University of Nebraska Kearney

General Studies Program Assessment Plan: Humanities & Personal Development: Music and Dance

DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC & PERFORMING ARTS 9.29.07 Rev. 12.20.07
2006-07 GENERAL STUDIES ASSESSMENT (Music and Dance Courses)

PART I.

GENERAL STUDIES ASSESSMENT PLAN: MUSIC AND DANCE

GENERAL STUDIES COURSES IN MUSIC AND DANCE OFFERED 

Humanities Category: Aesthetic Perspective
MUS 100GS Intro to Music
MUS 106GS Jazz and Blues
MUS 107GS Rock and Blues
DANC 122GS Dance Appreciation

Personal Development Category
MUS 159GS Fundamentals of Piano

GENERAL STUDIES OBJECTIVES

General Studies Courses in Music and Dance (Humanities Category/Aesthetic Perspective) cover the following objectives of the General Studies Program:

1. General Objectives:
   
   1. the ability to locate and gather information
   2. the capability for critical thinking, reasoning and analyzing
   3. effective communication skills including the ability to read, speak and write effectively, using the materials, ideas, and discourse modes of specific academic areas
   4. an understanding of the experiences and values of groups and cultures which have been historically under-represented
       
    
2. Humanities Category Objectives (MUS 100, 106, 107, DANC 122):
   
   1. demonstrate the ability to comprehend primary texts, i.e., the work of literary figures, historical figures, philosophers, and critics; film and theatrical performance; works of art; music in performance and/or notation
   2. demonstrate the ability to form and support , in writing, coherent positions on issues relevant to primary texts
   3. demonstrate the ability to use, in speaking and writing, the forms of reference and the manners of discourse appropriate to the particular discipline
   4. demonstrate the ability to see primary texts as cultural descriptions as well as individual creation
       
    
3. Aesthetics Perspective Objectives (MUS 100, 106, 107, DANC 122):
   Students will demonstrate an ability to:
   
   1. identify elements, styles, and idioms of a given art form using discipline-specific terminology and a basic working knowledge of the creative process and problem solving methods of the discipline
   2. place aesthetic works and/or performance events in the historical, political, social and philosophical context which gave rise to their creation
   3. interpret exemplary aesthetic works and/or performance events, taking into account their cultural dimension
   4. respond to exemplary aesthetic works and/or performance events expressively and critically in forms appropriate to the discipline within the framework of established or emerging schools of criticism, method and technique
       
    
4. Personal Development Category Objectives (MUS 159 only):
   In addition to those general objectives required of all General Studies courses, students will:
   
   1. demonstrate the ability to confront the complexities--physical, emotional, economic, and/or technological--of the contemporary world
   2. demonstrate the development of skills, behaviors and problem solving strategies necessary to prevail in the contemporary world
    

DIRECT MEASURES

I. Method—Writing Assignment (Response Paper) MUS 100, 106, 107, DANC 122
All courses under the Humanities Category/Aesthetic Perspective use a written response paper assignment designed to assess student learning objectives in all three areas: A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, B4, C1, C2, C3, C4. See Essay Response Papers and Rubrics for MUS 100, 106, 107 and DANC 122.

All instructors will use the Response Paper as an assignment within their General Studies course according to the determined schedule. Instructors will distribute the assignment and collect the Response Papers within the final two or three weeks (prior to finals) of the course. Instructors will assess the papers according to the Response Paper Rubric designed for each course.

As the response paper is one of each course’s regular assignments, all students complete the paper with a random sampling of 15% of the papers and assessment scores submitted to the Assessment Committee by the final day of classes prior to finals week.

The Assessment Committee will meet during Finals Week of each semester to review and analyze the course data in the annual assessment report.

Data results will be shared with the entire music and dance faculty by the Assessment Committee chair as a written formal report and placed on the agenda of subsequent faculty meetings.

II. Method—Performance-based Assessment MUS 159
The department offers one course in the Personal Development Category and uses a series of assignments and exams to assess student learning objectives in two areas: A1, A2, A3, D1, D2. See Assessment Rubric.

At this time a single instructor teaches one or two sections of MUS 159 per semester who incorporates a set of specific assignments in technique, theory, repertoire, and improvisation/composition that are assessed during a two-three week period near the end of the semester. As the classes are very small, data is collected on the entire class and submitted to the Assessment Committee by the final day of classes prior to finals week.

The Assessment Committee will meet during Finals Week of each semester to review the course data for submission in the annual assessment report.

Data results will be shared with the entire music and dance faculty by the Assessment Committee chair as a written formal report and placed on the agenda of subsequent faculty meetings.

ASSESSMENT TIMELINE

Each semester, three Humanities Category/Aesthetic Perspective General Studies courses are offered in Music and Dance (Fall—MUS 100, MUS 106, DANC 122; Spring—MUS 100, MUS 107, DANC 122) and one course in the Personal Development Category (Fall and Spring—MUS 159). We plan to assess student outcomes on an annual rotation according to the following schedule:

2005—2008 Assessment Schedule:
First Week of Classes:
     Instructors provide copies of Course Syllabus to the Office
     Instructors include General Studies assessment assignment

13-15th Week of Classes:
     Instructors distribute assignment(s) for GS Student Outcomes Assessment
     Instructors collect and grade assignment according to the course-specific rubrics

15th Week of Classes:
     Instructors submit assessment scores and papers to the Assessment Committee for review

Finals Week:
     Data is analyzed and reviewed by the Assessment Committee

Annual Assessment Report:
August-September: Assessment Committee makes a comparative analysis of all previous year’s data, determines plan/tool strengths and weaknesses, and makes recommendations for change.

October 1 each year: Assessment Report due

This timetable will be followed until assessment plans are revised.

2007 

Previous Music Plan, Replaced Fall 2007
Previous Dance Plan, Replaced Fall 2007