Why Have Group Projects?
These collaborative assignments are designed to foster learning as a group, and to promote solidarity rather than competition in the process of learning (i.e. they prepare you for the post-collegiate work environment, where collaborative teams far outnumber individual efforts). They are also good opportunities for you to address what you see as gaps in the curriculum (i.e. are there issues that you care about that are not addressed in the class?), supplement the material presented by the instructor (perhaps media artists and collectives you are interested in?), and organize the class to participate in learning activities that you deem valuable. You are encouraged to use these assignments as opportunities to contribute to your own learning process and take ownership of the class.

Group Projects for This Class
There are two group projects for this class that all enrolled students are required to participate in, both are graded assignments:

1. Discussion Group: starting in Week 2-3, each week a group of 2-3 students will look over the discussion questions posted on Sakai, select ones that interests them or address important class topics, and lead a 30 min. discussion in the Thursday class of the same week. During this time, each group may:

• Refer to specific quotes, passages, ideas and/or concepts in the class reading as well as in my class lecture from class;
• Frame the discussion in one or more format of your choice (e.g. using prepared questions, group or individual facilitation, short writing exercises, etc.)
• Present additional material in the form of sound recording, video, still image, PowerPoint, web sites, etc.

Discussion groups may be self-organized by students in the class, or be organized by me. Each discussion group is required to meet with me before the class in which their discussion takes place to discuss and coordinate your lesson plan with mine. Each discussion group will summarize the main ideas, debates, and conclusions discussed in the class they led with a 500-700 word post on Sakai under the same Forum topic, due a week after the class.

2. Final Presentation: during the last two weeks of the semester, all students will do an oral presentation of their final paper or project in class. These presentations will take a form of a series of panels and performances. Each student will present for 15 min., and each panel / performance will have 60 min., including time for feedback from and discussion with the class. Each group is responsible for organizing their own presentation, including the following tasks:

• Coming up with the order and format for your panel or performance;
• Keeping time to make sure every member's presentation is not too long or too short, and there is enough time for discussion and feedback from the class;
• Coordinating with me on your technological and other special needs.

The groups will be organized according to your Final Paper / Project proposals. Each group should meet with me at least once to discuss your plans, and you are strongly encourage to meet with me more than once for feedback.

Grading Criteria
Discusson group will count for 20% of your class grade, and final presentation will cound for 15% of your class grade. One grade will be given per group project - meaning each student in the group will receive the same grade, unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Grading for discussion groups will be based on my assessment of:

• Your group's planning - how did you select and frame the discussion questions, the different class activities as well as related material, such as sound clips and PowerPoint presentation, that your group have utilized for your discussion;
• Your group's performance during the discussion - including your choice and contextualization of discussion questions; your understanding of the class material; your ability to lead discussion, present ideas, ask questions; additional research on the media you are presenting, as well as your ability to orchestrate students in collective as well as individual activities;
• Your group's ability to summarize your class discussion in writing, and how you link the discussion back to class material (e.g. readings);
• Feedback from other students and guests (when appropriate)
  

Here are general guidelines on what I will be looking for in group discussions:

• Does the group discussion relate to the topic at hand? Does it follow-up on, clarify, or add to my lecture on the topic? How focused is the discussion?
• Does the group discussion present new perspectives, opinions, and approaches to the topic? Do we, as a class, come to a more enriched understanding of this topic after this discussion?
• What are the different ways (there are usually more than one) the other students can learn in this group discussion?
• What did the student leaders learn in the process of planning this group discussion? And are they able to summarize, demonstrate, and share this knowledge in writing?
• Is this discussion well-managed? Did the group prepare for it?
• What do the students, both as a class and as individuals, get out of this experience?

Grading for final presentations will be based on my assessment of:

• Your group's planning of the presentation or performance - was the presentation well-organized? Did your group create a coherent format to facilitate the different individual presentations? How did you address the different presentations or performances within the group?
• Your group's presentation - was it on time? Were all the mermbers prepared? Was everyone in the group able to adequately present their paper or projects within the time alotted? Was there time for discussion and feedback from the class?
• Feedback from other students and guests (when appropriate)
  

General guidelines on what I will be looking for in final presentations:

• How did your presentation or performace relate back to our class? Was there reference to the class material we studied and discussions we engaged in during the semester?
• Does the group's presentation or performance present new information, perspectives, and methodologies within the field of sound studies? Do we come to a more enriched understanding of the field of sound studies after your presentation?
• Did your group work together to create the presentation or performance? Was the labor shared, and how well did the group manage the planning and execution of their presentation or performance? Did the group prepare for it?
• Did the class learn anything from your group's presentation or performance?

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