed the due date for assignment #5 until the start of class next Wednesday, May 30. (Monday, May 28 is part of Memorial Day Weekend - campus is closed!)

	Important Changes to Class Repeatability and W Grades. Students should be aware of new regulations regarding the repeatability of classes and related to the W ("withdrawal") grade. Beginning this summer, there will be a limit on the number of times most classes may be repeated. This will most affect students who may attempt a class and either withdraw or fail to pass and then reenroll in the class to try again. In general, the once a student make three attempts at a class, he or she will not be able to enroll in that class again. (There are some exceptions for certain courses in which repeating the class serves certain normal academic goals.) Among the students who may be affected by this change are those who might enroll in a class the first time, feel that they are not doing as well as they might have hoped, and withdraw from the class with the plan to try again and do a better job. Under the new regulations, you may not be able to do this more than a single time - so be very cautious about using this strategy. In addition, it appears that there may be some upcoming changes to the deadlines for withdrawing with W grades and similar. These changes are not currently in effect, but now is the time to plan for them.


Source: Electronic Music; Updated: 11:40AM PST.

Quotes

	Bertrand Russell "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." - G Dan Mitchell (noreply@blogger.com)

	H. H. Williams "Furious activity is no substitute for understanding." - G Dan Mitchell (noreply@blogger.com)

	George Orwell "Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it." - G Dan Mitchell (noreply@blogger.com)


Source: The Quote File; Updated: 4/12/2012.