Project Guidelines
The Art Department Faculty is considering revising the Art Foundations Program. Currently that program consists of New Majors Seminar, Drawing I & II, and Design I & II. One model that has come forward has the current four Drawing and Design classes collapsed into just two courses – Art Foundations I & II (each would be considered a studio course meeting for six scheduled hours per week for three credit hours). There are other models being considered, but this one currently has the most support.
For this project you will be teamed into small groups to discuss your own experiences in the Foundations courses and the skills and knowledge you came to Truman with as either first year or new-to-the-major students. Your group will have both Senior Seminar and NMS students in it, and will primarily be comprised of the same or similar majors.
After meeting to discuss your experiences, you will be asked to assimilate the various points of view from within your group to result in a focused memo that your group will submit to the faculty working on this curricular revision.
Specifically, your group should accomplish the following:
- Meet 2-3 times to discuss the project and formulate a response
- Inventory the relative experiences of all members of the group
- Share insight among group members on key foundational skills that members believe critical to success in an art program
- Draft a memo of approximately 1-1 ½ pages to the Art Faculty that summarizes your group members’ experiences and that makes recommendations on what to include (and not include) in a two-course Foundations sequence
- Submit a copy of your memo to be shared with the Art Faculty
Questions to consider in formulating your recommendations on a new Art Foundations Curriculum
For Studio and Visual Communications Majors:
- What are the common studio skills that students bring to Truman?
- What are the most essential studio skills that your group believes should be included in a two-course Art Foundations curriculum?
- What skills or knowledge areas do NOT need to be covered in any new two-course foundations program (because they are no longer needed, redundant with prior experience or existing required art courses)?
- Are there particularly important skills or knowledge that are major-specific (in other words, very critical for success in Visual Communications, or a particular studio area).
- If the Foundations Program credit hour requirement is reduced, how should the “extra” credits be used for your major?
For Art History Majors:
- After reviewing the Studio/Foundations course requirements for Art History Majors, what does the group believe are key or essential skills or knowledge important for any Art History Major to have?
- Are there particular studio skills or knowledge area in the current requirements that your group believes are not important to an Art History Major?
- Assuming a reduction in the number of Art Foundations courses offered, how should the major use those “extra” hours freed up by a new curriculum?
How this assignment will be evaluated:
The purpose of this assignment is to promote meaningful interaction and discussion among students at differing points in their education in art at Truman. It is also intended to provide meaningful opportunity for students to provide input the Art Faculty regarding important curricular decisions. The ability to organized diverse points of views and experiences and formulate a single, cohesive response in the form of a memorandum to the faculty is the key objective of this project. Each group member will receive the same score, unless there is communication from the group that a member has not sufficiently contributed. I’ll be looking to see that there is evidence of deeper discussion and higher order thinking. The ability to summarize complex material and formulate a response will also be evaluated.
Peer Evaluation Form: Rated by group facilitators and senior students only
Deadline of Submission: Peer Evaluation Form: November 6
Calendar for this assignment:
Introduction of the Assignment
Organizational Work Day (Class meets) Sept. 18
Group Work Day (No Class mtg.) Sept. 25
Group Work Day (Class meets) Oct. 30
Memorandum Due (as email attachment*) Nov. 11
How to submit your group’s Memorandum:
With the establishment of each group, a group facilitator will be assigned. This individual is responsible for communicating on behalf of the group (questions, issues regarding group members who do not fully participate, etc.). The Group Facilitator will be responsible for turning in the PowerPoint for the group. This should be as an attachment to an email that includes the names of contributing group members in the subject line(!)
Your Memorandum is due by **Noon** on November 11, 2013
How points will be assigned for late submissions:
On Time 100% of assigned points
Within 24 hours of due Date/Time 95% of assigned points
Within 72 hours of due Date/Time 75% of assigned points
Within 120 hours of due Date/Time 50% of assigned points
Beyond 120 hours of due Date/Time not accepted for credit
Example Memorandum
MEMORANDUM
To: Art Foundations Curriculum Committee
From: XXXX XXXX (Senior/Studio), XXX XXX (New Majors Seminar Student/Studio), etc.
Re: Recommendations for Revision of the Existing Art Foundations Curriculum
Date: November 11, 2013
As part of our Collaborative Project in Senior Seminar/New Majors Seminar, our group met to review and discuss out experiences in and understanding of Truman’s Art Foundations Program. We were made aware of the possible revision of the program and were asked by our instructor to make some recommendations to you regarding curriculum revisions from the perspective of students who have or will participate in it.
After much discussion, or group came to the following conclusions regarding what should be included in a two-course Art Foundations curriculum……
……and therefore offer the following specific recommendations for a two-course Art Foundations Program at Truman:
………