___________________________________________ KEELE UNIVERSITY : Music Technology Teaching Innovation project zero An introduction to project work at University level Diego Garro School of Humanities - Department of Music

___________________________________________ KEELE UNIVERSITY : Music Technology  Keele University – Music Technology: Project work used to assess modules for equivalent of 100 credits out of 160.  Project work (technical): design, record/film, edit, transform audio and video material.  Project work (creative): create artefacts using audio and video material (soundtrack for radio drama, sound idents, sonic art composition, music). Context:

___________________________________________ KEELE UNIVERSITY : Music Technology  Many students lack skills necessary for project work: Organisation. Time management. Abiding to requirements. Interacting with project co-agents. Writing reports.  Many students are not used to taking initiative: Taking ‘ownership’ of the project. Pro-active agents.  Students must develop the mentality and working pattern of an (audio) professional: Quality standards. Strict compliance to requirements and deadlines. Presentation standards. Dealing with client. Problem addressed:

___________________________________________ KEELE UNIVERSITY : Music Technology  Formative exercise. Year 1, first semester.  Entirely delivered via WebCT. On-line resources: _ Text (project guidelines, requirements) _ Audio visual (slides shows with tutor’s voice-over) _ Instructional (screen-captured videos with software instructions)  Simple project work. _ Mock media production company. _ Montage of given videotrack with given soundtrack.  Emphasis on methodology. _ Understanding project requirements. _ Using resources (software, sounds, videos, texts, templates). project zero

___________________________________________ KEELE UNIVERSITY : Music Technology  Reflection embedded in the project zero exercise. _ 3 quizzes (formative) with automated feedback. _ Scheduled interaction with a project tutor/supervisor (computer mediated?)  Evaluation embedded in the project zero exercise. _ Anonymous questionnaire at the end of the exercise.  Transferable The concept and many of the resources can be used or adapted to other teaching and learning contexts, for example other programmes at Keele University and/or elsewhere. project zero

___________________________________________ KEELE UNIVERSITY : Music Technology  January 2008: Analysis of T&L problem. Conceptual design. Analysis of pros and cons of delivery via WebCT.  February 2008: Analysis of existing resources (books, HTML) dealing with project work and related skills.  February 2008: Detailed design of ‘PROJECT ZERO’ including its integration within existing Music Technology modules and their assessment.  March 2008: Development of the resources. Design and development of WebCT section.  April 2008: Test of the resources involving students and members of staff.  May 2008: Modification of content, tools and user interface according to the results of test. Plan:  September 2008: Launch of PROJECT ZERO.  October 2008: students carry out PROJECT ZERO and use the WebCT supporting resources.  November 2008: participant students evaluate PROJECT ZERO and its resources by means of WebCT questionnaire (survey).  January 2009: Project leader to collect evidence, carry out analysis of the results and plan suitable corrections to the project in view of future applications.  February 2009 onwards: dissemination of findings.