FET 4510 Instructional Strategies for Unfamiliar Instructions

STAFFING:

RATIONALE:

Under current conditions an instructor has been classified as predominantly a teacher of one family of instruments. This has led to a situation where a number of instructors service up to 7 or 8 schools per week. Such an approach leads to a fragmentation of communication channels within and between instructors and schools, an uneconomic and ineffective use of instructor's time owing to time lost during travel and set-up, and a dispersion of the focus and service that each instructor can offer each school.

SYNOPSIS:

It is the intention of this course to enable instructors to become more multi-skilled across instrument families resulting in a broader understanding of and competence in methods of teaching unfamiliar instruments which will enhance ensemble preparation, organisation and rehearsal. This approach will enable instructors to become more self-sufficient within schools leading to a greater integration of the instrumental music program. To this end students will be expected to demonstrate practical competencies in diagnosing performance concerns and in providing instructional assistance, based on this diagnosis in various instructional rehearsal and ensemble environments. NOTE: For the purpose of this course, `unfamiliar' instruments are defined as instruments from instrument families other than the one which you would nominate, and have been employed to teach, as your `primary instrument field'. IMPORTANT NOTE: Working with Children: State law in Queensland requires that all adults (including university students, pre-service educators, trainers, vocational teachers, industry educators) working with children under the age of 18, in the State of Queensland*, obtain approval before commencing such work. Many education courses include a practical component (professional experience, project work, research, assessment etc.) that may require engagement with children under the age of 18. It is your responsibility to ensure that you possess a current suitability card (Blue Card) before commencing any practical components of this course. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 UNLESS YOU POSSESS A CURRENT 'BLUE CARD'. For further information: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html *If you are undertaking practical experience outside the State of Queensland, Australia you should check local requirements.

OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1. demonstrate increased competence in their teaching of at least one `unfamiliar' instrument. This competence will be Demonstrated through the planning and implementation of a program of instruction in the "unfamiliar" instrument field
2. identify and analyse the similarities and differences in performance techniques which occur across instruments in different instrumental fields
3. identify and justify strategies which can be effectively used in instructing mixed groups of learners of instruments from different fields
4. apply diagnostic techniques to all the instruments that are taught in the instrumental music program.

TOPICS:

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed:

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

The Queensland Department of Education has lodged copies of these publications in Regional and Area Instrumental Music libraries through the State. To complete the course, students will need to have ongoing access to the relevant texts for the 'unfamiliar field' which you have nominated. The text to which you need to have access will depend on the 'unfamiliar field' which you nominate as your area of study. You will need to have regular, ongoing access to ONE of these texts.

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

NOTES:

1.

Letter grades will be used in this course and displayed in the notes section.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least a grade of C- for each assessment item.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   In this course, if students are more than two weeks late with the submission of any assessment task, they are required to contact the course examiner, who may, at his/her discretion, grant a further extension.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of a passing grade, students must demonstrate, via the summative assessment items, that they have achieved the required minimum standards in relation to the objectives of the course by satisfactorily completing all summative assessment items.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks or grades obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   There is no examination in this course.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   There will be no Deferred or Supplementary examinations in this course.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1. IMPORTANT NOTE: Working with Children: State law in Queensland requires that all adults (including university students, pre-service educators, trainers, vocational teachers, industry educators) working with children under the age of 18, in the State of Queensland*, obtain approval before commencing such work. Many education courses include a practical component (professional experience, project work, research, assessment etc.) that may require engagement with children under the age of 18. It is your responsibility to ensure that you possess a current suitability card (Blue Card) before commencing any practical components of this course. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 UNLESS YOU POSSESS A CURRENT 'BLUE CARD'. For further information: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html *If you are undertaking practical experience outside the State of Queensland, Australia you should check local requirements.