ASSessments / Projects

There are no Midterm or Final Exams for this course.

Course assessments will based on the following:

Class Modules (overview)

This online class will be divided up into thirteen theme specific modules that will run one or sometimes two weeks in duration. Modules will become available Sunday mornings and final work for the modules will be due at 11:59 the following Sunday. Each module will interactively engage student assessment through quizzes, writing, audio/visual responses, discussion posts and VoiceThread. Most modules will conclude with students completing a creative work of art that utilizes concepts and techniques covered during the week.

Module Deadlines

Here is a sketch of what weekly deadlines will generally consist of- The below schedule is a work in progress and definitive deadlines will be indicated for each assignment and listed on the course calendar.

Sunday - Modules open by noon Sundays

Monday @ 11:59 pm - "Start Here!" and Module Overview Video must be engaged

Tuesday @ 11:59 pm - Peer critique of previous module's creative projects due (if applicable)

Thursday @ 11:59 pm - PlayPosit lecture/quiz

Thursday @ 11:59 pm Initial Discussion and/or VoiceThread posts due

Sunday @ 11:59 pm- FINAL Discussion and VoiceThread responses due

Monday @ 11:59 pm -Final creative projects and/or writing for modules due

PlayPosit Interactive Lectures

In this course, almost every module will have a PlayPosit lecture (these are called "bulbs") that will be embedded with assessments and quizzes (multiple choice, multiple select, fill in the blank, free response writing). These lectures are a primary source of content delivery for this course. The lectures will include slides, video and hyperlinks and usually run about 35-60 minutes each. You may complete a PlayPosit all in one sitting (best option for continuity), or start a PlayPosit and complete a portion of it and then return to complete the rest of it before the end of the module in which it is in. The PlayPosit gives context for the other assignments that happen in each module and should be completed during the beginning of the week in which it is assigned.

-PlayPosits are a primary metric for determining participation and attendance in this course.

-Short Essays embedded (as Free Response Questions) in selected PlayPosits count toward the student writing component of the course. Responses should be addressed with critical responses, documented with examples and written with proper English grammar, syntax and structure (see writing rubric below on this page for details and HERE in Grading Policies).

-When you get to an embedded quiz or activity in PlayPosit, you may REWIND the lecture to find the correct answer, before answering the prompt. Click the circular rewind arrow to the right of the triangle "play" button to do this.

-If students get an unacceptable score on a PlayPosit, you may take it again to raise your grade.

-Students must complete all activities in a PlayPosit ( one cannot skip interactions) and run it to the very end in order for it to be graded (for initial and repeat takes).

-Students can watch a a PlayPosit at up to 2X speed. Click the settings "gear icon" to the right of the timeline on the lower portion of the screen to set the desired playback speed.

-Students cannot skip forward in a PlayPosit (for initial and repeat takes).

-Students can choose to watch most PlayPosits with either closed captions on or off. Click the settings "gear icon" to the right of the timeline on the lower portion of the screen to choose your option.

CLICK HERE FOR A SHORT INTERACTIVE TUTORIAL ON NAVIGATING THE PLAYPOSIT EXPERIENCE!

Student Groups

Each student will be assigned to a group of around seven other students (selection method will be chance operation), with whom they will engage with in discussions, VoiceThread, critique, feedback during the class and an interactive group research presentation.

Discussions & VoiceThreads

Discussions (either in Discussion Forum and/or through VoiceThread) are a very important part of this course learning experience. In this course D2L Discussions, unless otherwise noted, can be responded to through writing, audio or video modes. Choose the method that best suits your skills/personality, but just be aware that audio and video responses will be graded using the same rubrics (see Grading Discussions). Using audio and video in discussions can keep a dialog lively and personally engaging, and the instructor will take positive notice (just try to keep a/v posts less than 2 minutes in length)! Discussions are intended to cultivate critical constructive interaction and meaningful dialogue among members of student discussion groups, and not to be considered "busy work". Be generous, creative and thoughtful in all discussion posts!! Creating community one byte at a time!!

-D2L and VoiceThread discussions cannot be made up with "late bank" days if they are missed in a module, as they are a module specific engagement with class peers. (See Late Policy in Grading Policies page of this syllabus)

VoiceThreads should ONLY be posted and responded to, with AUDIO or VIDEO, unless you receive a specific exemption from the professor. These response modalities allow a more "in person" experience connecting with your peers and professor.

Discussion and VoiceThread posts will be assessed based on students extending and critically responding to other student posts and/or content being critiqued. Discussion posts that are not detailed, reflective or fail to advance the discussion dialogue will not receive credit. For example, a discussion post that says: “Great job, I love what you are doing.” -would not receive any credit. Rather, a response such as : “ Your choice of contrasting imagery and the way you organized the elements of your collage to create a sense of emotional tension was very effective.”- would be considered an appropriate discussion post.

CLICK HERE FOR A QUICK START GUIDE TO THE VoiceThread EXPERIENCE!

Where do students submit their assignments?

All assignments MUST be submitted to D2L for grading. In addition to submitting to D2L, certain assignments will also be required to be submitted to your discussion groups for critique and feedback!

No assignments will be accepted by the professor through email!

-If D2L is down, or your are unable to upload an assignment contact D2L support for help HERE.

-If an assignment is late and a D2L Assignment Folder is invisible or locked, contact the professor about opening back up for you

to submit.

Given the different learning modalities of this online class, students may be submitting assignments to more than one place (e.g. submit to the Assignment folder AND post it in a D2L Discussions for feedback from your peers). Usually there is an Assignment Folder on D2L that is associated with each assignment, but some assessments will only be in Discussions and/or VoiceThread. Please read carefully the instructions for each assignment activity and make sure you submit your work accordingly. If you fail to to submit/post as instructed, you will potentially need to use you "Late Bank" days to get credit.

Student Writing Expectation

All Tier One and Tier Two General Education Courses are writing intensive. The University of Arizona policies for the writing component of General Education courses can be found here.

• Writing assignments, both formal and informal, are integrated in the course requirements through more than one means. For this (ISTA 301) class, writing will occur during homework, reflections and Artist Statements and a short reflective essay of at least 750 words.

• Writing assignments emphasize critical inquiry--including skills of gathering, interpreting, and evaluating information appropriate to the area of study--through attention to the process of writing. The essay component will employ strategies of focusing ideas, drafting, revising, critical analysis, and research using outside sources, supporting the writing process.

• Writing assignments are evaluated for format, organization, style, grammar, and punctuation, as well as content and participation in the scholarly conversation.

• The short essay involves a revision process in which students receive both instructor and peer feedback on their paper. Students may revise their short essay for regrading ONE time.