Contact: Maridith Geuder
For Michael R. Brown of Mississippi State, music is a language that crosses all barriers--and he teaches his music appreciation course that way.
In a completely online university course, the music education department head is sharing his love and knowledge of music with nearly 30 students located from Starkville to Asia to the Middle East.
Set up through MSU's Division of Continuing Education, the WebCT class has the same requirements as the on-campus counterpart Brown taught to more than 100 students this spring. Beginning with the tunes of antiquity, this very connected instruction progresses toward 20th century jazz with visits along the way to the Middle Ages and 19th century, among other eras.
Brown literally knows the material inside and out, since he wrote the course text. "An Introduction to the History and Literature of Music in Western Culture" was published in December by Pearson Education Inc. of Upper Saddle River, N.J.
"It's the age we live in," observed Brown of the technology that enables students to opt for the online version and allows them up to a year to complete all course requirements.
Regardless of how they access the material, each class member must complete writing assignments, provide reviews of at least two concerts they attend, and--for the online course--take timed interactive quizzes.
The final exam requires the ability to recognize music from the assignments.
"Students in the online course can take the exams in windows of opportunity," he said. "The great thing about the way it's structured is that they can be in their pajamas and no one knows or cares."
Brown said one student with a military obligation earlier wrote to say he is being shipped to Iraq. "He's done outstanding work during the course and I have encouraged him to take his final exam despite the change in his circumstances," he added.
Another student enrolled from South Korea reviewed a piano concert in Seoul. For these and other students in remote locations, Brown maintains communication via electronic mail. Usually, he responds to several messages each morning.
"Because students don't actually see me, I don't get to know them as well, but this is a wonderful opportunity for those who can't physically be on campus to learn the same materials as those who are," Brown said.
For more information about online courses available through MSU's Division of Continuing Education, visit http://www.distance.msstate.edu/ .