New VPA 3301 (2301) Core: Language, Philosophy, and Culture Component Area

CB1: Critical Thinking Skills Critical thinking skills will be addressed through explanations and evidence (examples) of the elements of art, the creative process, symbolism/representation, influences of context and assumptions (historical, sociological, cultural, and otherwise) such as artists/art consumers (audience), performance/exhibit settings, diversity (ethnicity, gender, multiculturalism), politics/controversy/censorship, religion, ethics, and arts for social change. Additionally, students will be actively involved in developing and creating ones own ideas, values, and beliefs in and about the arts. Students will be expected to take positions of perspective, thesis, and/or hypothesis about the arts and associated contexts and arrive at personal and group conclusions and related outcomes (implications and consequences). Critical thinking skills will be assessed through exams, class assignments, reflections (written and oral), event reviews, and group discussions based on the readings, images, auditory examples, and active engagement in artistic scholarship offered throughout the course. CB2: Communication Skills Communication skills will be addressed throughout the course where students will be engaged to respond both by (1) written means where a student will be expected to demonstrate the ability to develop the content of his/her message using appropriate genre and disciplinary conventions in the arts, to properly set the context of the message, and provide sources and evidence in support of the students position; and, (2) oral means where a student will be expected to organize his/her presentation into a delivery that is cogent and understandable, uses language and terms appropriate to discussion of the arts and its contexts, provides supporting materials on behalf of the points included in the presentation, and has a compelling central message. Communication skills will be assessed through assigned written and oral reflections, event reviews, group discussions, and short essay assignments. CB3: Teamwork Teamwork will be addressed through inherent attributes of the arts throughout history, sociologically, culturally, and otherwise where the arts are reflective of the evolution of humanity, its creative processes, its symbolism and representation on multiple levels, the diversity of artists and consumers, and aesthetic and utilitarian qualities. Students will be engaged to contribute to group endeavors individually in class and outside of class, to encourage and facilitate others participation in the group activities, foster a constructive team climate, and be able to respond in a professional and courteous manner to conflicts and different points of view, and to support a shared purpose or goal of understanding the complexity of the arts in a society. Examples would be personal tastes in the arts (classical vs. jazz vs. rock-n-roll; modern art vs. traditional art; Shakespeare vs. Broadway musical theatre; etc.). Teamwork will be assessed through group written and oral reflections, event reviews, and discussions. <CB4: Personal Responsibility> Although not a primary focus within this course, some residual aspects of personal responsibility will be addressed during the progression of this course. The residual outcomes will result from the activities and assignments related to the topical areas in the course of diversity, politics, controversy, censorship,

religion, copyright and ethics, arts for social change, and creating ones own ideas, values, and belief in and about the arts. Assessment will be accomplished through written and oral reflections and discussions. CB5: Social Responsibility Social Responsibility will be addressed through the study of the inherent attributes of the arts historically, sociologically, culturally, and otherwise within the context of students demonstrating the ability to work within and learn from a diversity of communities and cultures, connect and extend knowledge in the arts to engagement, effectively communicate a social/civic identity and commitment, critically reflect on engagement, and to work within specific contexts and structures to achieve a social/civic aim. Students should be able to take away a heightened lifetime understanding and commitment as consumers and supporters of the arts upon completion of the course. Assessment will be accomplished through written and oral reflections, discussions, and group projects. TTU1 Lectures, readings, images, and performances (recorded and live) will expose students to the methodologies, elements, historical, philosophical, and aesthetic foundations of the arts that explain the importance of the arts and applicability to everyday life. Assessment of this outcome will be accomplished through exams, class assignments, and reflections. TTU2 Students will be given the tools through the course content and requirements/assignments addressing the five CB objectives to be able to develop and present analytical arguments both written and orally to meet this outcome. Assessment will be through exams, written and oral reflections, event reviews, and class assignments. TTU3 Students will be given the tools through the course content and requirements/assignments addressing the CB objectives, in particular CB1, CB3, and CB5, to be able to evaluate multiple and varied events, ideas, and artistic expressions in terms of multiple cultural contexts and value systems. Assessment will be through exams, written and oral reflections, event reviews, and class assignments. TTU4 Students will be given the tools through the course content and requirements/assignments addressing the five CB objectives to be able to demonstrate by varied and multiple means that the arts are indeed fundamental to the health and survival of any society to meet this outcome. Assessment will be through exams, written and oral reflections, event reviews, and class assignments. College-Level Competency Students who complete this course will have been exposed on multiple levels to all aspects of the arts as they are addressed, acquired, demonstrated, and assessed through the five Coordinating Board objectives listed herein.