TIME MANAGEMENT
Why is there so much reading?!
We get it – there is a lot to read and absorb in this class. An online class does put a lot of onus on the student. With an in-person class, you put in 3 hours per week on attending lectures, and should expect to put another 3 hours per week into reading and preparing for class – around 6 hours just to manage course work. Your assignment work would be in addition to that, so you would typically spend 8-10 hours per week on an in-person class (give or take). If you approach MUS 111 from that perspective, you should expect to spend at least 3-4 hours on your readings and online learning material (they take the place of lectures and readings), plus another 2-3 hours on assignment work each week. It should not be more than an in-person class, but it will be different.
Why are there weekly deadlines? Can’t I just work at my own pace?
We set up the quizzes to be due each week (more or less; see syllabus for details), to ensure you do not fall behind. It is easy to forget your online classes when the rest of your life is more in your face. You can always work ahead but, like any university class, if you fall behind it will be very difficult to catch up, even if you have the best intentions. Note that, although we recommend you work on blog posts each week (when the associated module material is fresh), blogs are not technically due until the assignment deadlines.
How do I know which assignment option to choose?
For some people, working on smaller assignments more often (blogs) is more manageable; for others, longer assignments that are tackled in one week might be a better fit. Some take this class so they can write an assignment on a great concert; others want to dig deeper into an amazing album or artist. Choose your assignment option based on your interests and
BLOGGING
Where do I access my blog?
SUMMER CLASS: A blog will be generated for you during the first week of classes, and we will notify you when it is time to set up your blog. Please stay tuned to the homepage of your Blackboard Course Tools for information about this. Once you have been notified that it is time to set up your blog, please visit this link to access your blog: https://words.usask.ca/wp-login.php. A blog site was automatically generated for you when you enrolled in the course. Use your usask.ca login information to access it.
I clicked on the link above, but got an error message mentioning VPN.
VPN means “Virtual Private Network” and it is needed to access the words.usask.ca site off campus. If you have received this message, please visit this page and follow the instructions to download and install the VPN client software – this just tells words.usask.ca to allow you in.
Do I have to create a blog if I’m doing a project and a review for my assignments?
No you don’t, but we think you’ll enjoy reading and commenting on your classmates’ blogs.
What is syndication?
Syndication is the process of subscribing our WordPress site to student blogs so that student blog posts appear on our blog roll.
How do I submit my blog address for syndication?
Once you have accessed your blog, you need to copy the address and paste it into the comments section of the “Register for Blog Roll” area, found under “Assignment Submission” in your Blackboard Course Tools. This must be completed by the Module 1 deadline if you wish to blog this term.
I sent my blog address through Blackboard, but don’t see my first post on the blog roll yet.
We have to manually syndicate your blog before it appears on the blog roll, and the WordPress system refreshes every few hours. Please be patient, as we generally do the syndicating during the day on weekdays.
I wrote a post days ago but I can’t see it anywhere on the site! Did I do something wrong?
Chances are your blog is there! The blog roll collects blogs by the date and time they were written. Use the search function on the right side to search for your blog name – it may just be buried a few pages in!
Do I have to blog every week?
No. Depending on which assignment option you choose, up to 4 blogs (of the 11 modules) will be marked (except if you are in the summer course). If you want to blog on all 11 and choose your favorites to submit for marks, go for it! You do not need to blog every week, but you need to ensure you complete the required number of blogs (based on your chosen assignment combo) prior to each assignment submission deadline.
Where are the blog topics/challenge questions posted?
They are at the bottom of each module’s Learning Materials page on WordPress.
Can I answer more than one challenge question per week?
We will only grade one blog post per module. You may answer more challenge questions on your blog if you wish, and submit your best blogs to be graded.
How do I add the Category to my blog?
To the right of your New Post form you will see an area titles “Categories”. Click “+Add New Category” and enter the category (hashtag) associated with the Challenge Question you are answering, and click the Add New Category button. If you are answering the first Challenge Question in Module 3, your Category will be M3Q1, etc. Categories are in bold at the bottom of each Challenge Question.
Do I have to submit my blog address on Blackboard every time I blog?
Nope! Once you send us your blog address, we syndicate it to the course site, and your posts will continue to appear on the blog roll. You are required to complete a certain number of blog posts for each submission deadline, based on the assignment combo you have chosen. Once you have completed the required number of posts for your upcoming deadline, submit your url again in the Deadline #1 or Deadline #2 submission areas in Blackboard. This tells us you are ready to be graded, and opens up a marking page for us. We cannot mark your blog posts unless you do this.
What if my blog doesn’t appear on the course blog roll before the deadline?
Each blog post has a date indicating when it was written. We will be able to see when you actually wrote the post, and will be able to check if you finished it before the deadline.
How will blog posts be graded? What is the criteria?
The grading rubric for blog posts can be found on the Blogging assignment page, in Blackboard and on WordPress. They are smaller and more informal assignments, but not easier assignments – we will mark them just as hard as we do the reviews and the projects. They are considered mini-research projects, where the work of 5 blog posts would be the equivalent of a project (or term paper).
I didn’t know about the blog marking criteria until after I posted my blog. What can I do?
You may go in and edit your blog any time up until you submit your blogs for grading.
How can I get feedback on my blog posts to know if I am doing them correctly?
We may comment on the content of your blogs, but we will not provide feedback until after the first submission deadline. This is to ensure that assignments are kept fair – students working on projects and reviews do not receive feedback until they have submitted their completed assignment.
For more tips on successful blogging for MUS 111, please watch this video.
QUIZZES
Can I have an extension on the quiz deadline?
No. Answers are released on each due date at the time stated in your syllabus.
My computer crashed mid-quiz! What do I do?
Email us at music.onlinecourses@usask (specify that you are in MUS 111). We will respond within 24 hours if you email during the week; if you email late on Friday or over the weekend, expect a response on Monday.
What do I do if there was a glitch on my quiz and I couldn’t see/hear/answer a question.
Screenshots are very helpful! Send us an email with a picture and we’ll help solve it. Please ensure you have Java installed and enabled on your browser and you have a strong wifi signal prior to attempting a quiz.
I wanted to complete my quiz last night but PAWS was doing an update; or PAWS shutdown during my quiz for an update. What do I do?!
PAWS updates are always posted well in advance: please avoid doing quizzes during this time. They are generally Wednesdays from 10 pm until 2 am Thursdays. If this happens to you once, email us; if it happens to you a second time, you are stuck with the quiz grade you received.
ASSIGNMENTS
Can I go to a choir/band/church/symphony/jazz concert for my live concert review?
No, the concert must be popular music as defined by our course materials. Review the live concert review details for more information.
I went to a concert a month before the class started. Can I use that for my live concert review?
No, you must attend the concert during the semester so you have a good grasp of the concepts learned in the class and the expectations of the assignment before you attend the concert.
I want to review an album not included on the list, because I know it is awesome. Can I just go ahead?
No. The list of albums on the album review assignment have been carefully curated as they are particularly significant for one reason or another (to be discovered as you research!). It will be extremely rare for an album to be considered groundbreaking if it has been released within the last 5-10 years. If you have an album in mind that was released prior to 2010, please get in touch with us at music.onlinecourses@usask.ca – we will certainly consider it.
MISCELLANEOUS
Do I have to buy the textbook?
Yes…90% of the course material is drawn from the textbook. There are online and used versions available.
Can I work ahead?
Yes absolutely, feel free to work ahead! However, we recommend pacing yourself and following the timeline set out in the syllabus, to allow yourself time to absorb the information in each module. Note that quizzes can be done prior to the deadlines set in the syllabus, but cannot be re-opened after they are due.
CONTACTING YOUR INSTRUCTORS
I have read everything several times, and I still have questions.
Please email us at music.onlinecourses@usask.ca. Because this email box answers questions for both MUS 111 and MUS 101, please indicate that you are in MUS 111 when you email us.
What do I call you?
We are Allison and Alex! Neither of us are Dr. or Professor, but we’re also not ‘hey you’.
I emailed on the weekend/late on a weeknight, and have still not heard back!
Because we are instructors, not professors, we work specified hours. In general, we work Monday to Friday during normal office hours and will do our best to respond to you during this time. Depending on work levels (we teach very large classes), or the complexity of your question, it may take us up to 24 hours to get back to you. If you email during the weekend, please expect that you will not hear back until Monday, or Tuesday if it is a long weekend.
Can I just come meet with you?
The course has been designed to work entirely online and we make every effort to provide all of the tools you need to be successful in this class on our websites. As a student in MUS 111, one of the responsibilities you have committed to is reading all online course materials to try and solve any issues or answer any questions that arise. We will continue to update our online information to address student concerns and to clarify instructions. We are not located on campus, and this means email works best. If you have specific questions that are not addressed by our course materials, please get in touch by email first. If no solution can be reached by email, we will explore alternatives on a case by case basis.