Signals, Systems, and Music: General Education for an Integrated Curriculum

Linda M. Head

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Conference: 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Vancouver, BC
Publication Date: June 26, 2011
Start Date: June 26, 2011
End Date: June 29, 2011
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Making Students Aware of Their World: Five Perspectives
Tagged Division: Liberal Education/Engineering & Society
Page Count: 7
Page Numbers: 22.1289.1 - 22.1289.7
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--18807
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/18807
Download Count: 332

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Linda M. Head Rowan University

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Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, I am currently serving as Interim Associate Dean of Engineering. I am Director of Student Advising for my Department and am co-faculty advisor for our SWE student chapter. My research area is bio-instrumentation and my teaching area is VLSI Design.

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Abstract

Signals, Systems and Music: General Education for an Integrated CurriculumOur university’s Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and Music programs arecollaborating on an electronic music composition course titled Signals, Systems and Music. Thiscourse is the first step in our efforts to develop a new concept for providing a general-educationexperience that transcends traditional disciplines. The concept that we work from changes thefocus of courses “outside” of engineering from "exposure" to novel points of view to"immersion" in interdependent knowledge. We are gathering music students and first-yearengineering students for this novel educational experience: Music composition from anengineering systems point of view, exposing all students to concepts fundamental to both musicand engineering. We emphasize the interconnectedness of the disciplines, and (hopefully)awaken the students' desire to explore, innovate and create. This course is presented as a generaleducation experience that does not presume a background in music, mathematics or electronics.Our presentation will address initial and second year offerings of this new, first-year course. Wewill present examples of the following aspects of the course: • Lectures and exercises on music theory • Lectures and exercises on principles of signals and systems developed to be relevant for electronic music composition • Laboratory experiences using both hardware and software • Assessment instruments for objective and subjective (student centered) evaluation of the creative experience. • Assessment instruments for evaluating impact of the course on the academic engineering experience beyond the first year.The course is co-taught by a professor from Music, a professor from Electrical and ComputerEngineering and a musician/technician with experience in electronic music composition. We willpresent examples of all aspects of this course along with student final compositions. In addition,we will address future projects in our efforts to renew and revise the general educationexperience across the entire university curriculum.

Citation
Format

Head, L. M. (2011, June), Signals, Systems, and Music: General Education for an Integrated Curriculum Paper presented at 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Vancouver, BC. 10.18260/1-2--18807

TY  - CPAPER
AB  -                Signals, Systems and Music: General Education for an                              Integrated CurriculumOur university’s Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and Music programs arecollaborating on an electronic music composition course titled Signals, Systems and Music. Thiscourse is the first step in our efforts to develop a new concept for providing a general-educationexperience that transcends traditional disciplines. The concept that we work from changes thefocus of courses “outside” of engineering from &quot;exposure&quot; to novel points of view to&quot;immersion&quot; in interdependent knowledge. We are gathering music students and first-yearengineering students for this novel educational experience: Music composition from anengineering systems point of view, exposing all students to concepts fundamental to both musicand engineering. We emphasize the interconnectedness of the disciplines, and (hopefully)awaken the students&#39; desire to explore, innovate and create. This course is presented as a generaleducation experience that does not presume a background in music, mathematics or electronics.Our presentation will address initial and second year offerings of this new, first-year course. Wewill present examples of the following aspects of the course:   •   Lectures and exercises on music theory   •   Lectures and exercises on principles of signals and systems developed to be relevant for       electronic music composition   •   Laboratory experiences using both hardware and software   •   Assessment instruments for objective and subjective (student centered) evaluation of the       creative experience.   •   Assessment instruments for evaluating impact of the course on the academic engineering       experience beyond the first year.The course is co-taught by a professor from Music, a professor from Electrical and ComputerEngineering and a musician/technician with experience in electronic music composition. We willpresent examples of all aspects of this course along with student final compositions. In addition,we will address future projects in our efforts to renew and revise the general educationexperience across the entire university curriculum.
AU  - Linda M. Head
CY  - Vancouver, BC
DA  - 2011/06/26
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Signals, Systems, and Music: General Education for an Integrated Curriculum 
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/18807
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--18807
ER  -