TH 423
Computing for Pagogical
and Cognitive Research Applications
Spring, 1997
Course Description:
This course develops HyperCard programming and multimedia skills for
application in music theory pedagogy and in music-cognitive research. We
will present HyperCard authoring tools and HyperTalk scripting, and will
introduce external commands and commercial extensions for integration of
MIDI sound, sound files from commercial CDs, music notation, and scanned
images. Students will develop criteria for evaluating existing CAI and
apply these to selected programs, and will learn pedagogical principles
behind effective stack design. In addition, the course provides an introduction
to music-cognitive research, including basic concepts in experimental design
and data analysis. Students will critique published experiments, design
and carry out a group experiment implemented in HyperCard, and summarize
the experiment's context and design in writing. Final individual projects
will combine the skills developed throughout the semester by means of a
HyperCard stack for computer-assisted instruction.
General Syllabus:
Weeks 1-3: HyperCard and HyperTalk Basics
Weeks 4-6: Importing Sound and Visuals; Introduction to Cognitive Research
Week 7: Stack Design Principles for CAI; Advanced Audio Toolkit
[Semester Break]
Weeks 8-9: Experimental Design; More on Scripting with HyperTalk
Weeks 10-12: Detailed Design Principles for CAI; Experimental Trials
[Jury Week]
Weeks 13-14: Evaluate Experimental Data; Finish Final Projects
Required Texts:
George Beekman, HyperCard 2.3 in a Hurry (Wadsworth, 1995).
Danny Goodman, The Complete HyperCard 2.2 Handbook, 4th Ed. (Random
House, 1993).
Recommended Texts:
David Butler, The Musician's Guide to Perception and Cognition
(Schirmer Books, 1992).
Instructors:
Aleck Brinkman, Annex M802; 274-1553 (342-3922); email: aleck@theory.esm.rochester.edu
Betsy Marvin, Annex 410; 274-1551 (328-2464); email: betsy@theory.esm.rochester.edu
"Office Hours" in the lab after class and by appointment (feel
free to call us at home to schedule)
Course Requirements:
DAILY ASSIGNMENTS - Students are expected to prepare for each class,
either by reading assignments and/or designing and implementing stacks.
Each assignment builds on the previous one, so it is essential that students
not fall behind.
ON-LINE JOURNAL - Students will be expected to examine and evaluate
three existing software packages and to keep a journal, using an on-line
HyperCard template. Despite the informal name "Journal," we expect
polished writing and academic integrity, i.e., do not "cut and paste"
from software or documentation unless you quote the material and give proper
citations. Students will prepare a one-page summary of one assigned program
to share with the rest of the class (make 16 copies).
CLASS PROJECT - Students will engage in music-cognitive research by
means of a jointly designed experiment implemented using HyperCard and
external commands. Although the project will be developed as a group, students
will turn in individual papers in APA style that report on the experiment's
context and method.
INDIVIDUAL PROJECT - The final project for the course will be a HyperCard
stack demonstrating mastery of techniques developed over the course of
the semester. Topics will vary according to the interests of the individual.
TIMETABLE:
March 7 -- Journals due (before Spring Break)
March 10-14 -- Work on final project design ideas (Spring Break)
March 24 -- Final Project Title Page due (must include menu showing
overall design of project)
April 21-25 -- Individual appointments for project progress check (Jury
Week)
April 28 -- Psych papers due (Introduction and Method for Experiment)
May 14-16 -- Presentation time TBA during exam period
Evaluation/Grading:
Daily Assignments 25%
On-line journal 20%
Psych paper (Intro/Methods) 15%
Individual project stack 40%
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