Course Syllabus

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Salt Lake Community College

Salt Lake Community College  /  1575 South State Street  /  Salt Lake City, UT 84115

SPRING 2016

 

ART 1010 Exploring Art – Online Course
3 CREDIT HOURS

Mike Muir
801.556.0235  /  mmuir@bruinmail.slcc.edu   (USE THIS ONLY IF SITE IS DOWN.) 

Please use the course site INBOX for sending me emails. Do Not use MyPage email unless the course site is unavailable.

This class may be accessed via online from the Salt Lake Community College website using your MyPage My Courses CANVAS LOGIN.

Course title: Exploring Art    /    Course number: ART 1010

Textbook Required Reading: “Understanding Art,” 10th Edition
by Lois Fichner-Rathus, Thompson Wadsworth Publishers

 

Publication Date: January 1, 2012 
ISBN-10: 1111836957
ISBN-13: 978-1111836955
Edition: 10 

 Supplies:  Art Kit (purchase at the Bookstore) 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course introduces visual art to the non-major. It provides historical perspective of visual art development. Study includes major principles, elements, medias, and techniques. Creative art project, reading, writing, discussion required.

This class has been designed with a simple instructional template. This has been done to help ensure success as a course taught via distance over the Internet. As with most college level distance courses, we will rely heavily on the text. “Understanding Art,” 10th Edition by Lois Fichner-Rathus has twenty-two chapters, which will be examined over the course of the semester.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

(1) Students shall acquire increased substantive knowledge of Art and develop the ability to communicate effectively about Art by:

• Demonstrating knowledge of the Visual Elements of Art & the Principles of Design and their application

• Demonstrating knowledge of terminology, definitions and concepts

• Demonstrating knowledge of common art medias and techniques: 2-dimensional (drawing, painting, imaging) and 3-dimensional (sculpture, architecture, site-specific art, craft and design)

• Identifying historical and contemporary styles, periods and movement

• Identifying significant artists and works of art

 

(2) Students shall develop an increased ability to use critical thinking, in order to gain a better appreciation and understanding of Art by:

• Implementing critical analysis to explore the purpose and meaning of art and art critique

• Effective reasoning, comparing and contrasting with available information

• Engaging in creative and reflective thinking, expression and application

• Demonstrating effective problem solving skills

 

(3) Students shall develop an increased ability to use knowledge and skills to become civically engaged by:

• Demonstrating an appreciation and understanding of multi-culturalism and the benefits of diversity in society

 

(4)  Students shall develop an increased ability to work with others in a professional and constructive manner by:

• Demonstrating Life Skills:

a) Exhibiting personal responsibility

b) Utilizing organization and time/project management skills

c) Communicating in a positive manner ideas, theories and opinions with others

d) Implementing the design process, brainstorming, planning and goal performance

 

COURSE ASSESSMENTS

 In order to evaluate a student’s:

• Increased substantive knowledge of Art and the ability to communicate effectively about Art,

• Increased ability to use critical thinking in order to gain a better appreciation and understanding of Art,

• Increased ability to use knowledge and skills to become civically engaged,

• Increased ability to work with others in a professional, constructive manner…

… the Department may utilize any or all of the following methods by requiring a student to:

 

• Successfully complete written papers (list, essay, research paper, etc.) involving summarization of reading content and observation

• Successfully complete constructive participation in tours

• Successfully complete constructive group and one-on-one discussions

• Successfully complete tests/quizzes

• Successfully complete problem-solving projects including creative art projects

• Successfully complete projects according to instructions and deadline accountability

 

CLASS EXPECTATIONS

Do Students Have Online Responsibilities?

Taking a class in an online format presents advantages and disadvantages. For example, some students enjoy not having to attend a campus class on a regular basis. It is convenient to work online out of one's own home or office. However, this class requires a lot of self-discipline. Please try to schedule your time wisely and do not wait until the last minute to begin, let alone complete, an assignment.

Among your responsibilities...

(1) Learn how to navigate the course site.

(2) Log on to the course as often as possible for SYLLABUS, ASSIGNMENTS, CALENDAR, or INBOX  for updates and information.

(3) Read instructions carefully. Then read them again! If an assignment is given to research and write an essay on the life of a current artist and you spend hours writing about Leonardo da Vinci, you will not receive credit for the assignment. It is your responsibility to email, call or in some way contact the instructor for clarification.

(4) Read and study the text.

(5) Back-up assignments before submitting them. If for some reason your assignment was not sent correctly, it is your responsibility to have a copy and to send it again successfully before the due date / time.

(6) Follow the instructions carefully for format submission of assignments.

(7) Print out from the Homepage, hard copies of:

• SYLLABUS

• ASSIGNMENTS – a weekly rundown of Due Dates, Points and LINKS TO all Assignments and Quizzes.

• CALENDAR – a MONDAY listing of all Assignments and Quizzes with corresponding WEDNESDAY Due Dates.

 • SUBMISSION FORMAT REQUIREMENTS – information on how work should be submitted.

• AND... all assignments as soon as they are available. If the site or internet is not working, you can continue working.

 

It is impossible to verify that the student registered for this class is actually the person completing the assignments. We cannot begin to know if a student actually submitted a partially completed assignment, a blank assignment, incorrectly submitted an assignment or just "forgot" to submit and is trying to get extra consideration.

Therefore, some strict standards have been put in place. If an assignment has not been received by the due date and time, it will not be accepted. If an assignment is not received, extra credit assignments may be available for use as make-up points. Also, time records will only show that the site has been accessed. It will not show whether an assignment was submitted correctly.

Only in extreme circumstances will an extension be considered, and then only if prearranged with the instructor.

If you are having problems click on the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS page on the right of the screen.

Do not disable "pop-ups" on your computer. This will disable some of the pop-up screens used for assignments.

Students are strongly advised to submit an assignment two days before a due date / time. This would allow time to "go to Plan B" and try another avenue should a problem occur. Not having a working computer / Internet is not an excuse for an extension. As a student you have access to several "Open Computer Labs" on the various campuses as well as public library access.

 

Are There Assignments, Quizzes and Projects?

Each week, chapters may be assigned for reading. Many chapters will have an assignment, which may include essay questions, a list, a quiz, an interview, an online discussion or even an art project. Look to the ASSIGNMENTS, CALENDAR and SYLLABUS for All Assignments & Quizzes  submission deadlines. The assignments in this class are not difficult. But, they have been designed to make you think. Most questions are not black & white, meaning they do not necessarily have a clear right or wrong answer. Actual quizzes are the exception.

  

How will Assignments be Graded?

Your work will be evaluated on the following:

(1) Constructive class participation and successful completion of required assignments, projects, exercises and tests/quizzes. These include but are not limited to: clearly stated opinions based on understanding of concepts and ideas presented in the reading assignments; vocabulary, grammar, spelling and overall organizational writing skills; use of examples to substantiate an opinion, statement, or idea. The text has guides that will assist you, and the online course provides additional links for your reference. At the end of each chapter of the text you will find helpful guides such as "Compare and Contrast" and "Keywords."

(2) Project grades will foremost be based upon the excellence of the project work which include but are not limited to: research, creativity, response to the given problem, execution, how completely instructions were followed, deadline accountability and presentation.

 

How Should Work Be Turned In?

All work (with exceptions noted below) should be submitted online inside the COURSE TEXT ASSIGNMENT SITE by NOON (Salt Lake City, UT time!) on the due date. Late work will not be accepted except in extreme circumstances and only if pre-approved by the instructor. Please contact the instructor as soon as possible if such a situation arises, so that arrangements might be made... if an extension is granted.

 

Exceptions

 

The Artist Painting must  be submitted on your ePortfolio by NOON of the deadline date. AND... don't just have downloads. Your painting must be IN THE SITE READY TO VIEW!

DO NOT USE THE ePORTFOLIO TAB IN YOUR PROFILE. USE THE LINKS PROVIDED IN THE ASSIGNMENT.

 

Questions & Answers

(1) Where can occasional group information be found?

 • ANNOUNCEMENTS on the Home page.

 

(2) Where on this site can due dates be found? 

•   ASSIGNMENTS, CALENDAR and SYLLABUS on the Home page

 

(3) What does Access Availability mean?

Access Availability refers to when an Assignment, Quiz, or Extra Credit is made available and when it is closed. Quizzes are allowed one attempt to submit with the SUBMIT BUTTON. 

Check ASSIGNMENTS on the Home page. When an Assignment or Quiz is available it will appear here.

 

(4) Which email contact system should be used? 

Always use the INBOX email system available at the course website. Do not send messages to the instructor's personal email account. However, should the site shut down, students will be contacted if needed through their MyPage account. Please forward your MyPage email to the email account you use most often. Again, if you have any questions, please contact the instructor as soon as possible.

 

Are You Serious?

Success in this course requires students take responsibility for their own learning. Some students who have taken a class in this format have reported that they like the freedom of not having to attend class on a regular basis. Others have complained that they didn't like it. Maybe because they lacked the self-discipline to work on their own. If you lack self-discipline, this just might be the type of course that will help you become more self-disciplined. Or, not! It's up to you!

By successfully completing this course you will not only be one step closer to receiving your degree or diploma, you will also gain the satisfaction of knowing that you are a responsible self-disciplined person. You can get a job done! 

As with any class, changes in the schedule or assignments may occur. Although a Schedule may be prepared, students are expected to check the course site often in order to receive the latest up-to-date information.

CONTINUING WITH THIS CLASS MEANS YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTAND AND AGREE TO ALL OF THE CONDITIONS IN THIS SYLLABUS.

 

Grading

Grades are based upon this standard point system:

93 – 100% = A
90 – 92% = A-

87 – 89% = B+
83 – 86% = B
80 – 82% = B-

77 – 79% = C+
73 – 76% = C
70 – 72% = C-

 

67 – 69% = D+
63 – 66% = D
60 – 62% = D-

59 and below = E

  

Students Needing Accommodations

Students with medical, psychological, learning or other disability desiring services under ADA must contact the Disability Resource Center at (801) 957-4659. The DRC determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of these accommodations and services.

 

General Education

This course is part of the General Education Program at Salt Lake Community College. It is designed not only to teach the information and skills required by the discipline, but also to develop vital workplace skills and to teach strategies and skills that can be used for life-long learning.

While the subject of each course is important and useful, we become truly educated through making connections of such varied information with the different methods of organizing human experience that are practiced by different disciplines. Therefore, this course, when combined with other General Education courses, will enable you to develop broader perspectives and deeper understandings of your community and the world, as well as challenge previously held assumptions about the world and its inhabitants. You will also explore a wide variety of topics with an eye toward discovering new interests and uncovering new talents.

General Education courses teach basic skills as well as broaden a student's knowledge of a wide range of subjects. Education is much more than the acquisition of facts; it is being able to use information in meaningful ways in order to enrich one's life. General Education courses focus on communication, creativity, and critical thinking skills and along with the substance of the course's information, an appreciation of the esthetics of the area of study and its connection to the larger social web.

  

This course fulfills the Fine Arts (FA) requirement for General Education.

(1) Communication: Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening

This uniquely designed course puts heavy emphasis on all four of the above criteria. Students will practice reading, writing, speaking and listening; including reading texts, understanding others’ ideas and expressing one’s own; effective expression; and audience awareness.

Reading the text for the class provides a vocabulary for discussing art.  Reading and performing research outside of the textbook provides a means to learn about history and techniques as well as individual artists and styles. 

Writing as a component in this course includes a few variations on critical analysis.  Some assignments will require a student to visit a gallery or museum in order to review particular pieces of art. From their observations the students are asked to draw conclusions concerning the social, economic, religious, educational and political influences on that piece of art. Other times students may review a film and select scenes to analyze from an artist’s point of view. A research paper may require a student to not only write about the biographical highlights of a particular artist but to explain a variety of art pieces and include discussion of style, periods, movements and influences.

Speaking includes presentation and discussion of research and writing. Topics will include description of a specific piece of art with the student’s opinion about the piece. Other students are required to review and reply based on their observations and opinions. This sets up a dialog between the students.

In distance classes, students participate in online discussions with each other. Students are also encouraged to communicate with each other via the online email course. Students in these classes must pay particular attention in order to understand what another is “saying” online. During an online discussion, students are encouraged to use emoticons to help convey emotion and mood in the written word.

Listening is a skill that is always practiced in introductory courses. The instructor may present several techniques, ranging from simple to complex.  These can include direct lecture, student led discussions, question and answers etc. It is necessary for the student to listen and observe carefully in order to understand and discuss the many aspects of art. As above, in distance classes students must “listen” while reading online discussion and presentations.

 

(2) Creativity:  Students will practice artistic expression and appreciation through participation, insight, intuition, and conceptualization. They will combine known concepts and ideas in new ways.

While this class relies heavily upon the text, and examples provided in gallery/museum visits or in class presentations, students will provide written and hands on examples of creativity. A research paper may be written in an interview form. This allows the student to explore his or her own writing skills while “acting” as a magazine/TV/radio interviewer conducting an interview with a specific artist. The student must include biographical information as well as discussion of art pieces, styles and influence in the question and answer format. This allows the student to become quite creative with their own persona as well as putting themselves in the shoes of the artist.

Students will also create a found object art project. Students are asked to gather everyday items found around their homes, schools, businesses, etc. and the to combine some together to create an animal or human figure. This forces students to look at everyday items in a new way – as art! Most students are surprised to find how this project helps them appreciate the process of design and execution of art.

 

(3) Critical Thinking:  Students will practice comparative, contrasting and constructive thinking, problem-solving strategies, evaluating evidence and sound judgment, creative thought and logical sequential reasoning. Students will learn to recognize their own biases and how they affect judgment.

The aspect of critical thinking is applied and practiced in both the research/writing projects and the found object art project. The in-depth analysis of the art pieces, historic and contemporary, is fundamental to this class. All critical thinking in this course deals with thought process, planning and execution.

 

(4) Esthetics: Students will learn of the history and development in the area of visual art. Students will gain an appreciation for the beauty of knowledge in the discipline, of different modes of inquiry, of values and attitudes and implications of these for the future.

This course introduces the complex and highly subjective topic of conversation in the area of esthetics in art. Throughout history many pieces of art have been considered ugly or inappropriate. The idea of esthetics is explored and re-defined in this class as styles and imagery are presented. Students will discuss controversial artwork as part of the class.

 

(5) Social Web:  Students will gain a greater understanding of their role in society including implications of knowledge and actions, emphasizing the worth of the individual, appreciation of multi-culturalism and benefits of diversity in society.

Imagery and styles historically have reflected our lives, our surroundings – people, places, culture, politics, social issues, etc. Art as documentation, social expression, and self-expression is presented throughout the class. Freedom of expression is also an underlying theme of the class. Art has been and will always be a tool to persuade social change and to allow artistic ability to people all over the world. Students are encouraged to take part in extra credit assignments outside the classroom involving visits to local museums and art galleries for more exposure. A controversial art discussion explores freedom of thought and opinion.

 

(6) Substance:  Students will study a broad range of topics in the visual art area including: the elements of art / the principles of design,terminology, definitions and concepts relating to historical and contemporary art such as: styles, media, techniques, sculpture, architecture, photography, film, and digital arts as well as recognize significant artists and works of art.

Fundamentally, art has shaped culture, society, values, awareness and perception. Art has enriched life experiences. It has brought far away places near, it has made the mundane extraordinary and remarkable, and it has exposed the truest sense of diversity. This class explores the ways and styles that can be used to achieve this: fine art, film, photography, sculpture, craft and architecture. Students learn how visual art becomes a masterful form of communication and how it affects their everyday lives through writing and hands on projects as well as tours of galleries and museums.

 

(7) Miscellaneous: Besides communication skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) this class teaches lifelong skills that can be used in the workplace and home:

a) Exhibit personal responsibility – students are expected to accept responsibility for missed assignments and either complete Extra Credit assignments to help with missed points or to accept a lower grade if class expectations are not met.

b)  Utilize organization and time/project management skills – students are expected to adhere strictly to submission days, dates, and times. Students may be working on several assignments at one time and are expected to plan accordingly. Students are expected to read and follow detailed directions correctly.

c) Communicate in a positive manner ideas, theories and opinions with others – Successful group and one-on-one discussions in which constructive criticism is used.

d) Implement the design process, brainstorming, planning and goal performance – Successful completion of problem-solving projects including creative art projects.

 

GENERAL EDUCATION STATEMENT

This course is part of the General Education Program at Salt Lake Community College. It is designed not only to teach the information and skills required by the discipline, but also to develop vital workplace skills and to teach strategies and skills that can be used for life-long learning.

While the subject of each course is important and useful, we become truly educated through making connections of such varied information with the different methods of organizing human experience that are practiced by different disciplines. Therefore, this course, when combined with other General Education courses, will enable you to develop broader perspectives and deeper understandings of your community and the world, as well as challenge previously held assumptions about the world and its inhabitants. You will also explore a wide variety of topics with an eye toward discovering new interests and uncovering new talents.

General Education courses teach basic skills as well as broaden a student's knowledge of a wide range of subjects. Education is much more than the acquisition of facts; it is being able to use information in meaningful ways in order to enrich one's life. General Education courses focus on communication, creativity, and critical thinking skills and along with the substance of the course's information, an appreciation of the esthetics of the area of study and its connection to the larger social web.

This course fulfills the Fine Arts (FA) requirement for General Education.

 

GENERAL EDUCATION ePortfolio REQUIREMENT

Each student in General Education courses at SLCC maintains a General Education ePortfolio. Instructors in every Gen Ed course will ask you to put at least one assignment from the course into your ePortfolio, and accompany it with reflective writing. It is a requirement in this class for you to add to your ePortfolio, and this syllabus details the assignments and reflections you are to include. Your ePortfolio will allow you to include your educational goals, describe your extracurricular activities, and post your resume. When you finish your time at SLCC, your ePortfolio will then be a multi-media showcase of your educational experience. 

For detailed information visit:

http://www.slcc.edu/gened/eportfolio

http://libweb.slcc.edu/services/forms/eportfolio

http://www.slcc.edu/gened/eportfolio/index.aspx

 

 

After you have picked an ePortfolio platform, go to the corresponding help site to watch the tutorials and look at the examples so you can get started on your own:

http://slcceportfolio.yolasite.com

http://slcceportfolio.wordpress.com

http://slcceportfolio.weebly.com

  

If you would like to start your ePortfolio in a computer lab with a person there to help you, sign up online for one of the free workshops at the Taylorsville-Redwood, South, and Jordan libraries:

http://libweb.slcc.edu/services/forms/eportfolio

 

You may also visit the ePortfolio Lab in the basement of the Taylorsville-Redwood Library during business hours, and staff will help you without an appointment. Finally, questions regarding the ePortfolio can be directed to:

eportfolio@slcc.edu

 

For this ART 1010 Exploring Art class, the Artist Painting assignment will be used as your General Education ePortfolio contribution.

It is the student’s responsibility to visit these sites as soon as possible when the semester begins in order to receive help in creating his or her own ePortfolio.

Students must put their ePortolio into MyPage in order to connect it to the class for which it has been created. If it has not been connected, instructors cannot access the student’s ePortfolio. If they cannot be accessed from here, no points will be given.

When submitting the assignment from this course, you must include photos and essay within the site that can be SEEN. NOT AS ATTACHMENTS that need to be downloaded. These must be seen in the site or not points will be given.

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________

 

NOTE ABOUT THE SCHEDULE BELOW: 

 Look at the Calendar first, click on "Full Details" and you can find the assignment that way or go to ASSIGNMENTS on the home page.