Course Syllabus
Contact Information
About Your Professor
My name is Alison Fields and I received my PhD in American Studies from the University of New Mexico. I’ve been teaching at the University of Oklahoma for the past thirteen years and currently serve as the Associate Director of the School of Visual Arts. I have taught a range of courses on Art of the American West, visual culture, and museum studies. I’ve published works on topics including atomic memory, Native American art, memorials and monuments, and environmental studies.
Course Details
Taught in conjunction with AT 5913 Professional Project.
This course is a forum for peer feedback on the professional project students produce as the culmination of their degree. Through meetings moderated by the instructor, students discuss their ideas and their practices, developing both greater clarity about their working process as well as a deepened capacity to talk about their work. Students will form small working groups to share technical knowledge and constructive criticism toward the successful completion of creative projects. Additionally, the course helps students to develop language for discussing the work that they are doing and confidence in presenting their work to others.
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Prerequisites
Students in this course should have completed all required and elected techniques, seminar, and production courses in the Art and Technology degree program and be able to demonstrate the skills acquired in those courses. Students must also be concurrently enrolled in the AT 5913 Professional Project course.
Course Materials
There are no required textbooks for this course. However, some reading material will be provided in Canvas.
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Participation | Bi-weekly Discussion Board posts, bi-weekly small-group or whole-group Live Sessions, and assignments associated with Live Session presentations | 40% |
| Reflection Assignments & Final Reflection Paper | Techniques and Ideas Inventory, Reflection Assignments, and a 2000-word Final Reflection Paper | 60% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Discussion Board Posts
After you meet in individual Live Sessions with your instructor in the Professional Project course and discuss the ideas, themes, and influences on your capstone project, you will share these ideas with your peers in a Discussion Board format in the Professional Forum course. Some discussion board posts will ask you to share a short piece of writing intended to keep you invested in the upcoming assignment. You will give and receive feedback from your peers on these Discussion Boards.
Small-Group Live Sessions
In the Professional Forum course, you will meet in bi-weekly small-group Live Sessions with your peers to receive feedback on the assignments you are working on in the Professional Project course. You will also help each other troubleshoot technical problems and other challenges in these small-group Live Sessions.
Whole-Group Live Sessions
In Week 1, you will participate in a whole-group Live Session. In the first half, you will meet with the entire class to review course syllabi and structure, discuss how the Professional Project and Professional Forum courses work together, and address questions about the courses, the capstone project, and associated assignments. In the second half, you will break into work groups and discuss themes, ideas, and perspectives for your capstone project.
At the mid-term and end of the Professional Forum course, you will meet in two-hour whole-group Live Sessions with your instructor and peers to present and critique assignments from the Professional Project course.
Techniques and Ideas Inventory
You will complete a Techniques and Ideas Inventory at the beginning of the Professional Forum course. In this assignment, you will identify the skills that you've gained from the program, outline how you use those skills to complete the capstone project, and reflect on potential challenges you may have in completing your capstone project.
Reflection Assignments
In the Reflection Assignments, you will write about your reflections on your progress and process in completing your capstone project.
Final Reflection Paper
The Final Reflection Paper is a 2000-word reflection on your progress and process in completing the capstone project and the program as a whole.
Course Policies
Communication
If you have questions or concerns, please contact me via Canvas message or email. You can expect a reply within 24 hours Monday through Friday. Feel free to address me by my first name in communications and in class.
In general, I will lead our discussions during Live Sessions, and you should be prepared to actively participate, as you will be called on to share your ideas and feedback throughout the course.
Feedback
You should expect feedback on most assignments within one week of submission.
Attendance/Participation
Attendance, active participation, and advance preparation for individual Live Session meetings with your instructor is required. If you will be unable to attend an individual Live Session meeting for a legitimate reason, please let me know in advance. Do not be late for Live Session meetings; continued lateness will have a negative impact on your final grade.
Respect and Courtesy
You will be asked to participate in activities that involve interaction and discussion with your instructor. In doing so, I ask that you be respectful, even if you disagree.
Late Policy
All assignments should be completed and turned in on time. Failure to do so will result in a loss of one full letter grade per day for that assignment.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa, and Osage nations. Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support, and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture, and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Student Support Services
OU offers a variety of services to support students. For more information, please refer to the Student Support Module in your Orientation course.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Copyright Statement and Privacy Information
Sessions of this course may be recorded or live-streamed. These recordings are the intellectual property of the individual faculty member and may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit, written consent of the faculty member. In addition, privacy rights of others such as students, guest lecturers, and providers of copyrighted material displayed in the recording may be of concern. Students may not share any course recordings with individuals not enrolled in the class or upload them to any other online environment.
Academic Integrity
As a member of the OU community, it is your responsibility to protect your educational investment by knowing and following the rules. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
Academic honesty is incredibly important in this course. Cheating is strictly prohibited at the University of Oklahoma because it devalues the degree you are working hard to get. Should you know of someone else engaging in academic misconduct, please report it to your instructor or directly to the Office of Academic Integrity. Your instructor has a professional obligation to report academic misconduct.
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
Religious Observance
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2].
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is committed to supporting students with disabilities to ensure that they are able to enjoy equal access to all components of their education. This includes your academics, housing, and community events. Please review OU's Accessibility Policy.
If you are experiencing a disability, or a mental/medical health condition that has a significant impact on one or more life functions, you can receive accommodations to provide equal access. Possible disabilities include but are not limited to learning disabilities, AD(H)D, mental health, and chronic health. Additionally, we support students with temporary medical conditions (broken wrist, shoulder surgery, etc.) and pregnancy.
To discuss potential accommodations, please contact the ADRC at 730 College Avenue, (phone) 405-325-3852, or adrc@ou.edu.
Title IX Resources
Anyone who has been impacted by gender-based violence, including dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, harassment, and sexual assault, deserves access to resources so that they are supported personally and academically.
The University of Oklahoma is committed to offering resources to those impacted, including speaking with someone confidentially about your options, medical attention, counseling, reporting, academic support, and safety plans. If you would like to speak with someone confidentially, please contact OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013) or another confidential resource (see "Can I make an anonymous report?").
You may also choose to report gender-based violence and discrimination through other means, including by contacting the Institutional Equity Office (ieo@ou.edu, 405-325-3546) or the police (911).
Because the University of Oklahoma is committed to the safety of you and other students, I, as well as other faculty, Graduate Assistants, and Teaching Assistants, are mandatory reporters. This means that we are obligated to report gender-based violence that has been disclosed to us to the Institutional Equity Office. This includes disclosures that occur in class discussions, writing assignments, discussion boards, emails, and during Student/Office Hours.
For more information, please visit the Institutional Equity Office.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Mental Health Support Services
If you are experiencing any mental health issues that are impacting your academic performance, counseling is available at the University Counseling Center (UCC). The Center is located on the second floor of the Goddard Health Center, at 620 Elm Rm. 201, Norman, OK 73019. To schedule an appointment, call 405-325-2911. For more information, please visit the University Counseling Center.
Final Exam Preparation Period
Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU's Final Exam Preparation Period policy.
Required Policies for Students On Campus
Emergency Protocol
During an emergency, there are official university procedures that will maximize your safety.
Severe Weather: If you receive an OU Alert to seek refuge or hear a tornado siren that signals severe weather:
- Look for severe weather refuge location maps located inside most OU buildings near the entrances
- Seek refuge inside a building. Do not leave one building to seek shelter in another building that you deem safer. If outside, get into the nearest building.
- Go to the building’s severe weather refuge location. If you do not know where that is, go to the lowest level possible and seek refuge in an innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows.
- Get in, Get Down, Cover Up.
- Wait for official notice to resume normal activities.
Additional information about severe weather preparedness is available through the Department of Campus Safety's Emergency Management Division.
OU-Norman Campus: Tornado Refuge Protocol
Severe Weather Preparedness Video
Armed Subject/Campus Intruder
If you receive an OU Alert to shelter-in-place due to an active shooter or armed intruder situation or you hear what you perceive to be gunshots:
- Avoid: If you believe you can get out of the area without encountering the armed individual, move quickly towards the nearest building exit, move away from the building, and call 911.
- Deny: If you cannot flee, move to an area that can be locked or barricaded, turn off lights, silence devices, spread out, and formulate a plan of attack if the shooter enters the room.
- Defend: As a last resort fight to defend yourself. For more information, visit:
OU's Emergency Preparedness site
Shots Fire on Campus Procedure
Fire Alarm/General Emergency
If you receive an OU Alert that there is danger inside or near the building, or the fire alarm inside the building activates:
- Leave the building. Do not use the elevators.
- Know at least two building exits
- Assist those that may need help
- Proceed to the emergency assembly area
- Once safely outside, Notify first responders of anyone that may still be inside the building due to mobility issues.
- Wait for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.
OU Fire Safety on Campus Video
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|