Teacher Research
MUSC691

Instructor:  TBA

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

MUSC690.  Teacher Research.    The student will design, conduct, evaluate, discuss and disseminate the results of his/her research project that is developed in collaboration with a Longwood music professor.  The product of this research will be an article submitted for possible publication in a professional journal. Prerequisite: MUSC631. Prerequisite: Research topic must be approved prior to beginning of this course.  See handbook for application form.  6 credits.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of this course students will be able to
            1.  Discuss, in depth, any questions related to the project topic
            2.  Write an informed document on the topic
            3.  Understand the relationship of the topic to the larger world of music education
            4.  Demonstrate practical applications of the research

CLASS SCHEDULE:

Recommended Class Schedule.  Please work out your individual timeline with your advisor.
July-Sept.            Meeting with the advisor at least once. Continuation of work completed in
                                         MUSC632 and progression into the final research phase.
Oct. 1                  Structure clearly organized and presented to the advisor in writing
                            First draft of writing should be mostly complete and presented to advisor
                                         in writing. (May be a few minor gaps in the info.)
Mid-Oct.               Documents returned to student with recommendations.
Nov. 1                  Completed draft with advisors recommendations incorporated submitted
                                         to the advisor (Writing finished and most graphics in place)
Mid-Nov.               Document returned to student with recommendations.
Jan. 1                   Complete draft in proper form with all details and graphics and
                                        appendixes in place submitted to the advisor.
Jan. 15                 Document returned to the student for final editing.
Jan. 25                 Final edited draft with advisor’s signature page submitted to the advisor
                                       for consideration by the full committee.
mid-Feb.             Document returned to student with committee recommendations.
Late Mar.            Public presentation of research (Date established by the Department of
                                        Music)
Apr. 7                  Final edited draft with committee’s recommendations incorporated is due
                                        to your advisor in format appropriate for deposit in the Janet D.
                                        Greenwood Library.

If you choose not to follow the schedule agreed upon by you and your advisor, you can probably expect to encounter a period of panic immediately prior to the due date.

Student will work independently in researching the topic.
Student will meet with the collaborating faculty member on a regular basis, as determined by mutual agreement.
Student will make an public presentation/demonstration, with the committee members present.  (See handbook for guidelines on scheduling the presentation.)
Students will submit a proposal to a professional organization to present a poster session, a lecture or a demonstration session.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Research:  Research is conducted independently by the student.  If human subjects are used, the proposal must be submitted to the “Human and Animal Subjects Research Review Committee” prior to approval by the research committee.

The project should support the continuing study of the major issues in the field of music education, and prepare leaders in the various areas of teaching music.  The major emphasis of the course is to build upon the existing body of research and consider the changing scene and new problems facing music educators. 

Printed document:  An article 25-50 pages (surveys and supporting data should be added as appendixes) in length and ready to submit for publication, must be presented, with a copy for each committee member, in mid January.

Oral Presentation:  A lecture/demonstration, 40-45 minutes in length, will be offered in a public presentation.  

GRADING:

The project advisor, in collaboration with other members of the committee, will assign the grade of P or F.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Students are expected to attend all scheduled meetings.  See the College Catalog for a complete statement of the college’s attendance policy.

HONOR CODE:

Students are expected to abide by the Longwood Honor Code. The Longwood Honor Code does not preclude considerable collaboration with the advisor. This kind of close collaboration is expected as part of the advanced level research project.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Cochran-Smith, Marilyn and Susan L. Lytle.  Inside/Outside: Teacher Research and Knowledge.  New York: Teachers College Press, 1993.

Hubbard, Ruth Shagoury and Brenda Miller Power.  Living the Questions: A Guide for Teacher-Researchers.  Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers, 1999.

Lieberman, Ann and Lynne Miller.  Teachers—Transforming Their World and Their Work.  New York: Teachers College Press, 1999.

MacLean, Marion S. and Marian M. Mohr.  Teacher-Researchers at Work.  Berkley, CA: National Writing Project, 1999.