MUS 213N – History of Western Music to ~1912 (Spring 2020)

UPDATED CORE INFORMATION for Classes Resuming March 30, 2020

Teaching Assistants:

Amelia McElveen Tu 11:00AM-12:00 PM MRH 2.614 (22325)

amcelveen@utexas.edu Th 12:30-1:30 PM MRH 4.116 (22335)

Benjamin Coghan Tu 12:30-1:30 PM MRH 4.116 (22330)

bcoghan@utexas.edu Tu 5:00-6:00 PM MRH 4.126 (22340)

General Description: 

This is the UPDATED Discussion/Lab information for the remainder of Spring 2020
Semester. There are still SIX (6) scheduled Discussion (aka “Lab”) sessions that are still
intended to review the topics of the recorded lectures for the week and will present
additional examples or details about important issues. We will attempt to keep lab
discussions as synchronous to your initial Lab time and dates as possible.

Lack of engagement and unsatisfactory participation in the online lab discussion sessions
will affect your remaining point score, that is described in Dr. Maggart’s revised Course
Schedule. In lieu of weekly in-person meetings for the rest of the semester we will have a
combination of Canvas Discussions and Zoom Meetings. Our discussions will continue to
have article-based and listening-based assignments, in addition to video-based resources
and chat-based exchanges of comments and ideas.

Assessment: 

For the rest of the semester all of your points for each lab will be determined by your
participation in Canvas Discussions and Zoom Discussions. Points will be based on your:

▪ Participation: In Canvas Discussion posts (including independent comments, likes,

and responses to other students)
▪ In-depth article analysis and talking points that will be shared online
▪ Listening-based assignments and critical responses to anthology listenings
▪ Continued adaptation to Online Discussions and Zoom Video Meetings
▪ Flexibility, Academic Integrity, and Understanding group and individual needs

(continue for more info specific info for Benjamin and Amelia’s LAB)
 BENJAMIN & AMELIA 213N LAB, SPRING 2020
Name information:
Benjamin/Mr. Coghan, he/him/his
Amelia, she/her/hers
Office Hours: Digitally available for individual Zoom conferences, by appointment only.
Preferred Method of Contact for the Semester:
Benjamin– Email: bcoghan@utexas.edu & Direct Canvas Messages
Amelia– Email: amcelveen@utexas.edu & Direct Canvas Messages

Initial Description

Discussion Labs will still be divided into four sections based on your original enrollment this
semester. Your TA/discussion facilitator will not change for the rest of the semester. For instance,
if you were in MUS 213N (22325) with Amelia that met on Tuesday from 11:00–11:50AM, your
section will still take place in that pinned discussion or Zoom meeting. All submissions,
conferences, and uploaded content will follow Central time.

What we’ll do for the remaining of the semester:

1. Canvas Discussion Threads

2. Zoom Class Discussion Video Conferences.
3. An essay option if you are unable to synchronously participate in discussion lab

Even though we are not able to replicate in-person group discussions online, we will be adapting
our online strategies in order to continue boldy sharing scholarly thoughts and ideas with one
another in a safe and caring environment. Although the formatting is limited, we will still create
discussions that accommodate many learning styles and preferences. We understand that this is a
trying time for all of us, and will remain flexible and accommodating in our varying situations.
You must, still, contact your TA if any issues arise.

Further Details

Canvas Discussion Threads:

Each section will have a pinned discussion thread on Canvas prior to that week’s meeting.

Example:

Tuesday 03/31, 11:00am (Amelia). Lab #9: Constructing the Canon: The "Bach Revival"
or
Tuesday 03/31, 12:30pm (Benjamin). Lab #9: Constructing the Canon: The "Bach Revival"

(1) The next week’s discussion will be on canvas the week before the scheduled discussion.
This will have the title of the discussion as well as the required reading and listenings that
you will be expected to do in preparation for the online discussion.
 (2) Each of the four discussions will be assigned to your original discussion group and will be
opened to comments from students the day before your section is normally scheduled.
(3) Then the discussion thread will be locked, and comments will not be allowed on that
thread the day after your discussion takes place.
(4) You will be required to comment 2–4 times in the discussion thread for that week. These
comments can be original comments sharing your thoughts on the reading, listenings, or
videos that are included in the discussion prompts. They can also be responses to the
prompts, responses to other students, and/or statements of affirmation or respectful
disagreements with a point.
(5) Each week Amelia and I will review your “attendance” and participation in the online
discussion thread, and as long as you are engaged with the material and other students
you should receive full points for the week.

Zoom Video Discussions:

For one or two of the remaining lab discussions, we will use the Zoom platform to engage in an
online group discussion.

(1) These Zoom meetings will still be found through the pinned discussion posts on Canvas.
(2) Once you complete the Zoom checklist (to be assigned the week of 03/30/2020), you
should have downloaded Zoom and be familiar with its interface.
(3) Each pinned discussion post will have the prompt and materials that you are going to be
asked to prepare for the following week, as well as a unique Zoom link which you will use
to enter the online meeting.
(4) It is important to understand that these meetings will be synchronous with your
scheduled lab time (in central time if you are no longer in Austin, TX for the rest of the
semester). For instance, if your lab met at 11:00AM on Tuesdays, your Zoom meeting will
begin at 11:00AM on Tuesday.
(5) “Attendance” WILL be taken at the end of the Zoom call, and factored into that week’s
total participation points.
(6) You do not need to use the video feature of the chat, but you will need to have some
access to audio and keyboard typing so you can participate in the lab discussion.
(7) Please be flexible and understanding with technological troubles that may or may not
occur during these meetings.

Essay Option:

If these digital Canvas discussions do not fit with your personal learning style, or you do not have
the technological facilities to participate in the Zoom meetings there will be an option to write a
500 – 1000-word essay for participation points that week.

Amelia and I will develop a prompt that will require students to reference the week’s readings,
listenings, and other resources in order to accurately receive full credit for the week. The prompts
will be the same for all students that request this option, but students will HAVE to request this
option BEFORE the start of the planned online discussion or Zoom meeting.
Expectations

Attendance – Attendance will now be based on participation and comments in Canvas Discussion
threads, and the attendance of the full Zoom discussion group.

Participation –Weekly participation points will be influenced by your observance of the following: 

▪ “Online” Punctuality: Post your materials in advance of the class meeting or during the
class meeting, as discussion posts will be locked 24 hours after your discussion time.
▪ Respect: Despite our digital meetings, we still expect decorum and respect. Please, be
mentally present. Engage respectfully with your peers/TA during discussions postings and
video conferences. Respect people who disagree or challenge your point of view, so that
everyone may feel free to express themselves. Please let me know if you need different
accommodations so we can all express ourselves fully.
▪ Being there for your classmates (and self): Come prepared to post your thoughts and
responses pertaining to the assigned readings/listenings. 
▪ Number and Quality of Responses: We will be recommending the best quality of
responses over quantity. We encourage facilitating discussion in these discussion threads
over individual and responses that do not engage with your fellow classmates. We do,
however, expect an equivalent of 500 words across all comments and/or satisfactory
engagement of the content that shows a critical understanding of the topic that week.

COMMUNICATION POLICIES

It is very important during this time to be flexible and understanding. During this time, we will be
sending semi-regular Canvas messages to the entire class or your discussion lab section. We are
recommending that you check your Canvas messages at least once every 24 hours during the
duration of online courses so that you keep up to date with messages and expectations.

If you are ever confused or concerned about how the rest of this semester will unfold, we highly
recommend that you contact your TA or Dr. Maggart as soon as possible. We are more than
happy to work with each student during these uncertain times, but we just need timely and
reliable online communication. Contacting us well after discussion threads lock, or Zoom
meetings finish will make things much more difficult for us to help. However, we’re fully
committed to helping students succeed and thrive in this online environment.